HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 122

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

**Chapter 122**

“This is utterly draining,” Vanessa muttered under her breath, her footsteps echoing against the stark walls of the hallway. All she had intended was to deliver a simple message from Theo Blake—her father’s words, nothing more than that.

Just a straightforward task.

Yet here she was, entangled in a web of unfulfilled expectations. Her covert intentions had crumbled into dust. She had made an effort to be civil, even a touch affectionate, toward her mother-in-law. She had hoped for a smoother interaction, but the reality was far from her dreams.

“Why does that woman become even more of a burden the older she gets?” she grumbled softly, her frustration spilling over like a pot left too long on the stove.

As she strode purposefully down the corridor towards the elevator, she heard Daven’s voice slice through the air behind her—cold, clipped, and unmistakably authoritative.

“Don’t go out through the lobby.”

Vanessa came to a sudden halt, her body pivoting slowly to face him. “You just arrived?” she inquired, forcing a bright smile to her lips as if nothing had transpired between them. “I was just with your mom, but now I really need to meet the repor—”

“You should go home,” Daven interrupted, his voice unwavering and firm. “Cancel the interview.”

“Why?” she questioned, her brows arching in surprise.

“You’re really asking me that?” Daven took a step closer, his jaw clenched tight, the tension radiating off him like heat from a flame. “Do you genuinely want to create a spectacle in this hospital? Let the media swarm around and report on my mother’s condition?”

Vanessa maintained a small, calculated smile. “I didn’t reach out to them. Besides, it’s not something I can just brush aside. Honestly, I believe we should engage with them. Together. Wouldn’t it be more advantageous if we presented a united front?”

Daven’s eyes darkened, the storm brewing within them evident. “Don’t lie to me.”

An oppressive silence enveloped them, the air thick with unspoken words. They stood there, locked in a battle of wills, each contemplating their next move. Finally, it was Vanessa who broke the stalemate.

“And if I did call them—so what? They’re merely after something positive to report. I was just providing them with a few details to ease the situation. You know… about us.”

“Ease the situation? About us?” Daven scoffed, a dry, humorless laugh escaping his lips. “You speak as if we’re part of some public relations campaign. Like this marriage is merely a headline to manage—superficial and empty.”

Vanessa stepped forward, closing the distance between them, her voice rising with urgency. “Precisely because it’s starting to feel so empty, I’m trying to make it whole again!” Her voice cracked, sharp and high, echoing off the walls. “Do you have any idea how difficult it is to explain to people why my husband is never around? Why he ignores my texts? Why he skips every dinner, every function, every family gathering—choosing that damned project over everything else?”

Her words had escalated, loud enough to draw the attention of passing nurses, who quickly averted their gazes and hurried away, sensing the brewing storm.

“Don’t bring up that family dinner,” Daven snapped, his voice low and simmering with anger. “I’d rather be buried in work than sit through two hours of insipid small talk. And for the record, I only skipped one dinner with your family. Have you ever tallied how many times you’ve bailed on mine?”

“You used to be… different,” Kate continued softly, her voice filled with a mixture of nostalgia and disappointment. “You knew when to speak and when to keep your life private. But now? You’re always on display. Tell me, are you truly doing all of this for Daven? Or is it just for your own sake?”

The silence in the hallway thickened once more, heavy with unspoken truths.

“Mom, let’s get you back to your room,” Daven said gently, signaling for Felicia to assist her. “I’ll follow right behind you.”

Once they had departed, Daven turned to Vanessa, his voice steady but laden with an emotional weight that struck deep.

“If you want to salvage whatever remains of this marriage, you need to stop all of this. Release the so-called popularity. Return to being the woman who once held a place in my mother’s heart… or in mine.”

He paused, letting his words sink in. “Maybe—just maybe—I’d still consider giving you a second chance.”

Vanessa closed her eyes for a fleeting moment. When she opened them, a cold, almost sardonic smile graced her lips.

“Stop everything? You mean the life I’ve built from the ground up?” She let out a humorless laugh, the sound echoing with disbelief.

“It’s not that simple, Daven. And why should I need a second chance? What exactly have I done wrong?”