HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 41

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

**Chapter 41**

“I miss you, Mom,” Althea murmured, her voice a fragile whisper, barely audible above the gentle rustle of the leaves swaying in the warm breeze. “I’m so sorry it took me this long to come back.” The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions.

Behind her, Lydia stood firmly, clutching an umbrella that offered a small refuge from the relentless sun. She kept stealing glances at her watch, the ticking sound echoing in the silence, but chose to remain quiet. She understood that Althea needed this moment of connection, even if it was with a cold, unyielding stone.

“I’ve done everything you asked of me, Mom. I’ve tried to be strong. I’ve tried to be gentle. I’ve attempted to love with dignity… even when love was never returned to me.” Althea inhaled deeply, her breath trembling as she struggled to articulate her feelings. “But… I don’t think I can keep doing this. I’m so incredibly tired.”

A heavy silence enveloped them, stretching on as Althea wrestled with her thoughts, weighing each word before letting it escape her lips.

“I made a decision, one that might seem reckless… but for the first time in ages, I felt a flicker of happiness, Mom.” A bittersweet smile graced her face, a fleeting moment of joy amidst the sorrow. “Is it selfish to want that—just this once?”

“I liked him,” she confessed, her voice dropping to a near whisper as she bowed her head, her hair falling like a curtain around her face. “No… I loved him. I loved him so deeply that I was blind to the truth. Everything faded into the background the moment he entered my life.”

Tears began to cascade down her cheeks, warm and unwelcome, before she even realized she was crying.

“You once told me that loving someone can hurt more than the pain of being loved. I thought it was just a cliché, something people say to sound wise… but, Mom, it truly hurts. It hurts so much.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, desperately trying to anchor herself as a wave of dizziness washed over her. Was it the oppressive heat? Or the emotional weight she carried, pressing down on her chest like a heavy stone?

“I’ve let it all go now, Mom. I just… I just hope that this moment of madness I allowed myself—this one desperate wish—comes true. You’ll support me, won’t you?”

Althea remained silent, her palm lingering on the cool surface of the headstone, when Lydia stepped in closer, her hand gently resting on Althea’s shoulder, offering comfort in the midst of turmoil.

“When you walked out of that house… you did have a plan to forget him, didn’t you?” Lydia’s voice was soft but probing, seeking the truth.

A quiet laugh slipped from Althea’s lips, a sound tinged with sadness. “Right now, all I want is to find peace.”

“And you think this is peaceful?” Lydia shot back, her voice sharp with concern. “You’re hurting yourself more than anyone else ever could.”

“Lydia,” Althea interjected, her voice strained, a hint of desperation creeping in. She clutched Lydia’s shoulder, her grip firm and pleading. “Please. Just… be quiet for a moment. I-I feel really dizzy.”

Her complexion had drained of color, and she squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to steady her breath, but her body began to sway, betraying her.

“Althea?” Lydia exclaimed, alarm rising in her chest as she reached out, steadying her friend. “Hey! Althea—”

“I just… I need to sit down for a moment,” Althea murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, but she never made it to the bench that loomed nearby. Her vision blurred, her strength faltered, and the serene stillness of the cemetery was shattered by Lydia’s panicked scream.

“Althea?!”