HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 114

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 114**

**My Wife:**

A sense of frustration washed over me as I stared at the screen of my phone. I had already sent Arsen my complete schedule for the month. Why hadn’t Vanessa shared hers? Did she truly find it so difficult to communicate with her own husband? Was she as busy as the president, juggling endless responsibilities?

Daven’s gaze was fixed blankly on the glowing screen, his mind swirling in a haze of irritation and resignation. He felt no urge to respond to her message. Instead, he simply updated her contact name to “Vanessa.” It was straightforward and devoid of any affection. After all, he suspected she hadn’t saved his number under any endearing title either. Not after she had mistakenly called him “David” the other night, a slip that cut deeper than he cared to admit.

David? Was that how she viewed him now—just a name, stripped of warmth and familiarity?

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of his lips as the memory resurfaced. It was painfully clear to him—he was the only one putting forth any effort to salvage their marriage. Yet, Daven found himself hesitating, uncertain about how to navigate the crumbling foundation of their life together.

For a week now, Vanessa had been relentless in her attempts to reach him. But why should he respond? To explain himself, to justify his silence? No, he owed her nothing.

The soft beeping of the keypad and the gentle click of the door unlocking pulled him from his thoughts. He glanced up just as Arsen stepped into the living room, where Daven had been lost in contemplation.

Papers cluttered the table—documents related to the impending final discussion between the planning and finance teams. If everything unfolded favorably, they could finally breathe new life into a project that the Mayor of SunCity had once declared was teetering on the edge of failure.

“Your coffee, Mr. Daven,” Arsen announced, presenting a steaming cup that wafted a rich aroma into the air.

Today, Arsen felt a rare sense of relief wash over him. Daven hadn’t physically left his apartment, at least not yet. Mentally? Arsen doubted he was truly present, his boss seemed to be drowning in the files sprawled before him.

Yet, there was one thing that had captured Daven’s attention lately—a little boy named Josh.

This newfound obsession was a source of constant frustration for Arsen. Daven had been vigilantly watching the boy, as if he were waiting for a sign, a moment, anything that might illuminate the questions gnawing at him from within.

Even without stepping foot in the school, Daven had someone stationed nearby, always watching from the sidelines, providing hourly updates. Every detail about who was supervising Josh that day—Daven had it all meticulously documented.

Arsen had hoped that this fixation would fade with time. Clearly, it had not.

“What report do you have for me this morning?” Daven asked, his eyes still glued to the papers, showing no inclination to look up.

Arsen opened his tablet with a swift tap. “There’s been some movement on the Miller project—the one that was previously scrapped.”

Finally, Daven shifted his focus, narrowing his eyes as he regarded Arsen. The renovation of the old apartment building downtown had almost reached completion before it was abruptly halted. It was the reason he often found himself in lunch meetings with the Mayor of SunCity.

“What’s the official reason?” Daven inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Arsen continued, handing over the report. “Pressure from the residents. A community movement protested the reconstruction, arguing that it would destroy the building’s original architecture and local integrity.”

Daven scanned the report, noting several names that the mayor had mentioned in previous discussions. Public hearings had dragged on for weeks, culminating in lawsuits and demands for compensation, all outlined in painstaking detail.

What made his brow twitch, however, wasn’t the financial implications—it was the fact that the Miller Group hadn’t backed down initially.

“They held their ground for quite some time, didn’t they?” he murmured, more to himself than to Arsen.

“They did,” Arsen confirmed, his tone steady. “According to the records, the project continued for a full month after the threats started. This is typical whenever new developments are proposed. Miller even reapplied for construction permits with assistance from the mayor.”

“But then they withdrew?” Daven pressed, a hint of skepticism creeping into his voice. “Doesn’t that strike you as… peculiar?”

“Yes, sir.”

Arsen caught snippets of the conversation, piecing together the unsettling puzzle. Daven was still keeping tabs on his wife, compiling evidence of her potential betrayal.

If he were in Daven’s shoes, Arsen mused, he wouldn’t allow the situation to drag on like this. He would make a decision.

Was Daven contemplating the same course of action?

“What time is the meeting with the planning and finance teams?” Daven asked abruptly, his focus shifting back to the present.

“In one hour, sir,” Arsen replied crisply, his mind racing with the implications of their current situation.

Daven nodded and returned to his work. But before he could fully immerse himself in the papers, his phone rang once more. This time, the name Kalina lit up the screen.

Daven’s brow furrowed in confusion. Kalina? She rarely—almost never—called him. What could this be about?

“What is it, Kalina?” he answered, his voice steady yet laced with concern.

“Daven… it’s Mommy. Mommy’s sick,” Kalina’s voice trembled through the phone. In the background, he could hear another voice sobbing softly—one he recognized instantly. One of his sisters.

“What’s going on?” Daven snapped, his patience wearing thin. “What happened to her?”

“She’s sick, Daven. Can you come home? Now?”