HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 232

### Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke
**Chapter 232**

“I can get through this,” Althea reassured herself, her thoughts a flickering candle flame against the looming shadows of doubt.

The courtroom was no ordinary space; it transformed into a battleground, a theater of conflict where every utterance felt like a shot fired in a war of emotions. The air was thick with tension, and the weight of dozens of eyes bore down on the two women standing at the center of it all—Vanessa Blake and Althea Grayson, adversaries locked in a fierce duel of words and wills.

With a decisive bang of the gavel, the judge called the court to order. “Plaintiff, you may begin your questioning.”

Vanessa sprang to her feet, her heels striking the polished marble floor with a sharp, echoing authority. Her eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, a fire fueled by resentment. “Your Honor,” she began, her voice dripping with disdain, “isn’t it painfully clear? Althea Grayson has made it her mission to dismantle my marriage. She appears at the most critical junctures, weaving her influence over Daven until he distances himself from me. And during those times when Daven was away, it became evident that she met with him on multiple occasions.”

A wave of whispers cascaded through the courtroom, a ripple of intrigue and disbelief. Cameras, granted the privilege to capture the proceedings, focused intently on every flicker of emotion, every shift of expression, as if they were desperate to document even the faintest breath of drama.

The judge turned his attention to Althea, his expression unreadable. “Your response?”

Althea rose slowly, each movement deliberate, her demeanor calm and composed, as if she were a swan gliding over a turbulent lake. Her voice was steady, devoid of any tremor, yet it resonated with an unwavering conviction. “Your Honor, I harbor no interest in rekindling any sort of relationship with my ex-husband. If there were attempts to do so, I can assure you, I firmly rebuffed them. I have not had any communication with Mr. Daven Callister since our divorce was finalized. The relevant facts have already been presented through documents and witness testimonies. I see no necessity to reiterate them.”

Her attorney, a man with an air of confidence, interjected smoothly, “We have submitted records of the defendant’s communications with a third party, which clearly demonstrate that the issues in their marriage arose from her own infidelity—not from our client.”

The judge nodded, acknowledging the submission. “Let that be entered into the official record.”

Vanessa’s cheeks flushed with indignation, but she pressed on, her voice rising with each word. “She has defamed me in the media! She spread malicious rumors that have tarnished my reputation both as a wife and a public figure—”

“Objection!” Althea’s attorney interrupted, his tone sharp as a knife. “There is no credible evidence to support the claim that our client ever contacted the media. This accusation is purely speculative at best.”

The judge struck the gavel down firmly. “Objection sustained. Defendant, please limit your comments to verifiable evidence.”

Vanessa froze for a moment, her expression a mixture of shock and fury. Then, with gritted teeth, she retorted, “Do you really think that sitting there with that emotionless facade makes you look innocent, Althea? You’re nothing but a fraud! Everyone knows Daven still has feelings for you—that alone proves you stole him from me!”

But the projector screen had already illuminated with damning text messages—directly linked to her assistant’s number. Even more incriminating were the messages Vanessa herself had sent, instructing her team to push stories that painted Daven and Althea’s supposed affair in a scandalous light—lies crafted to destroy.

Gasps rippled through the courtroom once more, the weight of revelation settling heavily in the air.

The judge let out a sharp sigh, his disappointment evident. “This makes it abundantly clear. Your accusations lack any foundation.”

Vanessa’s complexion drained of color, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for a way out of the trap she found herself in. “Your Honor, I am the victim here! Everyone sides with Althea because of her sweet image, while I’m the one who truly suffers—”

The judge interrupted her, his voice firm and unyielding. “This court is not a stage for theatrics. We deal in evidence. And at this moment, the evidence overwhelmingly supports Althea Grayson.”

Murmurs filled the room, a blend of astonishment and intrigue. Reporters scribbled furiously in their notebooks, cameras flashed, and heads nodded in agreement. Althea sat with her hands tightly clasped in her lap, her heart racing against her ribs, yet her expression remained composed, revealing nothing of the storm within.

Vanessa shifted her weight again, desperation creeping into her voice. “But—”