HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 436

Chapter 436

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“Your love remains whole, no matter how time passes, Althea,” Daven said. He took his wife’s hand, holding it tightly. He pressed a brief kiss to the back of her hand-a quiet expression of his devotion. “Your love was pure. It was separated by circumstances, not by lies.”

Althea held her breath. What Daven said made her chest tighten. Yet what she felt for Chase couldn’t be denied.” What about you?”

Daven smiled faintly. His blue eyes softened as they met hers. He would be lying if he said it didn’t hurt-but this was a choice he had made with his heart. “I’m simply continuing to walk beside you as a better version of myself than before. That is more than enough for me. But if you’re questioning my love, shouldn’t you already know how entirely it belongs to you?”

Althea’s eyes shimmered. “I don’t want you to carry this burden alone.”

“I don’t feel that way, love,” Daven replied. “We carry it together. Some answers just need time.”

Althea nodded. “So you’re not ready to tell me the test results yet?”

“Not yet,” Daven said, firm but gentle. “Not because I want to hide them. I want to make sure the next step is safe for everyone.”

Althea accepted that without resistance. “Alright.”

“Be patient for a little while longer.” Daven kissed the back of her hand again. “Trust what you believe for now.”

The bedroom door opened softly. Josh appeared, his hair slightly tousled, wearing his sleep shirt. His face brightened the moment he saw his father.

“Dad!” he exclaimed softly, then hurried over. “You’re home?”

Daven stood and pulled him into a hug. “I am. Did our conversation wake you?”

Josh shook his head quickly. “I missed you.”

Althea smiled and shifted slightly to make room for her son. “Did you have a bad dream, Josh?”

“No. And, Mom… even if I had a bad dream, I wouldn’t come out of my room like this,” Josh replied with a faint scowl. But a moment later, he smiled and looked at Daven. “Dad, I met Eli today.”

Daven stiffened for a fraction of a second, then forced himself to stay calm. “What did you talk about?”

“We had lunch with Grandma,” Josh said. “She was polite. Talked a lot about school.”

“Was Eli with her mother?” Daven shifted slightly, giving Josh his full attention.

“No. She was alone.” Josh shrugged. “I don’t know-maybe she was dropped off by that woman? I didn’t ask.”

Althea sat back down. “How did you feel while talking to her?”

Josh thought for a moment. “She was polite, but she also seemed eager to be accepted.”

“And?” Daven prompted.

“She didn’t push,” Josh answered honestly. “But… I felt like there was a kind of expectation in what she was saying, Dad.”

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Chapter 436

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Daven nodded. “Did she bring anything up?”

Josh let out a small breath. “She wants Grandma to ask her to live in this house too. Not directly, but I could tell from the way she talked-she wants Grandma and Grandpa to acknowledge her quickly.”

Althea looked at her son. “You… feel uncomfortable with what she wants?”

Josh only shrugged.

“If you’re uncomfortable, you don’t have to say anything. Or… you can steer away from that conversation,” Daven said carefully. “I know it’s not easy to accept the possibility that Papa Chase might have another child we never knew about.”

Josh fell silent, then lowered his head, his voice subdued. “It’s not that I dislike her or can’t accept her. Maybe I could learn to. I’m just afraid… things will be different if she really comes to live here. I don’t want everything to suddenly change.”

Daven placed a hand on Josh’s shoulder. “That won’t happen, champ. Trust me.”

Josh hesitated. “Grandma invited her to watch my match.”

Althea smiled faintly. “Do you mind?”

“No,” Josh said. “Whether she watches my match or not won’t change anything for me.”

“That’s good. That’s a very good way of thinking,” Althea said, gently stroking her eldest son’s hair with pride. I’m sure that if it does happen, Grandma and Grandpa won’t treat you differently. We’ll just have to learn to adjust to having a new family member. Right, love?” she asked Daven.

“Yes.” Daven smiled softly. “You don’t need to worry.”

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Josh nodded, relieved. “She liked the watch I picked out,” he added suddenly. “Grandma gave it to her as a thank- you gift, and I helped choose it.”

“That’s nice,” Althea said gently. “Thank you for being so mature.”

The unease that had filled Josh’s heart slowly eased, replaced by a sense of calm. Talking openly with his parents hadn’t been a bad choice after all. He accepted the warm embrace from both of them.

Josh yawned without realizing it. “I want to go back to sleep.”

Daven ruffled his hair. “Go on. Sleep.”

When Josh returned to his room, the space fell quiet again. Althea rested her head against Daven’s shoulder.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what?”

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