HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 96

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

**Chapter 96**

“If it’s true—if Josh is genuinely my son,” Daven spoke softly, his voice barely above a whisper, “what do you think my next step should be?”

Arsen averted his gaze, grappling with the weight of the question. It hung in the air, heavy and charged, and he felt the pressure of Daven’s uncertainty pressing down on him. Ignoring it was not an option; he had to respond, even if the truth was uncomfortable.

“I believe you need to confirm it first, Mr. Daven. Because… to be frank, even if Josh is Miss Althea’s child, can we truly be certain he is also yours?”

Daven’s eyes flickered toward his assistant, a storm of emotions brewing within them, impossible to decipher. He couldn’t fault Arsen for his skepticism. After all, during the time Althea had shared his life, he had barely scratched the surface of their relationship. Their connection had been fleeting—just one moment in time that felt more like a concession to her whims than a genuine bond.

“Give me thirty days. Be my husband—truly. You know what I mean, don’t you?”

Her voice reverberated in his mind, a haunting echo from years past. It was astonishing how those words resurfaced, unbidden and unsettling, as if they had taken on a life of their own. Daven fell silent for a moment, wrestling with the memories that surged within him. Finally, he replied, “You’re right. It feels insurmountable. But you know what, Arsen? There are a plethora of impossible things in this world. And somehow, they continue to unfold before us.”

He turned his attention back to the window, but this time, there was a different glint in his eyes—a depth of contemplation that suggested he was grappling with something profound. The weight of those thoughts and the implications of Althea’s past actions pressed down on him like a leaden blanket.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Daven,” Arsen interjected cautiously, summoning the courage to voice his concerns. “I understand that such things do occur. It’s just… if this is about Miss Althea—who has been absent from your life for so long—and your newfound fixation on her child, it feels like you’re crossing a line.”

Daven’s head snapped toward Arsen, irritation flickering across his features. “What exactly are you insinuating?”

“If Josh truly is your son… are you contemplating taking him away from Miss Althea?”

Daven fell silent, the air thick with unspoken tension.

“What about Miss Althea—the very woman you asked to leave? Wasn’t that your desire? So why are you getting involved now?”

“If Josh is indeed my son,” Daven said, his voice low and laced with a dark intensity, “then why did Althea conceal him from me? I have every right to know. Who granted her the authority to raise a child in isolation, deciding that I wasn’t worthy of being part of his life? Even with Vanessa by my side, I could have provided Josh with the life he rightfully deserves.”

Arsen felt a wave of disbelief wash over him. Daven’s egotism was no secret, but this—this was a different breed of selfishness, steeped in an ignorance that left Arsen incredulous.

“You’re… you really are a selfish bastard,” Arsen muttered before he could rein in his words.

“Ensure everything is managed. Including Vanessa. I don’t want her to know my whereabouts. And don’t forget the results of your investigation regarding my wife. You haven’t delivered that to me yet. Is it truly that difficult?”

“No, Mr. Daven,” Arsen replied quickly, his voice steadying. “I’m just waiting on one final piece of information.”

“Good,” Daven stated, his tone final. “Now, return to your office.”

“Yes, Mr. Daven.”

Just as Arsen was about to slip out the door, Daven’s voice called out again—calm, yet laden with an undeniable weight.

“You’re right. I am a selfish bastard. But if Josh truly is my son, I have every right to understand why Althea kept him from me.” Daven paused, locking eyes with Arsen, who stood frozen in the doorway. “Initially, I was at a loss about what to do upon discovering all this. But after you labeled me a bastard—yeah, maybe that’s precisely what I am. So this time, I’ll embrace that label… for my son.”

Arsen turned, silently observing his boss, who had already buried himself in work once more. A frown creased his brow as a storm of questions swirled in his mind.

What exactly was Daven plotting?