Chapter 67 She Still Loves Me
Philip wouldn't marry Regina, but he also wouldn't let her go. Over the years, he always took control in their relationship. When Regina was at her lowest and liked him the most, she thought she'd never love anyone else.
Douglas listened quietly on the phone.
"I finally told my grandma I have a boyfriend. She's thrilled. Will you come meet her?"
"Can you stop drinking so much? It's ruining your health. Getting drunk isn't helping. How about we go see the Northern Lights?"
At first, Regina's voice was full of emotion, but it faded over time, and Philip didn't notice.
"I saw the news today. They said you checked into a hotel with a female celebrity," Regina said sadly. "Can you explain?"
"Would you believe me if I did?"
Reason told Regina not to believe him, but she said, "I will."
She wanted to believe him one last time.
The recording was jumbled, with no clear beginning or end, but Douglas found he could easily piece it all together, feeling Regina's every emotion as if it were his own.
It ended with Regina saying, "I love you, Philip."
It was unclear when she said it, but it felt like a knife to Douglas' heart.
Philip said, "There was a misunderstanding between her and me..
"But Mr. Semona, taking advantage of the situation is wrong."
Douglas laughed coldly. "Do you want to say the same thing to your fiancée?"
Philip's so-called lingering feelings now seemed like a joke.
He never considered how Regina would fit into his life if he married Juliet. He knew Regina wouldn't want to be his mistress.
Philip forced a smile. "I came to tell you she still loves me. Maybe she was with you out of impulse or to get back at me, but not out of love."
Douglas smirked. "What does she still love about you? The spiritual support, the material gifts, or the physical pleasure?"
Douglas never denied that Philip had been good to Regina. He comforted her and healed her, making her fall in love with him.
Regina believed that if she found someone who healed her spirit and connected with her soul, she'd be loyal even to a platonic love.
Regina had subtly suggested Philip visit a urologist, but she never mentioned breaking up just because he wasn’t intimate with her.
In the earlier years, Philip had certainly played the part well. A man like him, if he actually put effort into a relationship, could easily charm most women.
But over the past couple of years, Regina had been struggling, desperately trying to salvage what little they had left—only to fail time and time again.
Then came that fateful day on Philip's birthday. Hearing the words come out of his mouth shattered her already fragile beliefs, and she couldn't rebuild them afterward.
Yet, a heart didn't break all at once; it shattered over time.
A rush of images flashed through Philip's mind, chaotic and overwhelming, as if they were about to split apart.
He recalled the devastating phrases he had said, those words that had crushed Regina's hopes.
He thought of the truckload of gifts she had returned to him, along with that hefty bank transfer.
And the way they had once shared tentative moments—fingers intertwined, brief embraces, innocent kisses—though they never ventured deeper into true intimacy.
The night wind stung his eyes, turning them a fiery red. As he hung his hand loosely at his side, he clenched it tightly, the veins on his hand bulging.
"I know she still loves me, she still loves me..." He repeated as if saying it enough times would make it true.
But just as he started to believe it, he saw Regina walking towards them in a silver tasseled mermaid gown, draped in a large suit jacket. Walking in high heels on the soft lawn was tough, but she walked steadily.
Over the years, Philip had seen her walk towards him countless times.
This time, he even imagined she was still walking towards him.
Douglas saw her too. His already aching heart tightened even more.
Regina said, "The fireworks are over. I've been waiting for you."
Philip watched as she walked to Douglas' side. In her beautiful eyes, there was no trace of Philip anymore.
"Sorry, I got held up by someone, listened to some nonsense, and wasted time," Douglas replied.
Regina said, "Can we go now? I'm a bit cold."
"Sure."
Philip watched their intimate and natural interaction, unable to say a word.
Regina took Douglas' arm and left.
She took the initiative!
By the time Philip realized what was happening, they had already disappeared from his sight.
Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, he sent a message to Mars, asking him to investigate Regina and Douglas's relationship.
Actually, there was no need to investigate. If Philip calmed down and thought about it, he'd understand many things.
More than two months ago, Douglas was photographed by paparazzi with a famous singer, sparking rumors of a same-sex relationship.
At that time, the Century Group announced on social media that Douglas was married.
Someone like Douglas wouldn't be associating with random women while married. And Regina wouldn't want to be his mistress either.
So, they got married.
Philip shut his eyes tightly.
At that moment, it felt like the world had come to a standstill.
In the Century Group President's Office, Jason was reporting Philip's latest movements to Douglas.
Knowing that Philip was investigating his relationship with Regina, Douglas smiled indifferently. "What's there to investigate? Just send him a photo of the marriage license."
Jason hadn't reacted yet when he heard his phone ring.
He saw that Douglas had sent him a photo of the marriage license stored on his phone.
Soon, Philip also received the expected photo.
The same evening he received the photo, he appeared at the Century Group, demanding to see Douglas.
Jason initially wanted to have security kick Philip out, but Douglas told him to let Philip in.
"Mr. Semona, your time is precious, so I'll be brief."
Philip's eyes were turbulent, and it took all his restraint to suppress the emotions on the verge of breaking.
"You know I've been investigating your relationship with Regina, so you sent me the photo of the marriage license. But do you know I've also been investigating room 1601 at the Seasons Hotel?
"If you know, can you honestly tell me if you entered that room one night more than two months ago?"
