HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 253

“I think Josh is still with Daven. Are you sure you want to pick him up now?” Chase asked as he pulled the car to a stop in front of LangLay’s restaurant lobby—the very place where his beloved stepson was inside.

“I don’t know why, but I feel uneasy. I just want to see Josh right away, Chase. Do you mind indulging me?” Althea’s voice carried a thread of guilt as she looked at him. She should have been spending more time with Chase instead.

He had already cleared his schedule just to be with her, and yet here she was, selfishly worrying about her son—who, in truth, was probably safe and content in Daven’s company. Not to mention, Beni was there watching over him. So why was her chest so tight with worry?

“Of course not.” Chase’s hand brushed gently over the crown of her head, a gesture full of tenderness. “I’m thinking of Josh too. Maybe… it just feels incomplete because we’re used to being together. Don’t trouble yourself over something so small, sweetheart. Let’s just go see him, shall we?”

Althea nodded, forcing herself to push aside the unease twisting in her heart. She should be used to Chase’s patience, shouldn’t she? Yet his endless understanding only weighed heavier on her, making it harder to act like nothing was wrong.

That was why she made a quiet promise to herself: once they were back in SunCity, she would carve out time just for Chase. Time that belonged only to the two of them—without Josh in between. She would rather leave her son with Chris or Cale than let him spend too much time with Daven.

But this restlessness… this was new. She’d never felt so unsettled before. Usually, she trusted Josh with Daven without a second thought. Today was different, though—as if something was about to go wrong.

No. She shook the thought away. Daven would never harm Josh.

“Let’s go get him.”

When Chase opened her door, his hand was already waiting for her. Althea felt a surge of gratitude for having such an understanding fiancé. What part of Chase didn’t make her fall deeper in love? She took his hand, gripping it firmly as they walked toward the private dining room where Josh and Daven were.

The space had been chosen for its seclusion, its protection. Daven truly was careful with her son. She shouldn’t have been worrying.

“Good afternoon, Miss Althea, Mr. Chase,” Arsen greeted politely. “You’re expected.”

“Did Josh cause any trouble?” Althea asked at once.

“Not at all, Miss Althea.” Arsen gave her a broad smile. “In fact, Young Master Josh and Mr. Daven have been having quite an enjoyable time together.”

Althea’s brows knit for a moment before she forced them to relax. “So… Josh is in there?”

He rose, crossing the space to meet the woman whose silence carried far more weight than any shouted words. The fury in her eyes was unnerving; Daven wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her like this. Was this another side of Althea—one he had never faced before?

“Let me speak to her, Daven.” Kate’s voice cut in smoothly. She smiled faintly, meeting Althea’s glare without hesitation. “Don’t you want to say hello?”

Althea’s lips curved into a cold, mocking grin. “And why should I? I came only to pick up Josh.”

“Don’t be so distant, Althea. Josh is such a warm, bright child. Quite the opposite of you, who—”

“If he ever knew the truth, I doubt that warmth would—”

“Can we not talk about unpleasant things in front of Josh?” Daven’s voice was firmer than usual, cutting through the tension. He turned to Chase. “Mr. Miller, could you stay with Josh for a moment? There’s something Althea and I need to discuss.”

Josh glanced from face to face; confusion etched across his small features. “What’s going on? Why is Mommy looking at Mr. Handsome and Grandma like that? Did they do something wrong?” He tugged at his mother’s hand, desperate to pull her focus back to him. “Mom?”