My wife chose her career after I threatened divorce

We are at the stage where we are planning to start a family. My wife is a banker, and she has been working extremely hard because she wants to rise through the ranks and eventually become a Managing Director.

I come from a wealthy family, so financially, I am also doing well. I can comfortably take care of her, our home, and the children we hope to have. But I have always had a fear that I never really dealt with.

My mother left my father because she was financially independent. I watched what happened in my family, and I grew up being raised by my father with the help of my aunties. Somehow, I convinced myself that if my wife became too financially independent, I could end up experiencing the same thing.

So when we started talking seriously about having children, I asked my wife to quit her job. I told her that since I could provide everything we needed, there was no reason for her to continue working.

She refused. She told me she had worked hard for her career and could never simply give it up because I wanted her to. She was determined to continue working and pursue her ambition of becoming an MD.

Instead of having a proper conversation with her, I made a terrible mistake. I intentionally told her that if she refused to quit her job, I would serve her divorce papers.

At the time, I only wanted to frighten her. I never actually intended to divorce her. I thought she would realise I was serious and eventually reconsider.

She packed her bags and left our home. That was when I realised I had taken things too far. We haven't signed any divorce papers, but she has completely walked away from the marriage. The house feels empty without her, and I miss her every single day.

I can barely sleep. I find myself thinking about her constantly, and honestly, I don't function the way I used to. I didn't realise how much of my life revolved around having her beside me until she was gone.

I eventually went to her office to apologise. I begged her to come home and told her that I didn't mean what I said. I explained that I was afraid of losing her and that I never actually wanted a divorce.

But she refused. She told me that she cannot build a future with someone who would ask her to choose between her marriage and her career. She has made it clear that she would rather leave than give up the career she has worked so hard for.

I love my wife, and I don't want to lose her. I also know that threatening her with divorce was wrong, even if I didn't mean it. I never thought she would actually leave me when I said those words, and now that she has, I don't know whether she will ever forgive me.

How do I convince my wife that I was acting out of fear and not because I don't value her, and can I still save this marriage after threatening her with divorce? What do I do now?