The billionaire who forgot his wife...but not her touch

The city of Manhattan stretched endlessly beyond the glass walls, glowing in cold, indifferent lights. “Sit down, Alexander.” His mother’s voice was calm. Too calm. He didn’t move. “I’m not here to sit,” he replied, his tone clipped. “I’m here for an answer.” Across the room, Mrs. Kane stood beside the fireplace, her posture straight, her expression unreadable. She looked as composed as ever, dressed in elegance that matched the authority she carried so effortlessly. “Then you already have it,” she said. Alexander let out a short, humorless breath. “No. What I have is avoidance.” Silence stretched between them, heavy and familiar. “I asked you a simple question,” he continued, his voice tightening. “Why do you have a problem with Natalia?” His mother turned slightly, just enough to look at him. “And I gave you a simple response. I have my reasons.” “That’s not an answer.” “It is the only one you’re going to get.” The words landed harder than they should have. Alexander’s jaw tightened, his patience thinning with every second. “You expect me to end my marriage based on ‘reasons’ you refuse to explain?” “I expect you to trust me.” A bitter laugh escaped him. “Trust?” he repeated. “You want me to trust you while you try to control my life?” Her expression hardened just slightly. “Watch your tone.” “No,” he said sharply, taking a step forward. “You don’t get to dictate my tone when you’re the one refusing to be honest with me.” For a moment, something flickered in her eyes, something deeper than anger, but it was gone just as quickly. “She is not the woman for you,” she said firmly. “That is all that matters.” “That is not all that matters,” Alexander shot back. “I love her.” “And love is not always enough.” “It is for me.” His voice carried a finality that echoed through the room. Mrs. Kane studied him, her gaze searching, measuring. “You’re making a mistake.” “Then it’s mine to make.” The tension shifted. Something colder entered the air. “If you go through with this,” she said slowly, each word deliberate, “then you will do so without me.” Alexander stilled. “What does that mean?” “It means,” she continued, her voice unwavering, “that if you choose her… You lose me.” The words didn’t sound like a threat. They sounded like a decision already made. For a brief second, something conflicted flashed across Alexander’s face. His mother. His only family. But just as quickly, it hardened. “You’re bluffing,” he said. “I am not.” He held her gaze, searching for hesitation, for doubt, anything. There was nothing. Still, he refused to bend. “You won’t do that,” he said, his tone turning colder now, sharper. “Not over this.” “You’d be surprised what I’m willing to do.” The silence that followed was heavy. Alexander exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair as frustration simmered beneath his skin. “Then that’s your choice,” he said at last. Her expression didn’t change. “And Natalia is mine.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out. The drive back was a blur. Alexander barely registered the road, his mind replaying his mother’s words over and over. By the time he got to his penthouse, his expression was cold. He stepped in and saw Natalia pacing the living room. Natalia looked up the moment he entered. Relief flashed across her face, quickly followed by concern. “Alex…” she stepped toward him. “How did it go?” He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he loosened his tie, his movements tense, controlled. “That bad?” she asked softly. He let out a breath. “She’s not changing her mind.” Natalia’s shoulders dropped slightly, as if she had expected it, but it still hurt. “What did she say?” “The same thing,” he replied, pacing slightly. “That she has her reasons. That you’re not right for me.” Natalia swallowed, her fingers tightening around each other. “Did she… explain anything?” “No.” A small silence settled between them. Natalia looked down for a moment, then back up at him, her expression softer now, more fragile. “Alex…” her voice lowered. “Maybe… maybe she’s right.” He stopped. “What?” “She’s your mother,” she continued gently. “She’s your only family. You can’t just cut her off because of me.” His eyes darkened immediately. “I’m not cutting her off. She’s the one making that decision.” “But you’re giving her a reason to,” Natalia said, her voice trembling slightly. “Maybe if we just…slow down, or” “No.” His reply was firm and immediate. Natalia flinched slightly at the sharpness of it. “You’re asking me to walk away from you,” he said, his voice quieter now, but no less intense. “I’m asking you to think,” she replied, her eyes beginning to glisten. “What if you regret it? What if one day you wake up and realize you lost your family because of me?” “I won’t.” “You don’t know that.” “I do.” He stepped closer to her now, his gaze locked onto hers. “I chose you,” he said. “And I will keep choosing you. Over and over again.” Tears slipped down her cheeks despite her efforts to hold them back. “Alex…” “She’s wrong,” he continued, his tone softening just slightly. “Whatever reasons she thinks she has, they don’t change what this is.” “And what if they do?” Natalia whispered. “They won’t.” “You don’t even know what they are.” He paused at that. For a brief moment, uncertainty flickered, but it didn’t stay. “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “It matters,” she insisted, her voice breaking now. “What if there’s something you don’t know?” “Then she should tell me.” “But she won’t,” Natalia said quietly. A short silence followed. Alexander exhaled slowly, then reached for her, gently wiping her tears with his thumb. “I’m not losing you because of her silence,” he said. Her lips trembled. “And I don’t want you to lose her because of me.” “You’re not the one making that choice.” “It still feels like I am.” He shook his head, his expression firm again. “You’re not.” “But” “Natalia.” His tone stopped her. “I’m not walking away from you,” he said, more quietly now, but with unshakable certainty. “Not for anyone. Not even her.” She searched his face, as if hoping to find hesitation. There was none. Only resolve. Slowly, she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest. Alexander wrapped his arms around her, holding her close like nothing else in the world mattered. “I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured. Natalia let out a shaky breath, her fingers gripping his shirt as if letting go might make everything fall apart. “You promise?” she whispered. He tilted her chin up gently, forcing her to look at him. “I don’t break my promises.” For a moment, she searched his eyes… then nodded, choosing to believe him. Alexander pulled her back into his arms, pressing a soft kiss to her hair. And for now, it felt enough now. But neither of them knew that this would be the first promise he wouldn’t be able to keep.