HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 356

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 356**

As dawn broke that morning, Althea attempted to navigate her daily routine with an air of normalcy, even though the weight of sleepless nights clung to her eyelids like a heavy fog. She bore the burden silently, never uttering a word of complaint. Yet, there was an unmistakable shift in the atmosphere around her, a hollow echo that resonated deeply within her now that the funeral had concluded. It felt as though a new, aching void had carved itself into her very being, a chasm of sorrow that refused to heal no matter how hard she tried to steady her heart.

Deep down, Althea grappled with a truth she had not wanted to confront: Kate had held a significance in her life that surpassed her expectations. Their relationship had begun with a palpable distance, even hostility. There had been a time when Kate had harbored a deep-seated resentment towards her. However, as the seasons turned and life thrust them into one tempest after another, Althea slowly began to unravel the layers of Kate’s affection. Beneath that tough, fiercely independent facade lay a woman with a heart that burned with generosity and warmth.

The loss of Kate felt akin to walking through life with an essential part of herself missing. But even that profound sense of grief paled in comparison to what Daven must be experiencing in this moment.

It was an undeniable fact.

For Daven, Kate had been the very foundation of his existence. Now, as he sat at the dining table, he struggled to grasp the reality that his mother was gone, leaving him and his siblings to navigate a world forever altered by her absence.

“Daven, you haven’t touched your breakfast,” Althea said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she watched her husband stare blankly at the cup of cold coffee that sat untouched before him. “Please, at least try to eat something.”

With a heavy heart, she continued to prepare breakfast, ensuring that Josh and Grace’s lunchboxes were packed and ready for the day ahead. She adjusted Daven’s tie absentmindedly, noticing that he seemed entirely unaware of her presence, lost in a distant realm of his thoughts.

He blinked, as if jolted back to reality, surprise flickering across his face. “Sorry… my mind is all over the place,” he admitted, his voice laced with exhaustion.

“I understand,” Althea replied gently, her eyes filled with empathy. “You don’t need to force yourself. This loss… it weighs heavily on all of us.” She reached out, taking his hand in hers and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You’re not alone in this, Daven. We’re all grieving together.”

A faint smile broke through his somber expression as he glanced down at their entwined fingers. There had been a time when Althea had been so fragile and withdrawn that even the simplest gesture of touch felt daunting. Approaching her had required a courage he hadn’t always possessed. But now, she stood beside him, a pillar of strength, comforting him as if they were united in their shared sorrow.

At that moment, he felt a flicker of gratitude. “Thank you, sweetheart,” he said, his voice softening.

“Would you like me to bring you lunch later? Or perhaps we could go out to eat. I’ll find a nice place,” she suggested, her tone brightening with the thought of spending time together.

Daven chuckled softly, the sound a balm for his weary spirit. “Do whatever you want. But having lunch with you doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all.”

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