HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 184

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 184**

SunCity basked in the bright glare of midday, the air thick with anticipation just moments after Althea had delivered her official statement.

“Thank you for standing by me in there, Chase,” Althea whispered, her voice barely above a murmur as she accepted the water bottle he offered, its coolness a welcome relief against the heat of the moment.

After facing a throng of reporters in the bustling lobby of the TnC Group, she hadn’t returned to the comfort of her own home. Instead, for nearly a week, ever since the scandal erupted like a volcano, Althea and her son, Josh, had found refuge at the Miller residence.

There, they had been embraced with open arms, the warmth of the family enveloping them as if they were long-lost relatives returning home. Cale Miller had orchestrated this sanctuary, and his unwavering support had instilled in Althea the courage she desperately needed to confront and deny the venomous accusations Vanessa had flung at her.

“You don’t need to thank me, darling,” Chase replied, settling beside her with a casual ease that belied the tension in the air. “What you did was the only thing you could do. That cunning woman needs to realize that the Althea she thought she knew is long gone. The woman sitting here now is stronger, wiser.”

A faint smile tugged at Althea’s lips, a flicker of warmth amidst the storm swirling within her.

“Are you curious about what’s happening with that cunning woman?” Chase asked, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Cale mentioned it’s getting juicier by the minute.” He pulled out his phone, the screen lighting up with sensational headlines that screamed Vanessa Blake and her tangled web of scandals—including a shocking affair with her own assistant.

Althea accepted the phone, her eyes widening with intrigue as she scrolled through article after article. Each headline seemed to relish in Vanessa’s downfall, and Althea couldn’t help but let out a series of satisfied chuckles, punctuated by occasional muttered complaints. The laughter felt cathartic, a release of pent-up frustration aimed squarely at her rival.

“And yet…” Althea sighed, her breath escaping her in a slow, deliberate manner as she closed the screen, a shadow of unease creeping back in. “Why does it feel like this isn’t over?” The echoes of her live broadcast still reverberated across social media, igniting a torrent of comments—most condemning Vanessa, yet some fixating on Althea’s sudden emergence with shocking evidence.

“What do you mean, not over?” Chase inquired, his brows arching in curiosity. With a gentle, almost protective gesture, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his gaze unwavering, as if she were the very axis upon which his world spun.

“I don’t know. It’s just… there’s a lingering unsettled feeling inside me.”

Chase’s lips curled into a knowing smirk, a glimmer of understanding dancing in his eyes. “I get it. But listen, Althea—what you said to those reporters was just the beginning. This isn’t the end. A woman like her won’t simply fade into the background because you issued one statement.”

Althea leaned her head back against the plush sofa, a long sigh escaping her lips. “I still can’t comprehend it, Chase. How could she—when she’s the one clearly having an affair—twist it around and accuse me instead? Doesn’t she feel any shame? It’s as if the universe contorts the truth just because she’s Vanessa Blake.”

Chase raised an eyebrow, a sly smile creeping across his lips. “Because she knows how to manipulate the narrative. But now… her mask has slipped. And we’re going to ensure she never finds a way to put it back on.”

Althea pressed her lips together, her thoughts spiraling. She couldn’t shake the memory of the deal she’d made with Daven—the plan to expose Vanessa publicly. And Josh… her heart clenched at the recollection of what he’d asked her that night, his calm demeanor masking an urgency that left her no room for doubt.

Two nights ago, Daven Callister’s attorney had reached out to Chase Miller directly. It was the moment both Chase and Cale had been anticipating. Together, they began strategizing a counterattack against the woman who had so carelessly sullied Althea’s name. Agreements were forged between the Callister and Miller factions to ensure the impact would be significant.

But at the conclusion of that online meeting, Daven had requested a private conversation with Althea.

“Can you be honest with me, Althea? Is Josh… really my son?”

She had frozen, the weight of his question pressing down on her like a leaden shroud.

“Your silence,” Daven had murmured softly, his voice heavy with sorrow, “I’ll take it as my answer. Isn’t that right?”

The raw edge of his voice had sliced through her like glass—haunted, aching, brimming with regret that couldn’t be easily undone. “Why… why didn’t you—”