HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 141

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 141**

Daven stood frozen for a moment, grappling with the weight of his trusted aide’s revelation. His intense blue eyes were locked onto Arsen, who shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny, suddenly aware of the tension hanging in the air.

“If this makes you uncomfortable, I can—”

“No,” Daven interrupted sharply, his voice cutting through the atmosphere like a knife. “It’s just… unexpected.” He raised an eyebrow, the gesture tinged with incredulity. “James?” His tone dropped an octave, laced with an unmistakable edge. “Does he honestly believe I have the luxury of time to entertain my wife’s lover? The man is utterly shameless.”

Arsen hesitated, weighing his words carefully. “I can turn him down if that’s what you’d prefer,” he suggested, his voice cautious.

Daven fell silent for a brief moment, the wheels in his mind turning. Finally, he resumed his purposeful stride, the decision crystallizing within him. “No need for that. Tell him to meet me at the coffee shop near the airport. If he wants to talk, then I’ll listen.”

Arsen nodded, though a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Was his boss truly in his right mind, agreeing to a meeting with the very man who had played a part in unraveling his marriage?

***

The coffee shop was pleasantly quiet that afternoon, the soothing aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans wafting through the air, mingling with the gentle clinking of spoons against delicate porcelain cups.

In a secluded corner booth, James fidgeted restlessly, his fingers drumming a nervous rhythm against the table. He had been waiting for nearly thirty minutes, precisely where he had been instructed to be.

But where was Daven? Was he truly so engrossed in his own affairs that he couldn’t spare a few moments for this conversation? Or was James simply being toyed with? Deep down, he knew Daven wasn’t the type to play games with someone’s time, and that thought offered him a sliver of comfort.

“I just hope I’ve made the right choice,” James muttered under his breath, his heart racing. He was here with a purpose, hoping to set things right. It was the least he could do as chaos continued to spiral around him.

As he scanned the café, his eyes finally landed on Daven, who strode in with an air of unshakeable confidence that seemed to command the attention of everyone present.

Without wasting a moment, Daven approached the table and pulled out a chair, seating himself directly across from James. His gaze was sharp, unwelcoming—an unmistakable signal that James was an unwelcome guest in this encounter.

“Say what you came to say,” Daven said in a flat tone, his impatience palpable. “If you’re here to waste my time, I’ll leave right now.”

James swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Daven’s scrutiny. “No, Mr. Daven,” he replied quickly, desperation creeping into his voice. “Thank you for agreeing to see me.”

Daven remained silent, folding his arms across his chest, his eyes still guarded. He watched James intently, as if he were a man who didn’t trust a single word that might escape the other’s lips.

“I… I want to apologize, Mr. Daven. For everything that happened between me and Vanessa.”

Daven leaned back in his chair, his expression inscrutable. “Am I supposed to thank you for making me feel like the biggest fool in the world?”

Daven watched him intently, absorbing every word, every emotion that flickered across James’s face.

James allowed a bitter smile to creep onto his lips. “You probably think I’m a fool. But Vanessa isn’t just a woman to me. She’s my sanctuary, the place I return to, even if I’m never where she stays. I know she’s gone back to you, not because I wasn’t enough, but because in her heart… you’ve always been her home, Mr. Daven. Truly, she loves you—deeply.”

A heavy silence settled between them, the air thick with unspoken words. Daven didn’t respond immediately, idly turning his coffee cup in his hands as he contemplated whether those words were a carefully crafted lie or an open wound laid bare.

“I hope you’ll reconsider your decision,” James finally broke the silence, his voice earnest. “Please… give her another chance. I’ll disappear from both your lives.”

Daven continued to turn the cup slowly, his eyes fixed on the dark liquid as if it held the key to his next words. “I’m still going to divorce Vanessa,” he declared flatly, the finality of his statement hanging in the air.

James recoiled, disbelief washing over him. “You… you’ve truly decided that?”

“My decision hasn’t changed,” Daven replied, lifting his gaze to meet James’s eyes with unwavering resolve. “Even after everything you just said.”

James stared at him, shock etched across his face. “But… what I’ve told you isn’t just talk, Mr. Daven. It’s the truth. I’m certain that if you give her a chance, Miss Vanessa will make things right.”

Daven’s lips curved into a faint smirk, a mixture of amusement and disbelief. “Why are you working so hard to convince me?”