HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 142

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 142**

James remained silent, the weight of the moment pressing heavily upon him.

“Is your love for my wife truly that profound?” Daven’s voice cut through the air, sharp and challenging.

The man seated across from him cast his gaze downward, as if the floor held all the answers he sought.

“I have no intention of retracting the divorce,” Daven continued, his tone unwavering. “You should feel relieved, shouldn’t you? This is your opportunity to demonstrate your love for her. So why are you pleading with me for something so utterly ridiculous?”

“But—” James struggled to lift his eyes, his voice strained and taut. “If you go through with the divorce, Vanessa might… do something reckless.”

Daven’s eyes narrowed, though his expression remained inscrutable. “I understand what you’re implying.”

James fell into a contemplative silence, the carefully crafted arguments he had rehearsed now rendered ineffective, like words that had lost their meaning.

“But I have no concern for that,” Daven replied, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. “If she wishes to unravel her life, that is no longer my burden to bear. That responsibility falls to you—being there for her, just as you always have. You chose this path, James. Not me.”

“I—” James raised his head, his complexion ashen. “Do you really believe I haven’t tried? I’ve sacrificed everything for Vanessa, even if it means—”

“—Debasing yourself?” Daven interjected mercilessly. “That’s your decision to make. But my stance remains unchanged. It’s far too late, and your lengthy justifications serve only as excuses for the choices you both have made.”

A heavy silence enveloped them, punctuated only by the soft hum of the coffee machine and the distant clinking of spoons from another table.

Daven released a short breath and stood up, the finality of his movement signaling the end of their conversation. “I believe we have exhausted this topic.”

James felt a surge of desperation. He had failed in his last attempt to sway Daven, yet deep down, he was convinced—absolutely convinced—that Daven still held feelings for Vanessa. Were they not a couple once, intertwined in love?

“You’re concealing something as well, aren’t you?” James’s voice broke through the stillness, causing Daven to pause mid-stride.

No, he couldn’t allow this moment to slip away without a fight.

“Behind all your business trips… including that recent visit to Suncity,” James pressed on, determination etched in his features. “You believe I’m oblivious? You met with your ex-wife, didn’t you?”

The accusation landed with precision, forcing Daven to halt. He turned his head slowly, a reluctance evident in his posture, yet the words had struck a nerve, igniting a tumult of questions in his mind. How did James know about Althea? Had he hired someone to shadow him in Suncity?

Despite the turmoil within, Daven maintained his composure, regarding James with a measured gaze, contemplating whether the words even warranted a response.

James exhaled deeply, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “Perhaps I am a fool for loving someone who will never choose me. But you… you’re no different, are you? You’re still tethered to your past, Mr. Daven. Don’t think I don’t see it.”

Daven remained silent, and James’s patience began to wear thin. “You will come to regret this decision, Mr. Daven. Think it over carefully.”

“I hope you finish everything quickly, Chase.”

“Thanks, Sweetheart,” he replied, throwing her a playful wink that made her smile.

Althea had grown accustomed to his playful antics, allowing herself to relish the remainder of the drive, leaning back comfortably in her seat. After wrestling with breakfast and preparing Josh’s lunch that morning, a few moments of peace felt like a rare treasure.

The morning in SunCity was refreshingly crisp, sunlight filtering gently through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the road. Chase pulled up right in front of the school gates, casting a glance at Althea, who had her head resting against the seat, looking perfectly at ease.

“My dad’s question didn’t trouble you, did it?” Chase asked as he unbuckled his seatbelt, sensing an opportunity to steal a few extra moments together before her shift began.

“Mm… not too much,” she confessed, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. “Just… a little heavy on my mind.”

“You don’t need to feel that way,” he reassured her, his hand reaching up to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, lingering just a moment longer than necessary.

“My dad just wants to know when we’re getting married.”

Althea let out a soft exhale, her brow furrowing slightly. “That’s the issue. I don’t know what to tell him—because as of now, we haven’t made a decision, have we?”

Chase chuckled lightly, the sound warm and inviting. “So it’s not just my dad pressing you with that question? My mom too?”