HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 176

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

**Chapter 176**

“If this is all a fabrication, then why isn’t James here to set the record straight himself?”

The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to cut through with a knife.

“We demand to hear from James Sullivan regarding this news—immediately!”

Suddenly, the screen flickered ominously, transitioning to a grainy video clip that captured James stealthily entering Vanessa’s apartment during the late hours of the night. A bold, glaring caption plastered itself at the bottom: “Timestamp and location verified by the private apartment building’s CCTV records: Vanessa Blake’s residence.”

The impact of this revelation struck like a thunderclap, sending shockwaves through the room. Reporters surged forward, their bodies colliding as they jostled for the best vantage point, smartphones raised high to stream live updates, each one eager to capture the kind of exclusive story that could propel their careers into the stratosphere.

“No! Stop it—stop all of this! It’s not true!” Vanessa’s voice rose in a desperate shriek. She lunged toward the screen, pressing her body against it as if her very presence could shield her from the damning evidence. In that moment, she wished she could will the images away, as if her fervent desire could erase the truth.

But the frenzy only escalated.

“Miss Vanessa, if you’re innocent, then who’s truly having the affair? You or Mr. Daven?”

“Considering the timestamps, it appears you’ve been entangled with James Sullivan for quite some time. Can you clarify when this began, Miss Vanessa?”

“Was it you all along who shattered that marriage, not Miss Althea?”

Her face flushed crimson, then drained of color, her lips parted in shock, struggling to form a coherent response. Theo, her father, slammed his fists onto the podium, his voice booming through the chaos, slicing through the noise like a knife. “Enough! No more questions! This press conference is over!”

Yet, the crowd remained unmoved. Cameras flashed like lightning, the cacophony of reporters’ voices rising above the chaos, demanding answers.

“Vanessa! Is what Althea said true?”

“What about those marriage documents—are you still denying them?”

“Every piece of evidence has been presented! What do you have to say for yourself?”

The room erupted into a cacophony of overlapping demands, questions firing from every direction, drowning out any possibility of escape.

Vanessa stood frozen behind the podium, her complexion pale and trembling. “It’s all lies! Those documents are fabricated! This is nothing but a malicious attempt to ruin me and my family!” Her voice cracked, rising to a shrill, wavering pitch, filled with desperation.

But the onslaught didn’t relent.

“If this is slander, then why did the authorities validate the documents earlier?”

“Do you deny the footage that clearly shows you with James?”

“Miss Vanessa, give us a straightforward answer! Yes or no?”

“I told you—it’s slander!” Vanessa snapped, her voice laced with fury, cracking under the pressure. “Everything you’ve seen is manipulated! You’re all falling for the trap set by jealous individuals who can’t stand my success!”

A ripple of derisive laughter erupted among the reporters, sharp and merciless, cutting through her defenses.

“Don’t just point fingers, Miss Vanessa—we want real answers!”

The reporters pounced, their voices crashing against her like relentless waves.

“Vanessa, are you still denying all this evidence?”

“How do you explain the photos with James?”

“We’ve received word that Mr. Daven is on his way to the civil registry office with his lawyers to file for divorce. Is that true, Ms. Vanessa? What’s your response?”

Vanessa slammed her palm against the podium, her face a tumult of red fury and then ashen despair. “You don’t know anything! I’m the victim here! I’m the one who was betrayed, not the other way around!”

But her voice faltered, thin and unconvincing, and the reporters pressed harder, relentless in their pursuit of truth.

“Then prove it! Prove you weren’t having an affair!”

“Why isn’t James here to deny these reports himself?”

Her complexion turned ghostly, her head shaking frantically from side to side, a desperate denial spilling from her lips.

“No… no… this isn’t true…”

Theo moved to her side, gripping her arm tightly, trying to offer comfort even as his own fury trembled in every word.

“Stay calm, Vanessa, stay calm. We’ll fix this. Don’t listen to them.”

Outside the hall, the chaos had spiraled far beyond control. The live broadcast had infiltrated every platform, and hashtags bearing Vanessa’s name surged to the top of social media trends. Comment sections overflowed with vitriol and mockery: “Vanessa is a liar!” “So she’s the one cheating all along!” “Althea is the real victim!”