HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Althea’s heart sank as she crossed the threshold of the Callister estate, her footsteps echoing softly against the marble floor. The grand entrance loomed before her, cold and imposing, a reminder that this was her husband’s family home—a place where she no longer felt welcome. The pale gold gown she wore, once a symbol of Daven’s admiration and desire, now weighed heavily on her shoulders, as if it were a chain rather than a garment.

“Please, let everyone be asleep,” she whispered under her breath, clutching the fragile hope like a lifeline. Quietly, she eased the front door open, offering a brief, polite nod to the servant who silently acknowledged her presence. But, as always, fate had other intentions.

A sharp, cutting voice sliced through the silence from the sitting room. “So, you’ve finally decided to come home.”

Althea turned slowly, her breath catching at the sight of Catherine Callister standing there, a glass of wine poised elegantly in her hand. Her mother-in-law’s eyes were icy, sharp as daggers, and her smile carried a venomous edge.

“Alone?” Catherine’s brow arched with deliberate disdain. “Daven didn’t come back with you?”

Althea lowered her gaze, choosing to remain silent rather than offer any explanation. The unspoken answer hung in the air, heavy and undeniable.

“Just as I suspected,” Catherine sneered, her laughter cold and mocking. She stepped forward with measured, deliberate grace, each movement dripping with scorn. “Vanessa was at the party, wasn’t she?”

Still, Althea said nothing. Her silence was a shield, but inside, her heart clenched tighter.

“If you had even an ounce of self-respect, Althea, you wouldn’t have returned to this house at all,” Catherine continued, her voice sharp and unforgiving. “But of course, you’ve grown far too comfortable leeching off the charity of others.”

Althea’s fingers curled tightly around her clutch, knuckles whitening. “Excuse me, Mother. I’m tired,” she said quietly, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

Catherine’s cruel chuckle filled the room. “Tired? All you’ve done is stand there, looking pretty, spinning around Daven like some ornamental prop. Do you honestly believe you deserve to be by his side? Everyone knows this foolish arrangement is about to end.”

Althea didn’t respond. Her posture remained composed, but the sting of Catherine’s words brought a shimmer to her eyes—tears threatening to spill over.

“Pathetic,” Catherine hissed, the word lingering in the air as Althea turned and began to ascend the stairs.

Pausing on a step, Althea took a deep breath, the silence around her pressing in. Should she fight back? Defend herself? The urge flickered briefly, but she chose instead to keep moving forward. Each step felt heavier than the last, weighed down by the bitterness of Catherine’s insults. Yet, as painful as they were, those words were nothing new. She had grown accustomed to the cruelty. Still, the reminder of how little time remained to her made her feel more fragile than ever. Would her one desperate wish ever come true? When would her moment finally arrive?

***

“What am I supposed to do now?”

She made no effort to change out of her gown. Instead, she lay down as she was. At some point, her eyes closed fully. All Althea knew was that she cried herself to sleep.

***

The next morning, the warm aroma of toast and freshly brewed coffee gently filled the kitchen, wrapping around her like a fragile comfort.

Althea stood by the stove, wearing a simple apron, her hair neatly pinned up. A soft, almost hopeful glow softened her usually guarded features. Her hands moved with practiced grace as she arranged breakfast on the long dining table—an area where warmth rarely lingered.

Glancing up at the wall clock, she noted it was 7:15 a.m. Daven usually emerged by 7:30.

Quietly, she held onto the hope that she might catch a glimpse of him this morning, even if only for a fleeting moment.

But instead of the familiar sound of his heavy footsteps, the sharp click of high heels echoed across the marble floor.

“I thought a thief had broken into the kitchen,” Kalina’s shrill voice cut through the air, followed by a mocking laugh. “Turns out, it’s just you.”