HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 308

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

**Chapter 308**

The SunCity airport was alive with its typical midday frenzy—suitcases rolling across the polished floors, announcements echoing through the vast space, and the constant buzz of travelers hurrying to their gates. Yet, for Althea, time seemed to stretch, each moment elongated as if the universe was conspiring to slow everything down. She walked alongside Chase, grasping Josh’s tiny hand with a grip that felt almost desperate, as if releasing it would shatter the delicate peace that enveloped them.

“Why don’t you take a seat for a moment, sweetheart?” Chase suggested, his voice warm and soothing as he noticed her pausing to catch her breath. With a gentle motion, he pulled out a chair for her and guided her down. Then, kneeling in front of Josh, he spoke with a playful seriousness, “You’re going to be Mommy’s brave protector while Daddy is away, okay?”

Josh looked up at his father, his big, earnest eyes filled with concern. “But you won’t be gone for too long, right, Daddy?”

Chase smiled, affectionately tousling the boy’s hair. “Not too long at all. Just a quick trip to Turkey for some work related to the student exchange program. I promise, Daddy will be back home before you know it.”

“Pinky promise?” Josh asked, extending his little finger in earnest.

Chase intertwined his pinky with Josh’s, his heart swelling with love. “Pinky promise.”

As Althea observed their interaction, a wave of emotions washed over her—her heart swelled with love, yet ached with an unshakeable sense of dread. Chase had been unusually attentive that morning, showering her with affection, his words laced with an intensity that felt different, almost poignant. There had been breakfast made with care—golden toast, fragrant tea brewed just the way she liked it, and a steaming cup of hot chocolate for Josh. She had teased him playfully, “What is this, a farewell party or a surprise celebration?”

Yet now, as they sat in the departure lounge, the atmosphere felt heavy, charged with a kind of intimacy that made it hard to breathe. Chase’s gaze lingered on Althea and Josh, as if he were trying to etch every detail into his memory—the way her smile lit up her face, the adorable dimple that appeared on Josh’s cheek, and the soft golden light that danced across their features.

“Are you absolutely certain you didn’t forget anything?” Althea asked, attempting to dispel the strange weight pressing against her chest.

Chase turned to her, his eyes softening with warmth. “Nothing’s missing, Althea. Everything that truly matters is right here with me.”

She rolled her eyes playfully, a smile teasing at her lips. “Please don’t say things like that.”

He chuckled lightly, a sound that warmed her heart. “What? I’m just trying to be a little romantic.”

“Just a little?” she retorted, her tone half-teasing, half-apprehensive. “You’re unusually sweet today. Normally, you’d just say ‘Take care’ and dash out the door.”

“This time is different,” Chase replied quietly, his voice laced with sincerity. “Maybe I’ve finally realized just how precious our time together really is.”

Her breath caught in her throat. There was something in his tone—a fragile truth that made her heart race.

Josh, sensing the tension, wrapped his small arms around Chase’s leg. “Daddy, if it gets cold there, you have to wear a thick jacket right away, okay? You can’t get sick.”

Chase crouched down again, enveloping his son in a warm hug. “You too, champ. Remember to take care of Mommy, and whatever you do, don’t make her mad. Deal?”

“If you cry, it’ll make it even harder for me to leave,” Chase said gently, leaning down to place a brief but lingering kiss on her lips. Then he turned his gaze to her rounded belly, a mixture of love and concern in his eyes. “And you, little one… don’t tire Mommy out too much, okay? Daddy will be home before you arrive.”

He lingered for a moment, his palm resting tenderly on her abdomen, placing soft kisses there and whispering sweet words to the daughter he had yet to meet. Althea smiled through her tears, her heart overflowing with love for him, even as unease twisted in her chest. “I’ll be waiting for you at home. Don’t forget to call me whenever you can, Chase.”

“I could never forget,” he replied, straightening up to give her one last smile, his eyes filled with a promise. “I’m off now.”

Josh jumped excitedly beside her, waving both hands enthusiastically in the air. “Bye-bye, Daddy! Don’t forget the souvenirs!”

Their laughter echoed in the air as Chase walked toward the final checkpoint. Just before stepping through, he turned back one last time, his gaze finding Althea and Josh standing together—two people who now encompassed his entire world. His smile held a quiet weight, unspoken words lingering in the air, tugging gently at her heartstrings.

As he finally disappeared beyond the boarding gate, Althea remained where she stood, her fingers still wrapped tightly around Josh’s small hand. But inside, it felt as though something invisible was pulling her heart away with him.

“Mommy?” Josh looked up at her, his innocent trust shining through his eyes. “Daddy’s gonna be okay, right?”

Althea forced a smile, brushing his hair gently back from his forehead. “Of course, sweetheart. Daddy’s going to be just fine.”

Yet, as her gaze lingered on the gate through which he had vanished, her chest tightened with an unsettling anxiety. For the first time, she found herself praying longer than she ever had before—silently pleading that the strange heaviness in her heart was merely the fear of a wife who loved her husband too deeply.