HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 343

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke 343**

Chapter 343

“Damn it! What is Cale doing at a time like this?” Chris muttered under his breath, frustration slicing through his voice like a sharp blade. He had already dialed his second brother’s number multiple times, each unanswered ring amplifying his impatience. “I can’t wait much longer.”

The small meeting room on the VIP floor of the hospital was a hive of anxious energy, filled to the brim with members of the Callister family. Daven’s two younger siblings had arrived in a whirlwind, catching the quickest flight to SunCity the moment they were informed about their mother’s dire condition.

Meanwhile, Chris Miller stood apart, leaning against the cold glass of the window partition. He was slightly distanced from the others, who were all waiting with bated breath for news from the doctors. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and his jaw was clenched so tightly it felt as if it might shatter. The phone pressed to his ear had been there for nearly ten minutes, yet the tension etched on his face never seemed to dissipate.

“Yes, Chris?” Cale’s voice crackled through the line, laced with irritation.

Chris let out a frustrated growl, his voice rising with urgency. “What the hell are you doing that I have to wait this long just to reach you?”

“What do you want?” Cale snapped back, his tone curt and dismissive. “Say it fast. I have things to deal with.”

With a deep breath, Chris laid out the grim details—the entire sequence of events leading to Kate Callister’s tragic crash.

“Cale, you’re hearing me, right?” He struggled to keep his voice steady, knowing the weight of the situation. “This accident feels way too suspicious. The driver died instantly, the impact point is odd, and the brakes… they were likely tampered with.”

On the other end, Cale’s voice was measured but firm. “I heard every word, Chris. But you do remember I’m in the Bahamas, right? Lydia and I are here for the time being. The new TnC branch just opened, and—”

“I know,” Chris interjected sharply, frustration bubbling to the surface. “But this is the Callister family we’re talking about. And Aunt Kate… she’s one of us.”

An uneasy silence fell between them, stretching out like a taut wire. Cale finally spoke, his tone slower and more deliberate. “I understand. But before I can fly back to SunCity, there’s something crucial you need to know.”

Chris turned away from the window, his heart racing. “What is it?”

“Did you forget something important?” Cale’s voice dripped with a hint of annoyance.

Chris frowned deeply, irritation flaring. “Just say it. Don’t play games with me right now!”

Cale clicked his tongue, frustration evident. “A week ago… Harold got out of prison.”

Chris froze, his mind racing. “Harold? The former mayor of SunCity Harold?”

“Yes.”

“But his sentence still had years left! How the hell did he—”

“Remission. Administrative loopholes. Sentence reductions due to good behavior. It all feels manipulated,” Cale explained, his voice steady. “Too neat to be mere coincidence.”

Chris squeezed his eyes shut for a brief moment, trying to steady his breath against the rising tide of anxiety. “You think he’s connected to the accident?”

“Chris,” Cale’s voice dropped to a near whisper, as if the weight of the revelation required secrecy. “Harold lost everything because of that joint investigation you, Chase, and Daven led. And you know exactly who he despises the most.”

Chris’s gaze flicked toward the ICU doors, where Daven and Althea were still anxiously waiting for any news about Kate. “The Callister family.”

“Exactly. He has plenty of motive.”

A softer voice broke through the tension, cautious yet alert.

“Cale… ask Chris…” Lydia’s tone was hesitant, but her urgency was palpable. “Vanessa Blake… she isn’t out of her sentence yet, right? She’s still in Mighatan?”

Chris’s brows knitted together in confusion. “Why is Lydia asking about Vanessa?”

“I just remembered something,” Lydia replied, her voice shaky with the weight of her thoughts. “Six months ago, before Cale and I moved, there was news about Vanessa also receiving a remission-shortening her sentence. I don’t know if it means anything… I can’t think straight right now.”

Chris exhaled slowly, the air heavy with dread. “So you think Vanessa’s involved?”

“I didn’t say that,” Lydia hurried to clarify. “I just feel… this all connects too perfectly to be dismissed as mere coincidence.”

Cale took the lead again, his voice commanding. “Chris, give me two days. I’ll trace Harold’s movements from the moment he was released. I’ll also check who he’s been meeting with.”

“Two days?” Chris stared at the ceiling, grappling with his own swirling thoughts. “SunCity is already ablaze with rumors since the crash went viral.”

Arsen stepped in, his face pale and drawn. “Sir… there’s something you need to see.”

Chris moved first, urgency propelling him forward. “What is it?”

Arsen quickly unlocked his phone, pulling up a short video that had been recorded mere minutes before the crash.

On the screen, Kate’s car was seen gliding slowly along a bustling road. But what made everyone freeze was the shadowy figure on the sidewalk—someone cloaked in a dark hoodie, their head slightly bowed, watching the car with an unsettling intensity.

Althea, standing near the door, stepped forward, her voice trembling with urgency. “Who is that?”

“Can’t you enhance the image, Arsen?” Daven demanded, impatience lacing his tone.

Arsen zoomed in, though the image remained grainy. Yet the silhouette… the stance… something about the posture sent a chill down Chris’s spine.

His face drained of color as he whispered in disbelief, “That’s impossible…”

Daven’s voice was barely audible, filled with dread. “That’s… not Harold, right?”

Arsen swallowed hard, shaking his head slowly. “No, Sir.”

He looked between Chris and Daven, his expression grave, the air in the room seeming to drop in temperature.

“This figure… is much younger.”

Chris stiffened, his heart racing. “Then who?”

Arsen swallowed again, his voice low and apprehensive. “We still need further confirmation, but based on the height and posture of this unknown man, the most likely possibility is…”

Everyone held their breath, the tension in the room palpable.

“…one of Harold’s sons.”