HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 165

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 165**

Chase pivoted sharply, steering away from the turmoil behind him, navigating down a less-traveled corridor—the one that would bring him directly to the press. Althea, her heart racing, cast anxious glances over her shoulder, her instincts urging her to ensure nothing sinister was pursuing her.

“Miss Grayson, Mr. Chris’s car is waiting just outside,” Jennifer announced softly, her voice a balm amidst the chaos, pulling Althea’s focus back to the present. “I can only accompany you this far.”

“That’s more than sufficient,” Chris interjected with an infectious grin that lit up his face. “Your assistance means the world to us, Madam Vice Principal.”

Jennifer’s cheeks flushed a delicate shade of crimson as she averted her gaze, flustered by his compliment. At a moment like this? Chris seemed blissfully unaware of the effect his words had on her—he could easily make the poor woman faint right there.

“It’s nothing, Mr. Chris,” she replied hastily, her embarrassment palpable.

Chris chuckled, his amusement evident. “Well then, once my dear brother and his fiancée have managed to untangle this mess, I believe I owe you a proper thank-you, Miss Laurent. You wouldn’t mind, would you?”

The notorious Chris Miller—just as the whispers suggested, a master of charm and flirtation.

“Come on, Althea. We need to move quickly,” he urged, his tone shifting to one of urgency.

As they approached the side entrance, a sleek black car appeared as if summoned by their need. Althea slipped into the vehicle without hesitation, Chris following closely behind, the door closing swiftly as if sealing them away from the outside world. The car surged forward, a touch faster than necessary, leaving behind the quiet east wing of the school—an area blissfully shielded from the prying eyes of reporters.

Yet even as they sped away, a whisper escaped Althea’s lips, “I never imagined something like this would happen to me.”

Chris turned to her, his voice low and steady, almost like a soothing balm. “Hey, don’t hold yourself responsible for this. That story—none of it must be true. I don’t believe a word of it, not until I hear it from you directly. And I’m certain your parents feel the same way.”

Althea’s gaze lingered on Chris, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, a tumult of gratitude and sorrow swirling within her. She was deeply thankful that someone still believed in her, but the weight of sadness pressed heavily on her heart. If not for Chase and Chris, she couldn’t fathom how she would weather this storm on her own.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Chris shook his head gently, his expression earnest. “No thanks needed. We’re simply doing what’s right. And one more thing, Althea—never let yourself feel ashamed. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

The car glided smoothly along the side road, distancing itself from the uproar emanating from the main entrance. The windows were tightly sealed, yet the muffled shouts of reporters managed to seep through, sharp enough to prick at her nerves.

Althea gripped her bag tightly, her fingers trembling, knuckles pale with tension. Chris sat beside her, casting worried glances her way, concern etched on his face.

“You’ll be all right, Althea,” he reassured her softly. “Trust me. We’ve taken the safest route.”

She merely nodded, her voice caught in her throat. “I truly don’t know what I would’ve done if you two weren’t here.”

Chris offered a faint smile, though the seriousness in his eyes remained. “And I’m not about to let you face any of this alone. You’re my soon-to-be sister-in-law. I might act a bit childish at times, but you should know this—we accept you. We truly accept you. And we can’t wait to officially welcome you into our family.”

“Is it true she’s already living with you?” another pressed, eager for more sensational details.

Chase’s hand curled into a fist within the confines of his blazer pocket, his eyes scanning the crowd with a piercing intensity, his gaze a clear warning. “I’ve said what I needed to say. The rest?” His voice dropped, heavy with authority. “Wait for the official press conference.”

As if orchestrated, a black car rolled to a stop near the gate. The driver exited and opened the back door, a silent invitation. Without sparing a glance at the frenzied crowd still clamoring for his attention, Chase slid inside, leaving behind the chaos of reporters shouting his name, their cameras straining to capture one last glimpse of him. The car pulled away swiftly, the cacophony of chaos fading into the distance.

Inside the school, Jennifer Laurent was diligently working to calm the shaken teachers. Gathering a few members of the administrative staff, she spoke with crisp authority, her voice steady amidst the turmoil.

“We’re closing every access point today. No one enters without clearance. We must ensure the children remain in their classrooms; we can’t allow panic to spread.”

One teacher, her face pale with worry, asked hesitantly, “And what about Miss Grayson? Everyone’s already talking about her.”

Jennifer drew a long breath, steeling herself. “She’s been escorted out. For now, the Miller family will handle it. Our only responsibility is to maintain stability within this school.”

Outside, however, the reporters showed no signs of retreating. They lingered at every corner, prowling the parking lot, hungry for any morsel of news.

But Althea, now seated quietly in the back seat beside Chris, was already far removed from the storm. The bustling streets of Suncity pressed close around them, yet with every passing mile, the chaos that had engulfed her began to fade, becoming a distant memory.

Chris glanced at her again, his voice gentle and reassuring. “You’re safe now. No need to look back.”