HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 309

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 309**

As the afternoon sun poured through the windows, the house was alive with the sound of Josh’s laughter—a melody that was soft, bright, and utterly infectious. The little boy sat cross-legged on the living room rug, his tiny hands diligently stacking a vibrant array of blocks into a precarious tower that swayed ever so slightly, threatening to topple at any moment. Beside him, Althea observed with a mix of amusement and concentration, occasionally reaching out to steady a piece that seemed to lean a bit too far to one side.

“Careful, sweetheart. It might topple over,” she cautioned him gently, her voice laced with warmth.

Josh’s giggle rang out like a bell. “I’m gonna make it taller than Papa Chase!” he declared with wide-eyed determination, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

“Oh, really?” Althea chuckled, her heart swelling with affection. “Then you’ll need a strong base, or it’ll collapse before you get there.” She smiled down at him, a tender expression that never failed to melt her own heart and fill her with a sense of gratitude for these simple moments.

Nearby, Lydia, settled comfortably in an armchair, chimed in with a soft laugh. “At this rate, your tower might just give your father’s SunCity building a run for its money,” she teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Really?” Josh’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked up at Lydia, a spark of ambition igniting within him. “Then… can you help me, Aunt Lydia?”

“Sure,” Lydia replied, her playful wink drawing a giggle from Josh. “But don’t get mad if we make it fall instead.”

Josh pouted for a brief moment, contemplating the risks involved, then nodded resolutely, as if he had decided the potential for disaster was a fair trade-off for the chance of success. Soon, the room was once again filled with their laughter, the sound echoing softly off the walls and wrapping the space in a cocoon of warmth and joy. Althea sat back, her heart swelling with quiet contentment. Moments like these were precious reminders of how fortunate she was—to have them in her life, to bask in peace, to call this place home.

As night descended, the sky outside transformed into a deep velvet canvas, sprinkled with a thousand shimmering stars that twinkled like diamonds. After tucking Josh into bed, Althea settled beside him, reading his favorite bedtime story, *The Frog Prince and the Sleeping Princess*, her voice soothing and melodic.

“Mommy,” Josh mumbled sleepily, his eyelids fluttering like delicate wings, “is Papa Chase still on the plane?”

“Yes, honey,” she whispered, gently brushing her fingers through his soft hair, feeling the warmth radiate from his small body. “His plane will land soon. Mommy will let you know when he arrives.”

Josh nodded drowsily, his little head sinking into the pillow as he drifted off to sleep almost immediately. Althea lingered for a moment, her heart full as she watched his peaceful face, then quietly stood and closed the door behind her, careful not to disturb the tranquility of the night.

In the living room, Lydia was pouring steaming hot tea into two delicate cups. “I thought you were going to fall asleep with him,” she remarked, her tone light.

“I know,” Althea replied softly, though a shadow of worry lingered in her tone. “But… somehow, this time feels different.”

“Different how?” Lydia asked, her curiosity piqued, the shift in her tone inviting Althea to share more.

“I don’t know… maybe it started a few days ago, but this morning it felt different. Like he was trying too hard to make everything look perfect. He kept saying ‘I love you’ over and over again, kissed Josh like he was leaving for a long time.” Althea’s gaze fell to the cup cradled in her hands, her voice trembling slightly as she recalled the moment. “He even told me that if anything ever happened to him, I should stay strong.”

Lydia fell silent for a moment, allowing the weight of Althea’s words to settle in the air between them. “Maybe he was just worried about leaving you—especially now,” she suggested softly, her heart aching for her friend.

“Yeah… maybe,” Althea murmured, though her tone suggested she was trying to convince herself more than anything else.

Time seemed to stretch painfully slow. The clock on the wall ticked steadily toward midnight, yet Althea remained in the living room, lost in her thoughts. The dim light cast soft shadows across her tired face, each tick of the clock amplifying the heaviness in her chest. She attempted to distract herself by scrolling through the news on her phone, but each passing second only deepened her sense of unease.

Eventually, Lydia, unable to sleep herself, decided to stay up with Althea. “Althea, it’s almost twelve. You need to rest,” she said, her voice laced with concern.