HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 223

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 223**

“Am I still not allowed to go home?” Althea’s voice was barely above a whisper as she settled into the plush seat of Chase’s car, the familiar hum of the engine filling the air as they made their way back to the Miller estate. The weight of the scandal involving Daven and Vanessa loomed over her like a dark cloud, forcing her to seek refuge with Chase’s family.

But how much longer could this charade continue?

“Do you mind?” Chase shot her a teasing sideways glance, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“It’s not that,” Althea sighed, a wave of frustration washing over her. “It’s just… the longer I impose on your family, the more I fear I’m becoming a burden. I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

Chase exhaled, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “You really don’t need to worry about that. My parents genuinely enjoy having you and Josh around. It brings them joy, honestly.”

Before Althea could articulate her thoughts further, the cheerful chime of Josh’s toy robot interrupted, its mechanical voice cutting through the tension like a knife. In the back seat, Josh was completely immersed in the robot Daven had gifted him, blissfully unaware of the emotional undercurrent swirling between his mother and Chase.

“See? Even Josh is excited to go back to GrandDad’s house. Right, Josh?” Chase turned slightly, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

Josh, momentarily distracted, lowered the volume of his robot. “Uncle Chase was talking to me?” His eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Yes! Do you enjoy staying at my place, buddy?” Chase encouraged, hoping to lighten the mood.

“Of course! Especially because I get to see Leo and Nyu! GrandDad lets me feed them every morning. I could never forget my duty!” Josh exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious.

“That’s wonderful to hear,” Althea replied, forcing a smile as she tried to ignore the pang of guilt that accompanied her son’s innocent joy.

“Mommy, at the arcade earlier, we played so many games!” Josh burst out, his voice bubbling with excitement, a stark contrast to Althea’s internal turmoil.

She felt as if she were standing at a crossroads, torn between wanting her son to share his happiness and the painful reminder that much of his day had been spent with Daven. With Chase sitting so close, she couldn’t shake the feeling that every word Josh spoke could inadvertently hurt him.

“What games did you play? The same ones we tried earlier?” Chase asked, his tone light and inviting, though he noted Althea’s silence, sensing the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.

“Wow,” Chase widened his eyes in mock surprise, genuinely impressed. “That’s incredible, Josh. You’re a real pro at this!”

Josh beamed with pride, then proudly raised his new robot. “But the best part was this! Mr. Handsome gave me this awesome robot. It can walk on its own, light up all over its body, and the coolest thing is it follows my commands! If I say, ‘Move forward!’ it walks. If I say, ‘Stop!’ it stops.”

The robot sprang to life once more, its tiny lights flashing and filling the car with cheerful electronic sounds, a stark contrast to the tension lingering in the air.

“That’s amazing,” Chase said with an approving nod, genuinely impressed. “You must really love it.”

“I do, Uncle Chase! Mr. Handsome really knows what I like. It’s almost like… he’s known me forever. Have I met him before?”

The innocent question struck Althea like a dagger, slicing through her carefully constructed facade. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, feigning a shift in her seat to mask the tremor that betrayed her inner turmoil.

Chase’s gaze flickered to her for a fleeting moment before he refocused on the road ahead, choosing not to comment on Josh’s slip. Instead, he addressed the boy with a calm demeanor. “Then you’d better take good care of that robot, Josh. Don’t let it break.”