HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 357

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

**Chapter 357**

Felicia and Kalina exchanged knowing nods, their heads leaning slightly toward each other, creating a small cocoon of warmth that enveloped Althea. It was a comfort she desperately needed, a grounding force that settled within her chest, easing the tumultuous thoughts that had been swirling through her mind.

“Stay as long as you wish,” Althea murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, yet filled with sincerity. “Having you here brings me joy. Please, don’t feel like you’re a burden.”

Felicia managed to muster a faint smile, though it barely reached her eyes. “Thank you, Althea, but I can’t. There are things I need to attend to first. There are matters concerning Mommy that I must see through.”

“Ah, she’s right,” Kalina interjected softly, her voice laced with understanding. “Those responsibilities are yours to navigate, Felicia.” She leaned back against the plush cushion with a resigned sigh, her shoulders drooping slightly. “Speaking of the visitor from last night…”

At the mention of that visitor, Althea felt a sudden chill run down her spine, her heart skipping a beat as if it understood the weight of the words about to be spoken.

Selena Ward.

Kalina continued cautiously, her brow furrowing in thought. “I can’t help but wonder… is it really true that she once had something with Chase?”

Felicia was quick to respond, shaking her head with conviction. “I refuse to believe it. Chase isn’t the type of man who allows himself to get close to just anyone. And certainly not someone who would… abandon a child.” Her voice dropped to a near whisper, as if the very mention of it might summon something dark. “You’ve seen how he is with Josh. Even if they had a connection, it couldn’t have been anything serious.”

Althea clasped her hands tightly, the coldness in her palms a stark contrast to the warmth of the room. “I’m just as lost as you are. Even Chris had his doubts about her.”

“One thing is for sure,” Felicia said with newfound determination, “none of this makes sense. It’s all too sudden, and honestly, it raises suspicions. Why would she appear at such a critical moment, one that forces us to question everything we thought we knew?”

“I’m not worried about inheritance or anything tied to the Miller family’s wealth,” Althea replied, her voice trembling slightly. “What truly concerns me is Grace and Josh. They’re so close to their grandparents, and even Chris and Cale adore them. I just… I can’t bear the thought of something tearing them apart.”

“That won’t happen,” Kalina asserted with unwavering confidence. “I’d bet anything on that.”

Her certainty eased some of the tension in Althea’s chest, though the doubts in her mind continued to swirl. Was Selena truly telling the truth? Or was this all part of a more intricate web of deception, something far more complex than they could grasp?

Before any of them could voice another thought, the doorbell chimed from the front hall, its sound echoing through the room like a sudden gust of wind. Kalina was the first to rise, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“Who on earth would come at this hour?” she muttered, a hint of concern creeping into her voice.