HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 166

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 166**

Althea offered a faint nod, but within her heart, she sensed the truth—this was merely the beginning of a tumultuous journey ahead.

Chris’s phone buzzed, breaking the heavy silence that enveloped them. “Cale just messaged,” he informed, his tone slightly more upbeat. “He’s already with Josh. They’re on their way to the Miller house.”

“The Miller house…” Althea whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. A tightness gripped her chest as a whirlwind of conflicting emotions surged within. How could she possibly face Mrs. Miller after everything that had transpired?

Chris’s smile radiated warmth, a beacon of reassurance in her storm of thoughts. “It was Mommy who asked you to come home. That means her heart is already open to you. You don’t need to be afraid. Trust me, she’s far wiser than you think.”

Althea felt her lips quiver, the weight of shame pressing heavily on her. “Still… I can’t shake the feeling of embarrassment. Everyone must be gossiping, labeling me—like I’m the person the media portrays me to be.”

From the front seat, Chase turned around, his gaze steady and unwavering. “Althea, look at me. Do you trust us?”

“Yes…” Her reply was barely a whisper, a fragile breath escaping her lips.

“Then stop torturing yourself. You are not the woman they claim you to be. You’re Althea Grayson. And I promise you this—my brother Chase Miller will ensure that anyone who dares to belittle you will regret it for the rest of their lives.”

Chris’s words landed with an unshakeable certainty, effectively silencing her inner protests. A quiet strength began to seep into her, subtle yet real, even as the sting of shame clung stubbornly to her heart.

As the car sped onward, weaving through the restless streets of SunCity, Althea couldn’t shake the feeling that her name—Althea Grayson—was already plastered across the tabloids, the subject of relentless gossip.

And amidst it all, one thought circled in her mind like a relentless tide: What will happen when I finally stand before Riana Miller—the woman who could one day be my mother-in-law?

***

The living room of the Miller family radiated warmth, bathed in the soft glow of amber light. As Althea stepped inside, her eyes were immediately drawn to a small figure perched on the sofa—Josh.

He was completely engrossed in a toy car that transformed into a robot, his little fingers deftly maneuvering it. Althea found herself momentarily distracted by the sight, wondering where the toy had come from, but that question quickly faded away. What truly mattered was that her son was here, safe and unharmed.

Moments later, the front door swung open again. Chase stepped inside, tension etched across his features, but it softened instantly when his eyes landed on Althea and Josh. Striding across the room with purpose, he gathered them both into his warm embrace.

“How are you, Josh?” he asked warmly, giving the boy’s small shoulder a gentle pat, his concern evident.

Josh tilted his head up, a simple smile lighting up his face. “I’m okay, Uncle Chase. I had fun playing with Uncle Cale. But… Mommy looks sad.”

Chase’s gaze shifted to Althea, his eyes steady and filled with quiet concern. “She’s just tired, Josh. Don’t worry.”

For a fleeting moment, their closeness enveloped the room in a fragile warmth, as if the chaos of the outside world had been sealed away by the walls of the Miller household. But the spell was abruptly broken when Cale’s voice sliced through the air.

“Those reporters… they weren’t there by accident.”

Althea stiffened, pulling slightly away from Chase’s embrace, her heart racing. “What do you mean?”