HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 312

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

**Chapter 312**

“Mom! Althea has fainted again!” Kalina’s voice pierced through the stillness of the living room, laced with a palpable urgency.

Riana bolted from the kitchen, her heart racing, with Kate and Felicia trailing closely behind her. The sight that greeted them was alarming—Althea lay sprawled on the sofa, her complexion a ghostly shade of pale, her breaths shallow and erratic, as if each one was a struggle.

For the past three days, Riana, along with Daniel and the Callister family, had taken shifts to be by Althea’s side. Ever since the devastating news about Chase had shattered their world, none of them dared to leave her alone, even for a fleeting moment. They understood that Althea required more than mere comfort; she needed an infusion of strength, a beacon of hope to guide her through this dark abyss. Yet, despite their unwavering support, her condition seemed to deteriorate with each passing day.

It was impossible to fault her for her state. The circumstances had rattled her to her very core, fracturing her spirit and leaving her emotionally raw. The conflicting reports surrounding the missing plane only served to heighten her anxiety, feeding her fears and amplifying her sense of hopelessness.

“Sweetheart, can you hear my voice? Please, open your eyes, Althea,” Riana implored gently, as she moved closer to her daughter-in-law’s trembling form. Every beat of her heart felt like a dagger, but she steeled herself, determined not to crumble. Not now, when Althea and Josh needed her to be their pillar of strength.

Felicia hurried back, a glass of water in hand, and began to fan Althea’s face with a magazine. “This is the third time this week,” she said, her brow furrowed with concern. “I’m truly starting to feel frightened.”

Kate took Althea’s limp hand in hers, holding it tightly as if to transfer some of her own warmth. “She’s bottling up too much inside. Every time she asks about Chase, it leads to this.”

Althea’s eyelids fluttered, and she struggled to find her voice, which emerged weak and trembling. “They still… haven’t found him, have they?”

Riana offered her a soft, trembling smile that failed to mask the worry in her eyes. “They’re still searching, sweetheart. The rescue teams have broadened their search area all the way to the Greek border. Every elite unit is out there, looking for him.”

“So there’s still no sign at all…” Althea murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Not yet,” Kate responded carefully, her tone soothing. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad news. Sometimes planes make emergency landings in remote places—it can take time to locate them.”

Althea’s gaze turned to the ceiling, silent tears cascading down her cheeks. “How many days has it been, Mom?”

“This is the fourth day,” Lydia interjected softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “But we must keep our faith. They’ll find something soon.”

From the staircase, a small voice piped up, breaking the tension. Josh stood there, clutching his beloved teddy bear, his innocent eyes wide with confusion. “Mommy… is Daddy not home yet because the airplane’s tired?”

The room fell into a stunned silence. Riana swallowed hard, her heart aching, before managing a faint, wavering smile. “Yes, sweetheart. The airplane’s just resting for a little while. Once it’s strong again, it will fly home.”

Josh nodded slowly, his expression earnest. “I want to see Daddy Chase.”

Althea’s hand flew to her mouth, her body trembling as she fought to suppress her sobs.

“Come on, Josh,” Felicia said gently, stepping forward to distract him. “You need to get ready for school, remember? Do you want Aunt Felicia to take you today, or would you prefer Aunt Kalina?”

Josh pondered for a moment, then whispered, “Aunt Felicia. You don’t mind, right?”

Felicia beamed at him, her heart warmed by his trust. “Of course not, sweetheart. I’d love to take you.”

As soon as Josh disappeared into his room, the dam broke for Althea. She lowered her head, her voice quaking with despair. “How long do I have to keep lying to him? How long can I pretend to be strong in front of my son?”

Lydia reached out, squeezing Althea’s hand with a reassuring grip. “Until you can speak without falling apart in front of him.”

“What if he doesn’t come back, Lydia? What if that plane—”

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