HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 123

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 123**

“The most recent information I have is that Miss Althea and Mr. Chase are planning to get engaged in just three months,” Rio announced, casually flipping open the final file he had placed on Daven’s desk. “It’s set for the day after her son Josh’s birthday.”

Daven had been thrust into a whirlwind of worry ever since he had made the hasty decision to return to Mighatan, compelled by the alarming decline in his mother’s health. In the midst of this chaos, Rio had been assigned a critical task: to keep a vigilant eye on Josh and, if the situation allowed, to forge a connection with him. It was no small feat, but when Daven had requested it, how could Rio possibly say no?

“This kid’s really growing up fast, huh?” Daven murmured, his mind only half engaged with Rio’s words. His gaze was fixated on the photographs Rio had captured—images of Josh outside, surrounded by his friends, diligently tending to a small garden that lay just beyond the school grounds. The setting was open enough for Rio to observe without raising any suspicions.

The children were under the watchful eyes of their teachers, yet such activities provided Rio with the perfect opportunity to snap pictures without drawing attention to himself.

“I think… being raised in a secure and tranquil environment really contributes to a child’s healthy development,” Rio added thoughtfully, his voice barely above a whisper.

“You’re absolutely right,” Daven replied, a hint of a smile gracing his lips. “Keep an eye on them, and inform me the moment anything noteworthy occurs.”

“I just informed you about Miss Althea and Mr. Chase’s engagement. Isn’t that… already something noteworthy?” Rio pointed out, a teasing lilt in his tone.

Daven chuckled softly. “You have a valid point. That is indeed news. But what do you expect me to do about it? I can’t exactly act like some jilted ex, unable to bear the sight of her happiness.”

Unless… Josh is my biological son, he thought silently, the revelation hanging heavily in his mind.

If Daven could somehow establish that connection, he wouldn’t hesitate to pull Althea back into his life—into his home. With Josh. He wanted to ensure their safety and closeness. He wouldn’t allow either of them to exist outside his grasp. Some might label it obsession. Let them. He didn’t care about their judgments.

“Well then, if you’ll excuse me… Josh has a field trip to the fire station in two days. You wouldn’t want me to miss that, would you?” Rio said, breaking the weighty silence that had settled between them.

Daven gave a slight nod, dismissing Rio with a casual wave of his hand.

His attention was drawn back to the scattered photographs on his desk, each one demanding his focus. Rio’s report had struck a nerve. Chase Miller—was he truly Althea’s type? Had she genuinely fallen for that man?

Daven remembered the depth of Althea’s love for him. It was impossible to fake the way she used to gaze at him, her eyes filled with warmth and affection.

Even if… the last time they had met, her expression had been nothing short of irritation and anger. Certainly not love.

But Daven wasn’t ready to accept that their love had simply evaporated into thin air. No way. Not Althea.

A sudden, firm knock on his office door jolted him from his thoughts.

“Come in,” he called out, gathering the documents Rio had left behind in a hurried manner.

Arsen burst through the door, urgency radiating from him with every step he took, as though the information he carried was too pressing to wait another moment.

There were two critical updates that Arsen needed to convey immediately. The first was—

“How’s my mother?” Daven asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Arsen cleared his throat, a brief pause hanging in the air. Daven was right; this was one of the updates he had been anxiously awaiting.

Arsen merely shook his head, unable to comprehend the situation.

“Just follow my instructions, Arsen. And ensure that everything is executed flawlessly.”

“Yes, Mr. Daven,” Arsen affirmed.

Daven held him with a long, piercing stare. “Still no updates from Chris Miller’s side?”

Arsen’s eyes widened slightly, and he stammered, “Oh—my apologies.” He quickly navigated his tablet. “Actually, there is, Mr. Daven. They responded to the email I sent earlier. Mr. Miller has just returned from overseas. He’s available for a meeting in one week, and he included an offer as well.”

He handed the tablet to Daven, displaying Chris’s reply along with…

“Isn’t this the project Mayor Harold offered us?” Daven inquired, a sly smile creeping onto his face. “That means… Harold is truly playing his cards quite cleverly.”

A wicked grin tugged at the corners of his lips.

“In that case, ensure we return to SunCity as soon as everything here is wrapped up.”

“Yes, Mr. Daven.”

“And prepare an exquisite gift for Harold,” Daven added, leaning back against the sofa with deliberate ease. “Oh—and we can’t possibly forget Chris Miller’s generosity, can we?”