HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 312

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

**Chapter 312**

“Mom! Althea has fainted again!” Kalina’s voice pierced through the stillness of the living room, laced with a palpable urgency.

Riana bolted from the kitchen, her heart racing, with Kate and Felicia trailing closely behind her. The sight that greeted them was alarming—Althea lay sprawled on the sofa, her complexion a ghostly shade of pale, her breaths shallow and erratic, as if each one was a struggle.

For the past three days, Riana, along with Daniel and the Callister family, had taken shifts to be by Althea’s side. Ever since the devastating news about Chase had shattered their world, none of them dared to leave her alone, even for a fleeting moment. They understood that Althea required more than mere comfort; she needed an infusion of strength, a beacon of hope to guide her through this dark abyss. Yet, despite their unwavering support, her condition seemed to deteriorate with each passing day.

It was impossible to fault her for her state. The circumstances had rattled her to her very core, fracturing her spirit and leaving her emotionally raw. The conflicting reports surrounding the missing plane only served to heighten her anxiety, feeding her fears and amplifying her sense of hopelessness.

“Sweetheart, can you hear my voice? Please, open your eyes, Althea,” Riana implored gently, as she moved closer to her daughter-in-law’s trembling form. Every beat of her heart felt like a dagger, but she steeled herself, determined not to crumble. Not now, when Althea and Josh needed her to be their pillar of strength.

Felicia hurried back, a glass of water in hand, and began to fan Althea’s face with a magazine. “This is the third time this week,” she said, her brow furrowed with concern. “I’m truly starting to feel frightened.”

Kate took Althea’s limp hand in hers, holding it tightly as if to transfer some of her own warmth. “She’s bottling up too much inside. Every time she asks about Chase, it leads to this.”

Althea’s eyelids fluttered, and she struggled to find her voice, which emerged weak and trembling. “They still… haven’t found him, have they?”

Riana offered her a soft, trembling smile that failed to mask the worry in her eyes. “They’re still searching, sweetheart. The rescue teams have broadened their search area all the way to the Greek border. Every elite unit is out there, looking for him.”

“So there’s still no sign at all…” Althea murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Not yet,” Kate responded carefully, her tone soothing. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad news. Sometimes planes make emergency landings in remote places—it can take time to locate them.”

Althea’s gaze turned to the ceiling, silent tears cascading down her cheeks. “How many days has it been, Mom?”

“This is the fourth day,” Lydia interjected softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “But we must keep our faith. They’ll find something soon.”

From the staircase, a small voice piped up, breaking the tension. Josh stood there, clutching his beloved teddy bear, his innocent eyes wide with confusion. “Mommy… is Daddy not home yet because the airplane’s tired?”

The room fell into a stunned silence. Riana swallowed hard, her heart aching, before managing a faint, wavering smile. “Yes, sweetheart. The airplane’s just resting for a little while. Once it’s strong again, it will fly home.”

Josh nodded slowly, his expression earnest. “I want to see Daddy Chase.”

Althea’s hand flew to her mouth, her body trembling as she fought to suppress her sobs.

“Come on, Josh,” Felicia said gently, stepping forward to distract him. “You need to get ready for school, remember? Do you want Aunt Felicia to take you today, or would you prefer Aunt Kalina?”

Josh pondered for a moment, then whispered, “Aunt Felicia. You don’t mind, right?”

Felicia beamed at him, her heart warmed by his trust. “Of course not, sweetheart. I’d love to take you.”

As soon as Josh disappeared into his room, the dam broke for Althea. She lowered her head, her voice quaking with despair. “How long do I have to keep lying to him? How long can I pretend to be strong in front of my son?”

Lydia reached out, squeezing Althea’s hand with a reassuring grip. “Until you can speak without falling apart in front of him.”

“What if he doesn’t come back, Lydia? What if that plane—”

For a fleeting moment, the room felt warm again—fragile, yet brimming with shared strength.

Then Riana’s phone rang, the sound slicing through the fragile calm like a knife. She answered immediately, her expression shifting to one of concern.

“Yes, this is Riana Miller speaking…” Her tone grew serious, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. “What? Where exactly? No—alright, I’ll come right away.”

Kate jumped to her feet, urgency in her voice. “What is it? Is there news?”

Riana slowly ended the call, her face drained of color. “They found something off the coast of Crete. They’re not certain yet—it might be part of the plane.”

Althea’s breath hitched in her throat. “When—when will they know for sure?”

“Tomorrow morning,” Riana replied quietly, her heart heavy. “The diving team will go down once the weather clears.”

Althea broke down completely, her sobs reverberating through the room as she clutched Lydia’s hand tightly. “Lydia… if it really is the plane—”

“Don’t think that far ahead,” Lydia interrupted quickly, her voice trembling but resolute. “We don’t know anything yet. Just hold on, Thea.”

Kate stood tall, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, yet her voice remained steady. “We’ll wait together. Whatever the outcome, we’ll face it as one.”

Riana turned her gaze toward the window, where rain began to fall in heavy sheets, as if the sky itself was mourning. Her voice was barely a whisper. “God, please… don’t let this family endure another loss.”

And amid the sound of rain pounding harder against the glass, Althea tilted her head toward the heavens, whispering through her tears, “Chase… if you can hear me, please come home. We’re still waiting for you.”