HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 379

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**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 379**

Cale’s words hit Daven with an intensity that felt almost suffocating, leaving him momentarily paralyzed. It took him a heartbeat to realize that he had unconsciously ceased to breathe.

“Are you… listening to me?” Cale’s voice cut through the thick silence, laced with an urgency that felt palpable.

“Yes. Of course.” Daven’s response emerged as a mere whisper, fragile and thin, as he fixated on the hotel room wall, his gaze unseeing. His breath faltered, betraying his attempts to maintain composure. “Cale,” he murmured, the name slipping from his lips like a prayer, “are you absolutely certain your information isn’t wrong?”

“If I had even the slightest doubt, I wouldn’t have called you in the middle of this chaos,” Cale retorted, his voice steady but laced with concern. “Harold is out. And what troubles me the most is that his release came without a single official announcement.”

Daven raked his hand down his face, frustration mingling with confusion. “I don’t understand. How could he get out? Who funded it? And what does it have to do with today’s protest?”

“That’s exactly what I’m digging into,” Cale replied, his tone unwavering. “But… Dav, think about it. Your project is starting to shake, and I’m convinced it’s not just JiangShe. Right? The entire protest felt orchestrated. There were reporters already on-site, almost as if the whole scene was staged to thrust you into the headlines. I’m still verifying whether those people were genuine residents protesting your policy or merely paid actors inciting chaos.”

The weight of disbelief settled heavily on Daven’s shoulders, deepening with every word.

“And all of it… started the moment Harold walked out of prison. The timing is way too convenient,” Cale pressed, his voice low and serious.

“Nothing is ever a coincidence,” Daven replied, the chill of realization creeping into his spine.

“Exactly,” Cale affirmed, his tone tightening, the gravity of the situation sinking in. “And I have a feeling… your mother’s death wasn’t one either.”

Daven’s body went rigid at the implication. “Don’t start making assumptions like that, Cale. You know I refuse to drag this into something internal.” His voice was firm, but inside, a storm of doubt brewed.

“I’m not accusing anyone,” Cale said quietly, yet the tension hung between them like a taut string ready to snap. “I’m just saying… I have a bad feeling. And my instincts rarely miss.”

Daven rose abruptly, pacing the confines of the room with quick, restless strides. His mind raced, trying to piece together the shards of everything that had crashed into him today—the protest, the media frenzy, the shifting public sentiment, his mother’s suspicious death, and Harold—

“Cale,” he whispered, urgency lacing his tone, “we can’t let this escalate.”

“Of course not. We won’t.” Cale’s resolve echoed in the charged air.

“We start now. I want you to track Harold. Dig into everything—his finances, the people he’s met, even that truck accident.” Daven’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the table, grounding him in the chaos swirling around. “I want the truth, Cale. Even if it hurts.”

“I’ve already begun looking into it,” Cale replied, his voice steady. “And you?”

“I’ll focus on JiangShe. If they were coerced into protesting and rioting, I need to uncover who’s exploiting this situation.” Daven’s determination solidified, a flame igniting within him.

“Good,” Cale exhaled sharply, the weight of their conversation pressing upon them. “Daven, I hate saying this, but you need to be careful.”

“I’m always careful,” he replied, his tone clipped.

“This time is different.” Cale’s voice dropped to a near whisper, the seriousness of his words hanging heavily in the air. “This isn’t just business. I’m afraid it’s personal.”

A brief, heavy silence stretched between them, filled with unspoken fears.

Then, Cale shifted the subject, breaking the tension. “By the way… they’re all at Nathan’s house.”

Daven blinked in surprise. “All of them?”

“Yes. Althea, Josh, Grace… even Lydia came along. They’re staying the night. The kids seem to be having a blast.”

A warmth spread through Daven’s chest, an ache of longing he had been suppressing since that fateful day he left. “Good. At least they’re somewhere safe. Was this your idea?”

“No,” Cale chuckled lightly. “My mother picked Althea up. She originally wanted us all to take a short holiday together, but… looks like we’ll have to postpone a few things. You’ve got your project to deal with too, right?”

“You’re right,” Daven murmured, his thoughts still swirling. “Um… I want to talk to them.”

“I figured you would,” Cale replied with a knowing tone. “Hold on. They’re in the living room.”

Daven heard footsteps echo faintly, a door creaking open, followed by an eruption of childish laughter and chatter.

“Josh, Grace—your dad’s on the phone!”

A small squeal erupted from the other end. “Papa?!”

Daven couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. For a fleeting moment, all the burdens that had been weighing him down—every headache, every pressure—simply melted away. All that remained was warmth, soft and full of love, especially when he could hear Grace and Josh practically bouncing with excitement to talk to him.