HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 290

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

**Chapter 290**

Riana felt the weight of the conversation pressing down, and she quickly sought to redirect the topic. “Let’s just hold onto the hope that this case will truly rid our city of men like him,” she said, her voice laced with determination. A relieved smile spread across her face as she affectionately ruffled the tousled hair atop Josh’s head. “And above all else, what truly matters is that Josh is doing well. That alone is enough to soothe our hearts.”

Josh’s face lit up, his cheeks smeared with remnants of juicy melon. “Of course I’m fine, GrandMom! Why wouldn’t I be?” he exclaimed, his innocence shining through.

A gentle laugh floated through the room, yet the shadow of the recent breaking news still hung heavily in the air, like a storm cloud threatening to burst. Chase exchanged a knowing glance with his father, Daniel, who responded with a small nod, a silent understanding passing between them.

“Dad, can we step into the other room for a moment? We need to have a chat,” Chase suggested, his voice low and serious.

Without hesitation, Daniel followed his son, their footsteps gradually fading into the distance. This left Althea in a tranquil silence beside Josh, her gaze lingering on her little boy, who had returned to happily munching on his melon slices, blissfully unaware of the tension that had just filled the room.

“Oh, GrandMom said Uncle Chris and Uncle Cale are coming, right?” Josh piped up, his excitement bubbling over.

“Yes, they should be arriving any minute now,” Riana replied, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She glanced at Kate and added, “They’re Chase’s younger brothers, Mrs. Callister.”

“Ah, I see. That’s quite different. Daven’s siblings were both girls, while Chase has two younger brothers,” Kate noted, her tone reflecting her curiosity.

“Exactly,” Riana affirmed, pleased with the connection.

Their light conversation continued, weaving in and out of laughter and shared stories, until the door swung open once more. This time, two familiar figures burst into the room, instantly filling the space with a vibrant energy—Chris and Cale.

“Uncle Chris!” Josh shouted with uncontainable joy, nearly leaping out of bed, if not for the protective cast that confined his leg. “I’ve missed you!”

Chris erupted into laughter as he strode over, arms outstretched, and in one fluid motion, he lifted Josh into his embrace. “Hey, champ! You scared us all half to death, you know that?” His voice was warm, rich with relief. “How are you holding up?”

Josh squirmed in his uncle’s grip, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. “Put me down! Put me down!” he protested, his voice a mix of laughter and indignation.

“Not so fast!” Chris chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment.

“Uncle Cale! Help me!” Josh cried out, not in fear but with the frustration of a boy who felt far too grown up to be treated like a toddler.

“Chris,” Cale interjected, his tone flat and serious. Just that one word was enough to bring Chris to a halt. “You do realize his leg is still healing, right? What if you make it worse?”

“Good grief,” Chris pouted, making a face of exaggerated annoyance. “You’re always so uptight, Cale.”

“Oh, come on now,” Althea interjected, sensing the tension in the air before it could escalate. “Chris, you need to be gentler with Josh. He hasn’t fully recovered yet. And Cale, maybe ease up on that serious look of yours. Even if Josh calls for you, you might end up scaring him.”

The doctor chuckled softly, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Do you really want to see me again in the therapy room? At this hospital?”

Josh quickly shook his head, the image clearly not appealing to him.

“In that case, if you ever visit Mighatan again, you can come find me. We’ll grab ice cream at that little shop across from the hospital,” the doctor offered, his tone warm and inviting.

“Yes! I want that!” Josh clapped his hands, practically bouncing with excitement. “Mommy, if we come back here, can I see Mr. Doctor again? Please?”

Althea had been quietly observing the exchange, her heart swelling with emotion. All the fear and heartache of the past weeks seemed to dissolve, replaced by something infinitely more precious. Yes, she felt tired at times, but an overwhelming sense of gratitude washed over her—for every moment, every breath. Josh was still with her.

Her bond with Chase had deepened significantly; his love for her, and for Josh, was undeniable. The Miller family had embraced them with open arms, and even the previously strained ties with the Callisters had begun to mend. Out of tragedy, it seemed that God had woven something beautiful.

“Yes, sweetheart. Of course you can,” Althea said softly, brushing her hand affectionately over Josh’s hair. She turned to the doctor, her smile heartfelt. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for Josh. His therapy went incredibly smoothly, and his recovery has surpassed anything I dared to hope for.”

“I was merely doing my job, Mrs. Althea. But I’m proud of the progress he’s made,” the doctor replied, his tone humble yet proud.

“If you ever miss this city, your dad will bring you back,” Chase chimed in, crouching beside Josh with a warm smile. “You can visit Doctor Frans outside of the hospital anytime, champ. How does that sound?”