HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 175

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

**Chapter 175**

A profound silence enveloped the room, thick and suffocating. Althea’s final words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of unsaid truths, leaving behind a haunting ache of unanswered questions that echoed in the minds of those present.

A reporter with a close-cropped hairstyle rose, his movements deliberate, as if he were stepping into a spotlight that had suddenly illuminated him. His gaze was fixed on the screen, desperately searching Althea’s expression for some semblance of clarity. He raised his hand, and his voice cut through the tension, clear and unwavering as he addressed her. “Miss Althea… you mentioned that Josh is your son.” He hesitated, a slight tremor in his voice as he swallowed hard. “But… is it true, then? The rumors circulating… that the boy is actually Daven Callister’s biological child?”

At that moment, the hall erupted into chaos. Gasps echoed, murmurs surged like a tidal wave, and cameras zoomed in with fervor, capturing every flicker of emotion on the faces of the attendees. The atmosphere was electric, charged with anticipation, as if the room itself was on the verge of an explosion.

Theo’s head snapped toward Vanessa, his expression a mixture of disbelief and concern. Her complexion had drained of color, rendering her as pale as a sheet of paper. “Don’t tell me—” he whispered harshly, his voice barely rising above the tumult, almost choking on the weight of his own incredulity.

Before anyone could respond, the screen froze on Althea’s visage—her eyes sharp yet brimming with sorrow. The warmth of her smile had vanished, leaving a stark reminder of how deeply the questions had pierced her heart.

And then, without warning, the live feed went dark.

In an instant, pandemonium erupted within the hall where Vanessa’s press conference was underway. Questions flew like arrows, reporters clamoring over one another, their voices rising in a cacophony of urgency as many streamed the unfolding drama live on their channels. The news of what had just transpired spread with the speed of wildfire.

“Miss Vanessa! How do you respond to Althea’s statement?” came a voice, sharp and demanding.

“Is it true you stole another woman’s husband eight years ago?” another reporter interjected, the accusation ringing out like a bell.

“Those documents were official—are you denying them?” a third voice chimed in, pressing harder.

“Did you really destroy someone else’s marriage before marrying Daven Callister?”

“How long had you been pursuing Daven before your marriage was legalized?”

“So the alleged affair between Daven and Althea… it never actually happened?”

“What’s your response to Miss Althea’s claims?”

“The documents she presented have been verified. Every detail matches. How do you explain that, Miss Vanessa?”

The onslaught was relentless, their voices crashing against her like waves in a tempest, each question a new blow to her already fragile composure.

Just as the black screen seemed to settle into an eerie silence, it flickered back to life. Technicians scrambled, their fingers flying over buttons, desperately trying to regain control, but nothing worked.

Then the giant screen blazed to life again, this time displaying unmistakable footage from SunCity.

A fresh wave of shock rippled through the room, gasps escaping lips as reporters leaned forward, cameras snapping furiously, capturing every moment.

Another revelation. Another devastating blow.

Vanessa’s breath hitched in her throat, her mind a blank slate, her tongue rendered useless. Words eluded her, slipping through her fingers like sand.

Theo shot up from his chair, his face flushed with anger. “What the hell is this now?!” he bellowed, his voice reverberating through the hall. “Shut it down! SHUT IT OFF, NOW!”

But his pleas fell on deaf ears. No one paid heed to Theo’s frantic outbursts. Every eye in the hall was glued to the giant screen, captivated by the unfolding drama.

A cold, measured voice filled the speakers, cutting through the chaos. “This footage was taken six months ago, inside a hotel downtown. Clearly visible—Vanessa Blake accompanied by her assistant, James.”

“These images were captured by the hotel’s security system and verified for authenticity. No signs of digital alteration were found. Records confirm that James Sullivan, personal assistant to Vanessa Blake, stayed with her in the same hotel room on three separate occasions.”

The uproar detonated.

“Vanessa, how do you respond to that?”

“Is it true you’ve been cheating on Daven Callister with your own assistant?”

“So all your accusations against Daven were nothing but a smokescreen?”

“If the hotel itself verified the footage, then there’s no manipulation, Miss Vanessa. What do you say to that?”

“Where is James, Miss Vanessa? We need his direct confirmation.”

“How long have you been involved with him?”

The questions came in rapid succession, merciless and unrelenting. Within moments, the headlines shifted. The scandal of Daven’s supposed affair was eclipsed, replaced by Vanessa’s alleged infidelity with her assistant, compounded by her exposed past: the woman who had stolen Daven Callister from his lawful wife, Althea Grayson.

Theo pushed forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Vanessa, attempting to wrest back control of the narrative. “Enough! This is sabotage, an outright attack on our family! You can’t trust this cheap fabrication!”

But a seasoned reporter shot back, her voice sharp as a blade. “Mr. Theo, the evidence is verified. The hotel confirmed it themselves. How do you explain that?”

Theo faltered, his lips pressed tight, jaw rigid with tension. Vanessa turned to him, her wide, frantic eyes pleading for rescue.

“I… I never—” she attempted again, but the blinding flashes of cameras and the relentless barrage of voices drowned her out, leaving her feeling trapped in a nightmare from which there was no escape.