HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 168

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

**Chapter 168**

The expression on Althea’s face was a mixture of bewilderment and dread, emotions swirling like a storm within her. Instinctively, she tightened her grip on Chase’s hand, as if his presence was the only anchor preventing her from being swept away by the tide of uncertainty.

Daniel’s voice, low and gravelly, reverberated through the room, slicing through the tension like a knife. “Most likely, Vanessa knows because she has someone shadowing Daven. Every move he makes in SunCity is being watched, reported back to her. And now, she’s chosen the cruelest way to strike at him—through your name and your past, Althea.”

Althea felt a lump forming in her throat, her body trembling with weakness. “But why me? I’ve distanced myself from them for so long. What have I done to deserve being dragged back into their circle?” The words escaped her lips, tinged with disbelief and desperation.

Chase, sensing her turmoil, moved his hand to rest on her shoulder, his gaze steady and reassuring. “It isn’t your fault, Althea. This is Vanessa’s game. She knows Daven’s weakness—and unfortunately, that weakness leads back to you.” His voice was a calm harbor amidst her chaos.

Cale, ever the strategist, stroked his chin thoughtfully, his tone low yet resolute. “If that’s the case… then Josh could be her next target.”

Althea’s heart raced at the mention of Josh, her face losing all color. “No! Don’t bring Josh into this.” Her voice faltered, trembling under the weight of her fear.

Daniel raised a hand, a gesture meant to soothe her. “That’s why we need to act preemptively—before this rumor grows any bigger, before Vanessa even gets close to your child. Remember, Althea… in a war of public opinion, they won’t hesitate to use the dirtiest tactics imaginable.”

Silence enveloped the room, heavy and suffocating. Althea’s heart pounded violently in her chest, fear and helplessness wrapping around her like a vice. She cast a glance at Chase, then at Daniel and Cale, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “All I want is to protect Josh… no matter what it takes.”

Cale’s lips curled into a knowing smirk, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “If you’re saying that, are you truly prepared to do whatever it takes?”

Althea locked her gaze onto him, confusion mingling with determination. “What do you mean?”

“Strike back. What else?” Cale stepped closer, his voice hardening with conviction. “She can drag you down just like that, throw filth in your face that you’ve long left behind. She provoked you first.” His eyes narrowed, sharp and unyielding. “I deal in logic, Althea. But if someone plays this dirty… don’t blame me for making them kneel.”

Althea turned to Chase, seeking reassurance in his steadfast presence, then shifted her gaze to Daniel Miller, who offered the faintest nod, a silent endorsement for Cale’s call to action.

“That is… if you want it,” Cale added, his tone shifting slightly, as if weighing the gravity of their situation.

The room fell into a heavy silence as Althea wrestled with her thoughts, the internal battle raging fiercely until she finally spoke, her voice steady yet resolute. “As long as she doesn’t lay a hand on Josh, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Cale tilted his head, a glimmer of respect in his eyes. “Even if it means exposing your past?”

***

Meanwhile, in a different world altogether…

Vanessa Blake reclined into the plush embrace of her armchair, swirling a glass of wine that shimmered like molten gold under the dim lights. A cruel smile crept across her lips as she tapped her heel to the rhythm of the music that filled the room, each beat echoing her growing satisfaction.

“Perfect… simply perfect,” she purred, her gaze fixed on the tablet resting on her lap. News headlines blared across the screen, plastered with damning photographs of Daven alongside that woman.

**Callister Group CEO Caught in Scandalous Affair in SunCity.**

The headlines weren’t just a singular voice; they were a chorus. Dozens, even hundreds of outlets, each one contributing to the cacophony of gossip that threatened to engulf the city. And why wouldn’t it? Vanessa had orchestrated this spectacle with the precision of a conductor leading an orchestra. Every article, every whispered rumor, every accusatory finger pointed at Daven—it all circled back to her.

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