HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 194

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 194**

The sound of pens scratching against paper filled the air, mingling with the rapid clicks of cameras capturing the moment. A cluster of reporters leaned in closer, their lenses focused intently on Althea, as if she were the sole subject of their scrutiny.

“I am here to make it abundantly clear,” Althea asserted, her voice gaining strength with each syllable, “that I have initiated legal proceedings regarding this matter. The judicial process will unfold as it should, and I have full faith that the law will reflect the truth as revealed by the evidence. All I desire is to live my life in tranquility—without being ensnared in a drama that I never instigated.”

Beside her, Adrian stood tall, a sentinel of support, his keen eyes observing the shifting dynamics within the room. What had begun as a cacophony of chaos had transformed into a more composed atmosphere. Even the most impatient reporters seemed to exercise restraint, biding their time for the opportunity to speak.

One journalist, eager to break the silence, raised his hand high, signaling for a question. Althea acknowledged him with a small, encouraging nod.

“So… essentially, you didn’t come here to escalate the situation?” he inquired, his voice laced with skepticism.

A subtle smile graced Althea’s lips, a flicker of warmth in an otherwise tense environment. “Nothing I have done has been intended to escalate anything,” she replied with conviction. “I am merely defending myself against the onslaught of accusations—the defamation orchestrated by Vanessa, the slander that has dragged my name into a narrative whose origins remain a mystery to me. This is not a trivial matter.”

A bitter laugh escaped her, a sound tinged with frustration. “And that is precisely why I have filed a counterclaim—to stand for justice.”

“Have you prepared all the evidence?” another reporter interjected, his curiosity piqued.

Althea’s smile sharpened, her calm demeanor underscoring her resolve. “I never make statements without substantiation. All the evidence is already securely in the hands of my legal team.”

The crowd erupted into a flurry of activity once more—reporters scribbling furiously, voices rising in a chaotic symphony, some demanding further details. Amid the whirlwind of inquiries, Chase stood a short distance away, his expression a blend of pride and vigilance, his gaze unwavering as it remained fixed on Althea.

“Does this lawsuit have anything to do with Mr. Daven Callister?” another reporter pressed, seeking to connect dots that had not yet been drawn.

The room erupted in chaos—voices overlapping, cameras flashing in a frenzy. Her words lingered in the air, resonating like a declaration of war.

Chase leaned into the microphones, his tone resolute and commanding. “This legal action is not merely a defensive maneuver; it is a warning. No one has the right to obliterate another person’s life without facing the consequences.”

From the throng, a sharp question pierced through the noise: “Is it true you’re also in a personal relationship with Mr. Chase Miller?”

Instantly, every lens pivoted toward them, capturing the moment. Chase’s lips curled into the faintest of smiles, as if he had anticipated this very question.

Althea responded swiftly and with unwavering steadiness, “Is my personal life relevant to this case? The focus here is the lawsuit itself. Anything outside of that, I believe, does not belong in this discussion.”

The press grew increasingly loud, voices clamoring for more information, but Althea stood her ground. Her eyes blazed with conviction, her posture unwavering. Inside her chest, relief and tension collided, a storm of emotions swirling within her. One decisive step had been taken, and she understood—this was merely the beginning of a tempest that would ripple far beyond this room.