HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 248

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 248**

What on earth am I supposed to say to my mother? Daven felt a surge of anxiety ripple through him as he tried to collect his thoughts, forcing a sense of calm into the chaos swirling in his mind. He had not anticipated their confrontation arriving so swiftly, and he certainly hadn’t prepared the right words to confess that he was, indeed, Josh’s father.

“Come in, Mom,” he finally managed to say, gesturing toward the private meeting room that extended from his office. This space was often his sanctuary—a place to clear his mind, and at times, a venue for confidential discussions with the executives of Callister Group.

With an air of authority, Kate Callister entered the room, her steps purposeful as she took a seat in one of the plush chairs. Her posture was regal, and her gaze was sharp, piercing through the atmosphere with an intensity that could cut glass.

“Are you just going to stand there?” she asked, her tone cool and demanding.

“Of course not,” Daven replied, forcing a thin smile as he settled into the chair opposite her. He made an effort to appear relaxed, even though he could feel the weight of the impending conversation pressing down on him.

“Who is that boy?”

There it was—the question he had dreaded. She wasted no time diving straight into the heart of the matter, and Daven felt his stomach twist.

Taking a slow, measured breath, he began, “Mom—”

“Don’t you dare hide anything from me, Daven.” Kate leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with determination. “The moment I laid eyes on him, I knew. No, I felt it deep within me. That boy… he resembles you far too much as a child. His smile, his eyes, even the way he holds himself—it’s like looking at you at seven years old all over again.”

Daven squeezed his eyes shut for a brief moment, willing himself to maintain his composure. “Mom, whatever you’re imagining, just set it aside. Your instinct may not be—”

“Answer me!” Kate’s voice cracked, a mix of trembling fury and resolute determination. “Who is that boy, really? Don’t you dare tell me he’s just a friend’s child. I may be getting older, but you cannot fool these eyes, Daven.”

The air in the room thickened with silence, punctuated only by the steady ticking of the clock on the wall, each tick echoing the tension between them.

“You refuse to tell me?” Kate pressed, her impatience growing palpable. “Fine. If that’s your decision—” She abruptly stood up, her movement sharp and restless. “Then I’ll find out myself—”

“Mom.” Daven’s voice sliced through the tension, halting her in her tracks. His blue eyes glinted with a mixture of resolve and resignation. “All right. He’s my son.”

Kate froze, her body seeming to collapse back into the chair as disbelief washed over her. One trembling hand flew to cover her parted lips. “Y- your son?”

With a heavy heart, Daven nodded slowly. “Yes. His name is Joshua Grayson.”

For what felt like an eternity, Kate could only stare, her expression a canvas of disbelief and shock. How could this be real?

“Please,” Daven continued earnestly. “Don’t tell Josh the truth—not yet. For now, it’s best that he doesn’t know I’m his father.”

Her composure shattered. “How can you even suggest that?!” she barked, her voice rising in indignation. “You’ve been hiding your own son from himself? On what grounds? He’s your child, Daven—my grandchild!”

Daven had anticipated her reaction. Drawing a long breath, he steadied himself. “There are things I have to weigh carefully—his safety, above everything else.”

Kate’s anger simmered into a sharp growl. “And where is Althea in all this? Didn’t she just resolve her matters with Vanessa? If her son is still here in Mighatan, that means she hasn’t gone back to SunCity yet, has she?”

“You don’t need to—”

“Don’t you dare try to stop me from seeing her!” Kate interrupted, her voice trembling with fury. “What’s wrong with me demanding answers? How could she keep something this monumental from us—keep him from us—after all this time?”

“Mom—”

“No! Don’t expect me to go easy on her. How dare she hide such a truth on her own? Do you know how long I’ve prayed for a grandchild from you, Daven?”

“Mom!” Daven’s voice snapped like a whip, his patience fraying at the seams. He pressed his fingers against his temples, the weight of exhaustion pressing down upon him. His eyes burned with frustration as he looked at her. “Do you even know why Althea kept this from us?”