HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Althea’s voice barely rose above a whisper, so fragile it almost vanished into the gentle murmur of the café around them. “I’m a terrible person,” she confessed, her eyes fixed on the worn wooden table between them, avoiding Lydia’s steady gaze.

Lydia reached out softly, resting her hand on Althea’s shoulder in a comforting gesture. They sat tucked away in a quiet corner of a bustling downtown café, the kind of place where the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint clatter of cups and low conversations. Usually, Althea never called Lydia without warning—she was always the one to plan ahead, to give a heads-up. But earlier that day, Lydia had answered her phone only to hear Althea’s muffled sobs, and an immediate wave of concern had swept over her.

Since then, Althea had remained silent, her face pale and drawn, cheeks tinged with a faint flush from crying, and her eyes swollen and red—clear signs of the long hours she had spent in tears.

“What happened?” Lydia finally asked, her voice soft and careful, unwilling to push too hard but sensing the gravity of the situation. There was something deeply wrong here, something serious. Lydia had always harbored a quiet unease about Althea’s connection to that family. She couldn’t quite explain it—it was just a gut feeling—but seeing Althea like this only confirmed her fears.

Althea’s silence spoke volumes. The dull pain in her eyes and the way her shoulders curled inward betrayed the turmoil she was holding inside. Lydia knew, without needing to ask, that the source of this anguish was Daven Callister—Althea’s husband—and the complicated, suffocating family that came with him.

Lydia’s question seemed to stir something within Althea. Slowly, she lifted her eyes, taking a shaky breath before speaking. Her voice was low, laced with a quiet frustration and a heavy burden of guilt.

Vanessa’s harsh words still echoed in her mind—the sting of the slap, the sharp humiliation, the overwhelming regret. Perhaps she had pushed too far, failed to consider how her demands might hurt others. But still…

“If you really have to choose…” Althea’s voice cracked slightly, but she pressed on with quiet determination, the pain radiating from her cheek a constant reminder of Vanessa’s cruelty.

“Then, Daven, please, just remember the promise you made. You gave me your word—one month. One month of living as husband and wife—for real. There’s less than two weeks left now. All I ask is that you keep your promise. After that… I’ll leave. You can pursue your happiness.”

Vanessa’s laugh was sharp and bitter, cutting through the tense air like a knife. “You’re still asking for something?” she sneered. “And what was that? ‘Chase our happiness’? Are you serious? Do you really think we can be happy with you still here? Who do you think you are, Althea?”

The words stabbed deeper than Althea had expected, but she refused to show how much they hurt. She swallowed the pain, standing firm despite the ache that threatened to break her resolve.

She had to endure this—for the faint hope she clung to. Even if that hope meant hurting others. Even if it meant becoming the villain in someone else’s story.

“I’m just Daven Callister’s wife. At least… for now,” Althea said quietly, stealing a quick glance at the man standing a short distance away. “I know there’s no place for me in your heart, Daven. But I have every right to ask you to honor your promise. I’m only fighting for the agreement you once made.”

Suddenly, the sharp voice of Kate cut through the room, breaking the fragile silence. “What’s going on here?!” she demanded as she entered, drawn by the commotion coming from her son’s bedroom.

“I brought her here, Mom,” Daven said quietly, stepping forward.

“What?!” The shock was not limited to Kate—Felicia and Kalina both recoiled as well.

“I had my reasons for bringing her to this room,” Daven explained, his voice steady but firm.

Felicia let out an exasperated groan. “Have you lost your mind, Daven? She’s seducing you—can’t you see? Don’t insult my intelligence. That woman is manipulative.”

“Felicia,” Daven’s voice sharpened. “I know better than anyone who’s been manipulative around me. And Althea isn’t one of them.”

“Even your sister can see what she’s doing to you, Daven,” Vanessa cried, her voice raw with emotion. “She’s been playing you from the start! And me? I’ve loved you, sacrificed everything for you, and yet I’m the one who gets cast aside!”

“That’s enough. This has gone on long enough,” Daven said firmly. “Vanessa, we need to talk. Privately.” He reached out, taking her hand gently.