HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 308

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

**Chapter 308**

The SunCity airport was alive with its typical midday frenzy—suitcases rolling across the polished floors, announcements echoing through the vast space, and the constant buzz of travelers hurrying to their gates. Yet, for Althea, time seemed to stretch, each moment elongated as if the universe was conspiring to slow everything down. She walked alongside Chase, grasping Josh’s tiny hand with a grip that felt almost desperate, as if releasing it would shatter the delicate peace that enveloped them.

“Why don’t you take a seat for a moment, sweetheart?” Chase suggested, his voice warm and soothing as he noticed her pausing to catch her breath. With a gentle motion, he pulled out a chair for her and guided her down. Then, kneeling in front of Josh, he spoke with a playful seriousness, “You’re going to be Mommy’s brave protector while Daddy is away, okay?”

Josh looked up at his father, his big, earnest eyes filled with concern. “But you won’t be gone for too long, right, Daddy?”

Chase smiled, affectionately tousling the boy’s hair. “Not too long at all. Just a quick trip to Turkey for some work related to the student exchange program. I promise, Daddy will be back home before you know it.”

“Pinky promise?” Josh asked, extending his little finger in earnest.

Chase intertwined his pinky with Josh’s, his heart swelling with love. “Pinky promise.”

As Althea observed their interaction, a wave of emotions washed over her—her heart swelled with love, yet ached with an unshakeable sense of dread. Chase had been unusually attentive that morning, showering her with affection, his words laced with an intensity that felt different, almost poignant. There had been breakfast made with care—golden toast, fragrant tea brewed just the way she liked it, and a steaming cup of hot chocolate for Josh. She had teased him playfully, “What is this, a farewell party or a surprise celebration?”

Yet now, as they sat in the departure lounge, the atmosphere felt heavy, charged with a kind of intimacy that made it hard to breathe. Chase’s gaze lingered on Althea and Josh, as if he were trying to etch every detail into his memory—the way her smile lit up her face, the adorable dimple that appeared on Josh’s cheek, and the soft golden light that danced across their features.

“Are you absolutely certain you didn’t forget anything?” Althea asked, attempting to dispel the strange weight pressing against her chest.

Chase turned to her, his eyes softening with warmth. “Nothing’s missing, Althea. Everything that truly matters is right here with me.”

She rolled her eyes playfully, a smile teasing at her lips. “Please don’t say things like that.”

He chuckled lightly, a sound that warmed her heart. “What? I’m just trying to be a little romantic.”

“Just a little?” she retorted, her tone half-teasing, half-apprehensive. “You’re unusually sweet today. Normally, you’d just say ‘Take care’ and dash out the door.”

“This time is different,” Chase replied quietly, his voice laced with sincerity. “Maybe I’ve finally realized just how precious our time together really is.”

Her breath caught in her throat. There was something in his tone—a fragile truth that made her heart race.

Josh, sensing the tension, wrapped his small arms around Chase’s leg. “Daddy, if it gets cold there, you have to wear a thick jacket right away, okay? You can’t get sick.”

Chase crouched down again, enveloping his son in a warm hug. “You too, champ. Remember to take care of Mommy, and whatever you do, don’t make her mad. Deal?”

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