HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 138

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

**Chapter 138**

“Where’s Josh?” Chase inquired, his eyebrows arching in mild surprise as he scanned the surroundings.

“With your father in the back garden. He mentioned there’s something special he wants to show him,” Althea replied as she strolled beside Chase, heading toward the lounge.

“I’m betting he’s introducing him to Leo,” Chase remarked, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

“Who’s Leo?” Althea asked, a hint of confusion lacing her voice.

“Not who, but what,” Chase chuckled, his laughter light and infectious. “Leo is a male Savannah cat that Dad just received as a gift from one of his golf buddies. He’s planning to give it to Josh.”

Althea’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you… serious?”

Chase nodded firmly, a glimmer of excitement in his gaze. He noticed Althea had fallen behind, so he reached for her hand, gently urging her to keep pace. But she had chosen a cozy chair, clearly relishing the tranquility of the late afternoon. The view behind her was nothing short of breathtaking: a meticulously manicured garden stretched out like a scene from a postcard, and a koi pond bubbled softly, the gentle trickle of water creating a lively, serene atmosphere.

“Have you enjoyed yourself today?” Chase asked, his voice warm, reminiscent of the morning sun filtering through the trees. As Althea settled beside him, he held her hand tightly, pressing a tender kiss to her knuckles—a small indulgence that felt well-deserved after a few days of being consumed by foundation work and business discussions with Chris.

“I have,” Althea replied, her eyes sparkling with joy. “I spent some time cooking dinner with your mother. We tackled a few other tasks together, too.”

“I’m so glad to hear that,” Chase said, shifting slightly to lean his head against her shoulder. Moments like this were rare, and he savored the opportunity to be openly affectionate.

“But I’m still curious about what Cale mentioned earlier,” Althea interjected, her curiosity piquing despite her initial intention to brush it off. This was the truest version of Chase she had come to know—just a touch spoiled, perhaps.

“What exactly are you curious about?” he asked, playfully rubbing the tip of his nose against her shoulder. He inhaled deeply, catching her scent—a delightful mix of perfume intertwined with the softness of fabric conditioner, and perhaps a hint of the cooking she had done earlier.

The Millers had a full culinary staff, a head chef overseeing every meal from breakfast to dinner. Yet tonight’s dinner was special enough that his mother had rolled up her sleeves, eager to cook alongside her future daughter-in-law.

Chase felt a swell of gratitude for the bond that was blossoming between Althea and his family, especially in the way they embraced Josh. They treated him as if he had always been part of their lives, loving and protecting him without hesitation. Chase knew Althea could sense their sincerity—not only toward her son but toward her as well.

“Cale said your ex-girlfriend was a model?” Althea ventured, her tone curious yet teasing.

Chase scoffed, a hint of annoyance flashing across his face. “We never got that far. We were just close friends, and even that was brief. She was wrapped up in her own world, and… well, so was I.” He tightened his grip on Althea’s hand, as if to reassure her.

“But Chris seemed to back that up,” Althea countered, her brow furrowing slightly. “He even offered me pictures of the two of you together.”

Chase shifted in his seat, tugging lightly at the chair Althea occupied. “Why even react to that? Chris and Cale were just trying to get under your skin, hoping we’d end up squabbling over something from my past.”

He didn’t need to elaborate; Althea had already pieced together what Chase’s brothers were up to. Still, a flicker of curiosity ignited within her. In the three years she had known him, Chase had rarely divulged details about his romantic history. It wasn’t really her business, and apparently, it wasn’t anyone else’s either. Even the other teachers seemed unaware of Chase Miller’s entanglements with women.

“I only met her a few times at a café. That hardly constitutes dating,” Chase explained, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. “Maybe because she’s a model, the paparazzi snapped some photos—and Chris made sure they disappeared.”

When Althea remained silent, he pressed on, his tone earnest. “You don’t need to worry about that. It’s all ancient history. Since I started pursuing you, you know I haven’t been with anyone else, right? I wouldn’t throw away three years of effort just to get close to you, Althea.”

A smile tugged at her lips despite her efforts to contain it. “Really?”

“Yes,” Chase affirmed, his voice firm. “You don’t need to doubt me.”

Chase set Josh down, ruffling his hair affectionately. “Come on, Champ. Let’s get you into some clean pants. Grannie doesn’t like it when you sit down to dinner in dirty clothes.”

“I’ll take him,” Althea offered, sensing the need for a gentle transition. “You should stay with your father.”

“Why me?” Chase shot her a look loaded with meaning. “I think my dad wants to talk to you.”

Althea’s brow furrowed in concern. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Why not?” He took Josh’s hand, already leading him away. “And… our conversation isn’t over.”

“What were you and Mommy talking about?” Josh asked, curiosity written all over his face.

“Hmmm… what do you think?” Chase teased, glancing back with a playful grin.

“Was it about Leo? I don’t want to bring Leo home. I already told GrandDad—Leo should stay here. Maybe I’ll bring Nyu instead?”

Chase burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the garden. Althea pressed a hand to her forehead, shaking her head in amusement as the two boys—one grown, one small—wandered off toward the house, leaving her with Daniel Miller.

Truthfully, her stomach tightened with apprehension. She had never really engaged in a one-on-one conversation with Chase’s father before. Since their first encounter, Daniel had kept their exchanges polite yet minimal—formal, even. But with Josh around, his demeanor transformed, softening in a way that was impossible to ignore.

Perhaps this was her opportunity. If she could start with something light-hearted, it might pave the way to break the ice before they reached the dining room.

“Thank you, Sir—”