HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 169

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 169**

As dawn broke the following day, Vanessa’s face was a mask of pure rage, her eyes glued to the screen of her phone. The previous night had left her feeling triumphant, convinced she had finally dealt a decisive blow to Daven Callister, with scandalous revelations splattered across every news outlet. Yet, this morning, the digital landscape was eerily empty. Every trace of the explosive story had vanished without a trace.

“What the hell is this?!” she exclaimed, her voice quaking with disbelief. “No… no, that can’t be right,” she murmured to herself, still unable to process the shocking reality. Her gaze was fixated on the blank screen, as if willing the articles to reappear.

Suddenly, the door to her room swung open with a force that made her jump. Theo Blake stood in the doorway, his expression taut with urgency and concern.

“Vanessa!” he called out, his voice carrying the weight of authority.

Startled, she shot to her feet, her heart racing as she hurried towards her father. Confusion and disbelief painted her features. “Daddy… all the news—it’s just gone.”

“I saw it!” Theo thundered, his cane striking the floor with a resounding crack. “Damn it! This has Daven’s fingerprints all over it. He must wield some serious influence to wipe everything clean like this.”

Panic surged within Vanessa, and she began to pace the room, her thoughts spiraling. “But I thought I had secured every channel he could use to bury this story. I worked tirelessly to ensure it reached every outlet! How is this even possible? The scandal that rocked the city yesterday—this morning, it’s as if it never even happened. Just vanished!”

Theo’s frustration bubbled to the surface, his jaw clenched tightly. Yet, he knew he had to maintain his focus. He stepped closer, his voice steady and commanding. “Calm down, Vanessa. If he wants a fight, then we will give him a battleground. Do you honestly believe your father will simply stand by while he tries to erase us?”

Vanessa’s head snapped up, a spark of hope igniting in her eyes. “You… you’ll help me, Daddy?”

Theo exhaled sharply, his gaze hardening with determination. “Absolutely. Daven does not get to trample on the Blake family name and walk away unscathed. I will make sure this news resurfaces, no matter the cost. I don’t care if I have to pay through the nose to one of the largest media houses. What matters is that the whispers about him, that affair scandal—it cannot die. Let the public feast on it. Let his reputation rot in the public eye.”

Vanessa stepped closer, her disbelief melting into a dark, exhilarating glee. “So… you’ll really bring the story back?”

Theo’s eyes bore into hers with fierce intensity. “Not just bring it back. I want it to burn hotter than before. I want the mere mention of Daven Callister’s name to drag that filthy scandal along with it, every time.”

A wicked smile played on Vanessa’s lips, a potent mix of relief and thirst for vengeance coursing through her veins. “That’s perfect, Daddy. Absolutely perfect.”

Theo turned with purpose, striding toward the desk phone. His fingers danced over the buttons with swift precision, his voice slicing through the tension in the room—commanding and unwavering.

“Yes, Dad.”

“Tomorrow, get ready for a press conference. You’ll play the role of the wounded wife—gracious, forgiving, opening your arms to welcome your husband back. And as for that woman… she will be the scapegoat. She will bear the brunt of the chaos you’ve stirred up.”

Vanessa held her father’s gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, Dad.”

But Theo wasn’t finished. He raised a finger, pointing it at her with fierce intensity. “Remember this—if you make another foolish mistake, don’t expect me to lift a finger for you again.”

Vanessa bowed her head in acknowledgment, feeling the weight of his words.

It was only then that a satisfied smile spread across Theo’s lips.

If Theo truly managed to resurrect the scandal, how far would Daven go to retaliate?