HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 321

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

**Chapter 321**

The gentle rhythm of raindrops danced against the office window, creating a soothing symphony that filled the otherwise silent space. It was late into the night, yet the lights at the pinnacle of the Callister Group building blazed defiantly against the darkened sky. Daven stood there, his jacket slightly askew, gazing out at the cityscape, the myriad of lights twinkling like stars, reflecting the weariness etched in his eyes.

Nearly two years had passed since he made the pivotal decision to establish a branch of the Callister Group in SunCity. This choice had been born from a desire to escape the relentless back-and-forth travel between Mighatan and SunCity, a decision that had both liberated and confined him.

A soft knock on the door disrupted his reverie. His voice, low and steady, filled the room. “Come in.”

Arsen entered, his demeanor measured and respectful, a stack of documents clutched in his hands. “I apologize for intruding, sir. I couldn’t help but notice you haven’t left for home since this afternoon.”

Daven turned slightly, a faint, almost weary smile gracing his lips. “It’s perfectly fine. I just needed some time to collect my thoughts.”

As Arsen placed the papers on the desk, he hesitated, a flicker of concern crossing his features. “If I may speak candidly, sir… I seldom see you work this diligently, yet you also seem unusually at peace.”

Raising an eyebrow, Daven inquired, “What do you mean by that?”

“Well,” Arsen began, choosing his words with care, his gaze momentarily drifting to the rain-soaked window, “over the past two years, your life appears to have taken on a more settled tone. It feels… warmer, perhaps. I believe this change is due to the little family you have in SunCity.”

A wry smile danced on Daven’s lips, a bittersweet acknowledgment of the truth in Arsen’s words. “A little family, huh…” He glanced down at the now-cold cup of coffee in his hand, the weight of that phrase pressing heavier than he anticipated.

“My apologies if I’ve overstepped,” Arsen said, his voice laced with genuine concern.

“No,” Daven interrupted softly, his tone contemplative. “You’re not wrong.”

An enveloping silence fell over them, punctuated only by the rhythmic patter of rain, each drop a reminder of the world outside.

After a moment, Daven inhaled deeply, his mind racing through thoughts he often kept hidden. “Arsen, you understand why I find myself at that house so frequently, don’t you? Why I keep returning?”

Arsen lowered his head slightly, his respect evident. “It’s because of Mrs. Althea and the children, sir.”

Daven nodded slowly, the truth of those words resonating within him. “If it weren’t for them, I might have given up a long time ago. Josh… he looks at me with this unwavering trust, as if I’m someone who’s meant to stay. And Grace—she won’t sleep unless I’m there beside her.”

“Children have a remarkable ability to forge bonds of genuine affection,” Arsen replied gently. “They sense the authenticity in you, sir. You’ve never pretended to love them.”

Daven fell silent once more, his gaze lost in the rain-slicked cityscape beyond the glass, the vibrant lights blurring into a haze of color. “That’s the dilemma, Arsen. I often question whether what I’m doing is right. I show up every day, lend a hand to Althea, care for her children. But there are moments when I wonder if I’m merely preventing them from truly moving on.”

“With all due respect, sir,” Arsen responded with quiet conviction, “I believe it’s quite the opposite. Your presence isn’t a hindrance; it’s a lifeline. Mrs. Althea seems more at ease now. Stronger.”