HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 129

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

**Chapter 129**

“Mr. Daven.”

As he was about to slide into the car, the door already ajar, Arsen’s voice rang out, halting him in his tracks. Daven turned slowly, his expression a carefully crafted mask of neutrality. “What is it?” he inquired, an edge of impatience creeping into his tone.

Arsen hesitated, the weight of the message heavy on his shoulders. He could see the uncertainty flickering in Daven’s eyes, but ultimately, he mustered the courage to speak. “I’m sorry, Mr. Daven. You’ve been requested to return to the main house.”

Daven’s eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the information. A long sigh escaped his lips, the sound filled with resignation. Of course, he thought. The events of dinner tonight were not something his mother would easily dismiss. Not after Theo Blake had collapsed and been whisked away to intensive care, leaving a trail of worry in his wake.

“Fine. We’ll head back to the main house tonight,” he replied, his voice steady but laced with fatigue.

Arsen nodded briefly, his demeanor professional as he instructed the driver to alter their course. Once Daven settled into the plush leather seat of the car, Arsen took his place in the passenger seat, the vehicle pulling away from the hospital with a deliberate slowness that felt almost torturous.

But Daven welcomed the delay.

He needed this time, however brief, to gather his thoughts and fortify himself before facing his mother. The prospect of explaining everything that had transpired tonight was daunting. God, he was utterly drained. A weariness that penetrated deep into his bones.

Eventually, the car came to a gentle halt in front of the sprawling estate. The lights glowed warmly against the darkening sky, a stark reminder that even though the clock had ticked past midnight, the night was far from over.

“Welcome home, Mr. Daven,” a member of the household staff greeted him with a polite nod as he stepped out into the cool night air.

Daven returned the gesture with a curt nod, his mind already racing as he walked through the grand entrance, his steps purposeful yet heavy.

Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Kate occupied the main chair in the center of the room, her posture poised, but the slight tension in her shoulders betrayed her calm facade. Beside her, Felicia fidgeted, her unease palpable, while Kalina stood near the fireplace, her expression a mirror of concern. She must have heard the news from Felicia, Daven mused.

“Daven,” Kate’s voice emerged, weary yet controlled, as if she were exerting every effort to maintain her composure. “How is Mr. Blake’s condition?”

“He’s still under the doctor’s care, but there’s been significant improvement. His aide will keep us updated with any changes,” Daven replied, striving to sound reassuring.

“I’m relieved he received prompt treatment,” Kate said, her tone softening just a fraction.

Felicia reached out, gently rubbing her mother’s shoulder. “He wouldn’t be neglected in a hospital, Mom.”

Kate’s lips twitched slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features, but she held her tongue, redirecting her focus back to Daven.

“I never imagined things would escalate like this,” she murmured, her gaze reflecting a mixture of sympathy and concern. “Don’t you want to tell me, in more detail, what really happened, Daven? To your mother?”

Daven shrugged off his suit jacket, draping it carefully over the back of the couch as he took a deep breath. “I only discovered the affair recently. Maybe a month or two ago.”

Felicia’s head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowing with disbelief. “And you kept it from us?”

“This isn’t the sort of revelation you can just blurt out. Especially not to you, Felicia,” he countered, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.

“I’m with Felicia on this,” Kate chimed in, her voice steady. “She should be given a chance to explain. I’m not defending her, but don’t you all remember the fight it took just to get married and make it this far?”

“Ugh!” Kalina scoffed in disgust, her patience wearing thin. “Cheating doesn’t need an excuse. No matter what the reason, it’s still cheating. And I’ll never justify that.”

“Didn’t Daven cheat once, too?”

Felicia’s question hung in the air, freezing the moment in time.

“What are you talking about?” Daven asked, confusion knitting his brows together. But beneath the surface, anger simmered, the kind that arose from being accused of something he felt he had never done. “When did I ever cheat?”

“Have you forgotten? Your first wife—Althea Grayson,” Felicia replied with a sigh, her tone almost pitying. “You cheated on her. Even though you didn’t want that marriage, you still went through with it. You stood at the altar and made sacred vows to live and love each other forever.”

“Oh, so now you’re defending Althea?” Kalina shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Please,” Felicia smirked, the tension in the room palpable. “Just bringing up the past.”

“Daven and Althea’s situation was different, Felicia. That marriage was forced. But with Vanessa, Daven never once strayed,” Kate interjected, her protective instincts flaring as she defended her son.

“I know, Mom. I never liked that woman either. I was just pointing out that Daven did cheat once, even if it was a long time ago.”

“So what, you think this is karma?” Kalina retorted, her tone sharp. “Some kind of payback for what he did back then?”