Chapter 85 Relationship Issues
Mars never thought he'd hear such a humbling statement from Philip.
He shook his head, feeling helpless.
'If I'd known it would end like this, I wouldn't have done it.' It was a simple yet profound lesson, but it seemed Philip was just now getting it.
Mars stood quietly nearby.
Philip's stare felt like a nail, making Mars uneasy.
"Mr. Sterling, do you need something else?" Mars asked.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Should I be?" Mars was puzzled.
"Aren't you usually full of ideas? Why so quiet now?"
Mars thought, 'So, Philip wants me to come up with a way to win Regina back?'
Mars' helplessness grew.
Although he was merely Philip's assistant, he had grown up alongside Philip and knew Philip quite well. Over the years, he had been a constant presence behind Philip, brainstorming countless ideas for Philip, whether related to the family, work, or personal matters.
He had always been involved in various aspects of Philip's life, except for one area: Philip's romantic relationships.
Mars had taken it upon himself to privately reach out to Regina a few times, but each attempt ended in failure.
Regina might not seem very assertive, but once she made up her mind about something, she was unwavering.
Mars looked at Philip and said honestly, "The best thing to do is let it go."
Philip's eyes flared with anger. "Enough. If you can't speak properly, then shut up!"
Normally, Mars might have stayed silent, but this time he couldn't stand Philip's recent downfall. He risked angering Philip and continued, "Everyone makes mistakes. When you realize you're on the wrong path, stopping is wise. I think Ms. Valrose has figured that out."
The more Mars spoke, the gloomier Philip's expression became.
"She knows she loved the wrong person. She won't look back. The more you cling to her, the more she'll resent you. Why not end it now, so she can remember some good things about you?
"Instead of getting stuck in a lost relationship, focus on more important things."
Philip didn't respond.
Mars thought Philip might get angry and punch him, but Philip didn't.
He just sat there, lost in thought.
He remembered the past.
Philip and Regina had been together for six years, with many memories—good and bad, sweet and bitter.
Philip suddenly recalled Regina's senior year when her school's Dubbing Club hosted an event. In a packed venue, she delivered a perfect performance.
Amidst the cheering crowd, he went on stage to present flowers. Under many watchful eyes, they held hands, hugged, and took a picture together.
He also remembered they had a disagreement that night after the event.
Regina wanted him to stay in Normon City for two days because the next day was her birthday, and she couldn't leave Normon City. Philip initially agreed but later got a call and returned to Oriant City.
Regina spent her birthday alone, and though she was used to it, she had an accident that day.
The scene of the accident was grim. Regina's taxi had collided with a small car driven by someone under the influence, and she was knocked unconscious on impact. She was rushed to the hospital, where she remained in a coma for a significant period before finally regaining consciousness.
That evening, Philip called her numerous times, but she didn't pick up. He thought Regina might be upset over some minor issue, even though it wasn't like her to get worked up over trivial matters. Yet, he stubbornly convinced himself it was the case.
Eventually, he stopped calling.
At that time, Philip was swamped with two major projects. Any slip-up could jeopardize his position, and his biased father would seize any chance to undermine him. Philip was working around the clock and, on top of that, ended up in the hospital due to stomach issues.
But that very night, as he lay in his hospital bed, he saw Regina, who had been out of touch for ages, walk in. It was two weeks after the accident, and she had just been discharged from the hospital two days before. Her arm was still in a cast, and he had no idea how she found out about his hospitalization, but she had come rushing over.
It wasn't until that moment that Philip learned about Regina's accident.
Thinking back, he shut his eyes tightly. Philip felt like a puddle of mud, unable to pick himself up.
The night before leaving for Normon City, Regina lay in bed, her eyes locked on her phone, unable to look away.
She was about to meet Dougal in Normon City for a collaboration.
Despite not liking to have high expectations, seeing her wishes come true one by one made Regina happy.
After following each other on Instagram, she and Dougal only exchanged a "Looking forward to our collaboration" and hadn't talked since. They were about to meet, and Regina thought she should warm up to their first official meeting.
After all, Regina wasn't good at socializing.
She feared an unplanned meeting would be awkward.
After thinking for a while, Regina finally typed a line and sent it: [Hi, Dougal.]
In another room, Douglas looked at the message and smirked. He typed:[Hi.]
He thought, 'I've been pretending for so long already, so I might as well keep it up for a few more days.'
Douglas ultimately decided to go to Normon City. After meeting Regina as Dougal, he would take the time to explain everything to her properly.
Regina, who received a response from Dougal within three seconds, was momentarily stunned and didn't know how to react.
After a few minutes, she cautiously replied: [Looking forward to our collaboration. It's late, so I won't disturb your rest.]
Douglas: [It's okay, I can't sleep anyway.]
Regina was really bad at chatting.
For instance, she didn't know how to respond at this moment.
She asked: [Why can't you sleep?]
Douglas could imagine how long she struggled before asking that question.
Douglas continued typing: [Because of some family issues.]
Regina: [What issues?]
Douglas, feeling mischievous, decided to tease her.
Douglas: [I have some relationship problems with my wife.]
