HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 121

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 121**

The moment the news reached her ears, a flurry of urgency propelled Vanessa back to the hospital. “I rushed back as soon as I heard Mommy was awake! Sorry for being a little late—I had to wrap up one last commitment,” she said, her voice infused with a sweetness that could rival honey.

And she was being truthful. The instant she got the call, Vanessa had dashed to the hospital, looking impeccable and wearing the carefully crafted smile she had prepared long before stepping out of her car.

Her arms were laden with branded paper bags from a prestigious pharmacy. One bag contained CoQ10 and Omega-3 supplements, touted for their benefits on blood pressure, alongside a box of caffeine-free herbal tea. The other bag cradled a delicate bouquet of white lilies—the very flowers that Kate adored.

“I’ll just arrange these lovely flowers in the corner over there. You still like them, don’t you?” Vanessa inquired, her smile unwavering, a mask of cheerfulness.

“You didn’t have to go through all that trouble,” Kate responded, her tone flat and devoid of warmth. She didn’t even cast a glance at the gifts Vanessa had brought. In the past, such visits would have filled her with joy, but now, an unshakable feeling had settled in her heart—something had changed. An invisible barrier seemed to have risen between them, one that felt insurmountable.

“It’s really no trouble at all,” Vanessa replied, her hands deftly arranging the flowers. “I just hope Mommy takes better care of her health. And if there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Felicia, perched on a small sofa by the window, suddenly turned, her eyes narrowing sharply as they landed on Vanessa. There was a flicker of surprise, but it was laced with something much sharper. “Did you just say that… to my mother?”

“What’s wrong with that?” Vanessa flicked a smooth strand of her hair behind her ear, a gesture that seemed almost rehearsed. “I am part of the Callister family, aren’t I? It’s only fitting for a daughter-in-law to show some care for her mother-in-law, especially in times like these.”

“How charming,” Felicia replied, her smile as cold as ice, dripping with sarcasm. The atmosphere had shifted the moment Vanessa entered the room—tense and suffocating. Felicia’s memories of how her sister-in-law had treated both her and their mother before this moment were still fresh and bitter.

“If you truly understood your role in this family,” she continued, her voice steady, “you wouldn’t spend more time out there in the spotlight than you do at home. When was the last time you even visited my mother?”

She glanced at her watch, the movement deliberate, then added, “You’re always too busy with your jam-packed schedule. Honestly, it seems like your public appearances matter more to you than Daven. My poor brother… completely neglected by his loving wife.”

“I’ve never neglected my husband, Felicia,” Vanessa shot back, her breath quickening with a rush of indignation. “If you don’t know anything about our lives, then stop pretending like you do.”

Felicia let out a dry, mocking laugh. “Me? Talking as if I know things?” She stepped closer, the distance between them shrinking, forgetting the moments when they had been as close as sisters. “If your marriage is so perfect, then why are there reporters swarming the hospital lobby? You invited them, didn’t you?”

Kate turned her gaze away, visibly uncomfortable. “Is that true?”

Vanessa, standing beside Kate’s bed, let out a long, steadying breath. “Why would I call the press? If the media found out I was here, what could I do about it? Mommy knows how visible I am to the public, doesn’t she?”

Kate shot her a brief but piercing glance. “I have no interest in your fame. And make sure that anyone wanting to cover your story stays far away from me.”

Her voice was sharp, more than just a warning; it was a clear boundary drawn in the sand.

“Hasn’t Daven provided you with everything you need?” Kate asked, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. Just conversing with Vanessa drained her energy. “I’d say my son’s more than capable of funding your glamorous lifestyle.”

Vanessa clenched her jaw, feeling the sting of truth in Kate’s words. Deep down, she knew Kate wasn’t entirely wrong. But still…

“If Daven truly provided all that for me, then I would have had to abandon everything I built from the ground up, wouldn’t I?” Her voice sharpened, laced with bitterness. “And you’d treat me just like that woman. I’ll never stoop that low—I refuse to live like someone that pathetic!”

Kate blinked, taken aback. Why would Vanessa even bring her up? Althea Grayson. “What are you even talking about? Your thoughts are all over the place, Vanessa.”

Vanessa felt a knot tightening in her stomach. She didn’t want to continue this conversation. She knew exactly where it would lead—toward Daven’s desire to have a child. No. Not that. She wasn’t ready to discuss it. A child would derail everything she had worked for.

Worse, a child might push Daven even further away.

“This is pointless,” Vanessa said abruptly, rising to her feet. “There’s no use in dragging this out.”

She reached for her purse, composed yet cold. “Have a good rest, Mom. My father’s aide should be arriving shortly. He asked me to tell you in person that there’s going to be a family dinner soon. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” She offered a tight smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I hope you’re feeling better by then.”