HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 131

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 131**

“You really ought to get some rest. It’s quite late,” Kate said softly, her voice laced with concern as she looked at Daven, who appeared utterly worn out. It wasn’t just him; her two daughters were clearly feeling the weight of exhaustion as well. Their conversation had stretched on for far too long, yet none of them could muster the courage to bring it to a sudden halt.

In that moment, Kate felt a flicker of understanding about Daven’s intentions—she finally grasped the reasoning behind his plans, the motivations that drove him forward.

“You should take your own advice, Mom,” Daven replied, managing a faint smile that barely touched the corners of his lips. “Felicia, why don’t you walk Mom to her room? You need to rest too,” he added, casting a glance toward Kalina.

“You’re absolutely right. Tomorrow is bound to be just as challenging,” Kalina agreed, stepping closer to her brother. She reached out, her fingers brushing over his arm in a comforting gesture. “Whatever path you choose, as long as you have a clear purpose, I’ll support you.”

“Thank you, Kalina,” Daven said, his voice warm as he affectionately ruffled her hair. He genuinely wished that neither of his sisters would ever have to endure the trials he was currently facing. This was precisely why he was always vigilant about the men who expressed interest in them. Even though neither Felicia nor Kalina was married yet, Daven made it a point to investigate the backgrounds of every man who came into their lives.

Despite his busy schedule, Daven never allowed his attention to drift from his sisters. He may have seemed distant—too absorbed in his work to engage with them—but he kept a watchful eye over them in subtle, unwavering ways.

Once he ensured that their mother was safely tucked into her room, he let Felicia and Kalina retreat down the hall. As they disappeared from view, Daven found himself moving in the opposite direction. His steps were slow and almost hesitant, as though his feet were being guided by an unseen force. He was headed toward a room he hadn’t entered in years—a room steeped in memories he had long tried to forget.

It was unchanged.

The familiar sight greeted him, a stark reminder of the past. Nothing had shifted since the last time he had stood in that space, so many years ago. If this house had not been equipped with an abundance of spare rooms, Daven was certain that this particular one would have been transformed by now—perhaps into a cozy reading lounge or something more inviting.

His hand hovered over the doorknob for a moment, hesitating before he pressed down gently. The door creaked open, revealing a quiet, untouched sanctuary. Sheer curtains still hung elegantly by the windows, and the vanity in the corner remained immaculate, holding onto the faint scent of lavender that lingered in the air like a ghost from the past.

Daven stepped inside, feeling the weight of nostalgia settle around him. He lowered himself into the chair by the vanity, his fingers trembling slightly as they reached for the drawer. With a quiet sigh, he pulled it open, the sound echoing in the stillness of the room.

What compelled him to do this? He couldn’t quite articulate it, even to himself.

He wasn’t sure what he was hoping to find.

And then, there it was… the letter.

The same piece of paper he had stumbled upon shortly after Althea had left this house—a relic of a time he had tried to bury.

Back then, he had skimmed through it just once, barely giving it the attention it deserved. He remembered how he had laughed at the melodrama of it all, dismissing its contents as nothing more than exaggerated sentiments.

Now, as he unfolded the paper once more, his hands shook ever so slightly.

—

To Daven,

If you’re reading this, it means you were curious enough to step into my room. Or perhaps… you’re searching for me?

Don’t worry. As you wished, I’ll never intrude upon your life again. Not just yours—but the life of the entire Callister family.

I love you. Truly. I really, deeply love you. From the moment we first met, I knew your charm had ensnared my heart. Even when you and your family treated me with such coldness, that love never waned.

He glanced around the room, but all he saw was his own reflection—alone. Empty. Just like his marriage felt now.

His thoughts drifted unbidden to that final moment they had shared… in SunCity. After all those years, she had looked him in the eye and treated him like a stranger. Exactly as she had promised in that letter. Whether she had been pretending or meant every word with her whole heart, he could not discern.

She had vanished so completely from his life that not even a whisper of her remained. He had even gone so far as to hire professionals to track her down, but she had remained elusive.

She had followed through. Every word she had written—she had meant it. She had become a stranger.

“I want to ask you something, Althea,” Daven said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “Do you still remember that one month we shared—the one you referred to as the most beautiful memory?”

He paused, allowing silence to fill the room like a dense fog. Then a humorless chuckle escaped his lips.

“Of course you don’t,” he said, almost to himself. “Right, Althea?”

Once more, he read the letter from start to finish. This time, when he folded it, he took extra care, treating it as if it were fragile.

He didn’t return it to the drawer.

Instead, he slipped it into the inner pocket of his blazer—he would move it to his desk later, where he could keep it close to him.

“Is this karma?” he whispered, his voice tinged with regret. “For discarding your love, Althea? For choosing to follow my heart instead of recognizing the sincerity you offered so freely?”