HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 204

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 204**

Harold’s laughter echoed through the room, a sound that felt both warm and unsettling. “Please, sit down, Mr. Daven. I can only imagine how taxing the journey to SunCity must have been for you.”

Daven, however, brushed aside the niceties with a wave of his hand. He selected a chair that allowed him ample room for maneuvering, an instinctive choice born from years of navigating treacherous business waters. To his left, Arsen settled in, his presence a reassuring weight beside him, while Andy remained on his feet, ever vigilant, his sharp gaze scanning the room like a hawk searching for prey. The four guards stationed around the perimeter of the room stood like sentinels, their expressions impassive, their eyes unwavering.

“Now then,” Harold began, leaning back in his chair, a calculated ease in his posture. “As you are undoubtedly aware, the SunCity project is in dire need of additional funding.” He reached for a folder resting on the table, sliding it across to Daven with an air of authority.

“The infrastructure, the distribution of building materials—we require acceleration in every facet of this project. This is precisely why I am seeking your complete trust. An additional investment of three hundred thousand dollars would significantly propel us forward,” he declared, a broad grin spreading across his face, as if he had just shared a delightful secret.

Daven’s brows knitted together, confusion and disbelief etching lines across his forehead. “You’re… joking, right?”

Harold let out a bark of laughter, the sound sharp and dismissive. “Do I appear to be joking?”

Daven opened the folder, his eyes scanning the contents with growing incredulity. The figures and claims he encountered were utterly ludicrous—entirely at odds with their initial agreement. The document outlined a litany of alleged deficiencies in the stalled apartment project, and Daven quickly calculated that the expenses listed were nearly equivalent to constructing a brand new development from the ground up, rather than simply reviving a delayed one.

“Mr. Daven, I sense you’re holding back,” Harold pressed, his tone shifting, the jovial facade slipping away as his smile faded into a thin line. “Didn’t we already come to an understanding regarding the expansion of SunCity? Thirty million dollars is hardly a wasteful venture.”

Daven placed the folder back onto the table, his gaze locking onto Harold’s with unwavering intensity. “What I require is clarity. I expect a precise breakdown of expenditures—not just vague numbers scattered across a page.”

A long, exasperated sigh escaped Harold’s lips. “So, you don’t trust me?”

“This isn’t a matter of trust,” Daven replied, leaning forward, his voice calm yet edged with an unwavering steeliness. “It’s about transparency. I have a policy of understanding every detail before I release such a significant sum. I refuse to let my funds be misallocated.”

“If you’re going to be this suspicious, perhaps we should reconsider our partnership altogether,” Harold snapped, his fingers drumming a rapid beat on the table, betraying his rising agitation. “But mark my words, you will come to regret that decision. Most of Callister Group’s investment is already in play, isn’t it? Do you not realize how futile it would be to halt halfway?”

Daven merely offered a faint smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “You can choose to be angry, or you can choose to provide a detailed report. If you’re confident in this project’s success, that shouldn’t pose a problem.”

The room fell into a heavy silence. Harold’s expression hardened, displeasure etched into every line of his face. He clearly resented being challenged, yet after a moment, he muttered begrudgingly, “Fine. I’ll have my team compile a comprehensive report.”

Daven’s lips curled into a thin smile, one that held a hint of challenge. “I did not traverse all the way to SunCity to be played with. If you wish for this partnership to endure, cease wasting my time with veiled threats.”

Silence enveloped the room, thick and suffocating. The only sound breaking through was the steady ticking of the wall clock, each tick amplifying the strain between them, a reminder of the stakes at play.

Finally, Harold let out a low chuckle, though the fire of restrained anger still flickered in his eyes. “Very well, Mr. Daven. I will provide you with what you requested. A detailed report will find its way to your desk shortly.”

“Good.” Daven rose slowly, his unwavering gaze still fixed on the mayor. “I’ll be waiting. Don’t make me regret coming all this way to this isolated place.”

Arsen and Andy moved in close, ready to escort him out of the tense environment. Relief flickered across Andy’s face, though it was tempered by a lingering doubt. Arsen, while maintaining an outward calm, could not shake the gnawing unease building in his chest.

It felt as if something inevitable loomed just around the corner—something ominous. They could only hope they would emerge from it unscathed, and that Daven would not be the one to pay the ultimate price.

Harold watched them as they departed, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips. But beneath that facade, there was no mistaking it—he was already plotting his next move.