HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 87

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 87**

Before Chase could voice the torrent of questions swirling in his mind, something far more pressing demanded his attention. He leaned forward, his heart racing slightly as he asked, “Althea… if I’m interpreting your story correctly, Daven doesn’t know that Josh is his son, does he?”

Althea’s response was measured, her voice barely above a whisper. “For now, I believe that’s true,” she replied, her eyes clouded with concern. “But I can’t shake the feeling that it’s only a matter of time before he finds out. He has the resources to dig into our lives, doesn’t he?”

Chase nodded, the weight of her words settling heavily on his chest. She was right; the implications of Daven’s potential discovery loomed over them like a dark cloud.

“I can’t argue with you there,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Josh and Daven share an uncanny resemblance. Just look at their eyes—they’re practically mirrors of each other.”

The more he pondered this unsettling truth, the more clarity he gained from Althea’s insight.

A soft breeze rustled through the rooftop of the school’s main building, providing a welcome reprieve from the oppressive heat of the midday sun. Despite the bright sky above, the extended roof cast a cool shadow over them, creating a serene atmosphere that belied the tension of their conversation. Two steaming cups of coffee rested on the long wooden bench that separated them—one in front of Chase, the other directly across from him, waiting patiently for Althea.

Once again, silence enveloped them, a heavy blanket that neither seemed willing to lift.

Chase observed Althea closely. He could see the restlessness etched across her features, a flicker of unease that she struggled to conceal. Her gaze drifted off into the distance, unfocused, as if she were trapped in a whirlwind of memories from a past that had not been kind to her.

He realized he couldn’t remain passive any longer.

“I know this might sound selfish,” he began, his voice steady but laced with vulnerability. “But… what if we explored the possibility of being together?”

Althea turned her head sharply, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion.

“If your instincts are correct and Daven truly intends to take Josh from you, he’ll have to get through me first. You’re my wife, and Josh is my son. He won’t breach the boundaries I’ve set.”

She opened her mouth, ready to respond, but the words eluded her. Nothing she could articulate felt sufficient to match the tempest of emotions swirling within her.

“Let me do this for you, Althea,” Chase said softly, his voice a soothing balm amidst the chaos. “Let me be here for you and Josh. I’m not asking for your heart—not right now. But I am asking you to allow me to be the one who safeguards you both. Especially from the fears that have been haunting you. You deserve to find peace here, to embrace the things that bring you joy. Don’t let that man drive you away, Althea. Stay.”

He held her gaze, unwavering and sincere, his eyes filled with a quiet determination that seemed to bridge the distance between them.

“Can you do that?”