HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11

“Will you be home late tonight?” The question slipped from Althea’s lips, soft but tinged with a hint of vulnerability.

Despite the swirl of her own doubts gnawing at her confidence, Althea had joined Daven for breakfast that morning. She kept her words to a minimum, focusing instead on quietly ensuring he ate enough. The kitchen was filled with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee and toasted bread, the sunlight streaming in through the windows casting a warm glow over the table. Afterward, she accompanied him to the car, where his driver waited patiently, the engine humming softly in the quiet driveway.

“Why do you ask?” Daven glanced at her briefly, catching the gentle smile playing on her lips. He didn’t interrupt her as she slipped into the role of the attentive wife, smoothing his tie with a practiced hand as if it were second nature.

“Your tie’s a little crooked, Dav,” she said softly, her fingers brushing lightly against his chest as she adjusted the fabric. Her warm brown eyes met his for a fleeting moment—steady, kind, and unexpectedly sincere. That look caught him off guard, stirring something faint and unfamiliar inside him.

“Thanks,” Daven replied quickly, averting his gaze. “And yes, I’ll be home late tonight.”

Althea nodded, as if she had anticipated his answer. “Would it be okay if I stopped by during lunch?” she asked tentatively, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daven frowned slightly. “For what?”

“To bring you lunch,” she offered, hesitating for a moment. “Only if you don’t mind, of course.”

“Do whatever you want,” he said abruptly, then climbed into the car. The vehicle pulled away, leaving Althea standing there with a smile that slowly grew wider, her heart fluttering with a mix of hope and disbelief.

From inside the car, Daven caught a glimpse of her waving, cheerful and bright, her smile unwavering. To him, it seemed almost absurd. Yet, even as the car disappeared down the driveway, Althea remained rooted in place, watching him leave.

“Ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath.

But what he didn’t realize was the faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips—so subtle that even his driver stole curious glances through the rearview mirror, wondering if they had truly just seen Daven smile. In all the years Althea had lived in that house, Daven had never once acknowledged her presence like this. Every servant, every member of the staff, knew that cold truth.

And yet, today… something had shifted. Even if only a little.

What was happening between them?

***

“Did you hear that?” Felicia sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. “Still playing the wise and noble one.”

“No,” Althea replied, her smile calm and serene. “I simply know my limits.”

Kalina scoffed, “Yet you still have no shame.”

This time, Althea stepped forward, her voice soft but her eyes sharp and clear, cutting through the tension like a knife.

“To me, lacking shame is living off a family’s name while showing no basic decency or respect for others.” She stopped directly in front of Kate, her gaze unwavering. “I know exactly who I am. I wasn’t born into wealth, but I hold my head high—even when others try to trample me.”

Kate’s eyes widened in shock. Felicia fell silent, and Kalina bit her lip, clearly stunned.

“If you, Mother, or my lovely sisters-in-law have nothing more to say,” Althea added smoothly, turning with grace, “I’ll be preparing lunch for my husband.”