HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 317

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 317**

“He was found this morning.”

Chris’s voice emerged from the depths of his sorrow, rough and laden with emotions that seemed on the verge of spilling over. The atmosphere in the Callister living room shifted palpably, as if the air itself had thickened with grief. A heavy silence enveloped the space, punctuated only by the soft, heart-wrenching sob of Lydia, who sat curled up in a corner, her anguish echoing in the stillness.

“Where…?” Daniel’s voice broke the oppressive quiet, barely more than a whisper, as if he feared that speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile moment.

“In the waters near the crash site,” Chris responded, his tone weighted with the burden of the news he bore. “The SAR team confirmed it from the identification mark on his wrist. It’s Chase.”

At the mention of Chase’s name, Riana clapped a trembling hand over her mouth, stifling a cry that threatened to escape. Lydia, sensing her friend’s distress, moved to her side, wrapping her in a shaky embrace, tears cascading down her own cheeks as if they were rivers of sorrow. Meanwhile, Cale sat with his head bowed, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose, as if trying to fend off the bitter truth that had just crashed down upon them like a tidal wave.

“Has Althea been told?” Daven’s voice, soft and measured, drifted from his spot near the window, his reflection a mere shadow against the glass, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside.

Chris shook his head slowly, his expression grim. “Not yet. I wanted to be certain before she heard it.”

But before he could elaborate, the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed from the staircase, drawing every eye toward the source. Althea stood there, her complexion pale and fragile, yet her gaze radiated an unsettling calm that seemed to command attention.

“I already know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper yet firm enough to silence the room.

Every head turned toward her, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.

“I saw the news this morning,” she continued, a faint smile flickering across her lips, a bittersweet contrast to the sorrow that enveloped them. “The SAR team… they found several of the passengers. One of them was Chase.”

“Althea…” Lydia pushed her wheelchair forward with painstaking effort, reaching her friend and gripping her trembling hands tightly, as if trying to anchor them both in the storm of emotions swirling around them.

Althea looked into Lydia’s eyes and shook her head gently, a gesture that was both reassuring and heartbreaking. “I’m all right, Lydia. Please, don’t worry.”

“No, you’re not all right,” Lydia choked out, her voice thick with emotion. “You just gave birth—you should be resting—”

“I have to go to his funeral,” Althea interrupted softly, her voice calm yet resolute, a quiet strength emanating from her.

Chris glanced at Daven, his eyes silently pleading for guidance in this moment of despair.

Daven exhaled slowly, the weight of the situation settling heavily on his shoulders. “If that’s what you want, I’ll make sure everything’s arranged. But you must promise not to push yourself, Althea.”

She lowered her head, a faint smile ghosting across her lips, a flicker of determination shining through her grief. “I’ve already lost my husband, Daven. I won’t lose my chance to say goodbye to him too.”

***

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