HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 368

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

**Chapter 368**

Back at the Miller residence, a place they had just departed, Nathan and Riana lingered on the front steps, their gaze fixed on the vehicle until it vanished beyond the imposing gates. The air was still, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

“I know this might sound odd,” Riana began, her voice barely above a whisper, “but something deep inside me tells me that child isn’t Chase’s biological daughter.” She paused, her brow furrowing slightly. “Yet, despite that, she seems like a good girl. So innocent.”

Nathan turned his head slightly, his eyes searching his wife’s face for signs of distress. “I promise, I’ll do everything I can to verify our suspicions. Just be patient, my love. Acting impulsively won’t help us now. Remember, Cale advised you to hold back as well.”

Riana let out a soft click of her tongue, a sound of frustration mixed with concern. “But where is that child now?” She finally stepped through the threshold of their home, feeling the evening chill wrap around her like a shroud.

“I believe she’s back at Althea’s place. Lydia is still there with her. Let Lydia provide comfort to Althea; she needs it.” Nathan’s voice was steady, but Riana sensed an undercurrent of worry in his tone.

Riana took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “You’re right, dear. But it’s not just Althea who’s grieving. Daven must be devastated as well.”

“That’s why I didn’t call Cale back home immediately. He should stay with Daven for now,” Nathan replied, his arm instinctively wrapping around Riana’s shoulders in a gesture of reassurance.

“What if we visit them tomorrow?” Riana suggested, her eyes lighting up at the thought. “I miss Grace and Josh. My beautiful granddaughter and handsome grandson… I can’t help but wonder if they’re feeling even a little better after losing Kate.”

Nathan nodded, a soft smile breaking through his worried expression. “Loss is a heavy burden to carry. It lingers in the air, never truly forgotten.” He paused for a moment, considering their situation. “Since everyone is already gathered in SunCity, how about we take a short trip? A little vacation might do us all some good.”

Riana looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with renewed hope. “Sometimes, you really do have the most brilliant ideas.”

With a quick peck on his cheek, she added, “In that case, I’ll reach out to Althea.”

***

As the car came to a gentle halt in the lobby of the GreenVilla apartment, Selena reached over and lightly tapped her daughter’s shoulder. “We’re here, sweetheart,” she said, her tone soothing.

Eli, exhausted from the day’s events, had drifted into a peaceful slumber without realizing it. She blinked her eyes open, momentarily disoriented. “Oh—already?” she murmured, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Selena smiled softly, a hint of warmth in her eyes. “You can finish your nap once we’re inside. Just a little longer.”

“Okay, Mom.” Eli climbed out of the car, offering a polite thank-you to the driver before stepping onto the pavement.

Selena, however, merely inclined her head slightly. In her mind, being treated with such deference by the Miller family’s driver was simply her rightful due. Before she strode toward the lobby entrance, she turned to the driver and said curtly, “Pick us up tomorrow at nine. My daughter wants to visit the school her father founded. Don’t be late.”

“B-but, Ma’am?” The driver blinked in confusion, taken aback. He had received no prior instructions for the next day. Who exactly was this woman, and why did she exude such arrogance?

“Just tell Mr. Nathan it’s my daughter’s request. He’ll understand,” she replied, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Selena shot him a sharp, dismissive glance before striding into the lobby, her posture radiating the confidence of someone who believed she had every right to be there.

“What on earth…” the driver muttered under his breath, still bewildered. “Fine. I’ll ask Mr. Nathan directly.”

He climbed back into the car and drove away from the apartment entrance, leaving Selena and Eli to their own devices.

As mother and daughter approached the door of their temporary residence, Eli’s heart swelled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Temporary was a term Eli clung to; for Selena, however, this was merely a stepping stone. She had already begun to weave her way into the fabric of the Miller family, and she had no intention of letting this opportunity slip through her fingers.

“You already know that’s the whole point,” the voice replied matter-of-factly. “They want to push you until they’re absolutely convinced Eli is Chase’s daughter. Once they believe that, taking them down will be considerably easier. Trust me.”

Selena rolled her eyes, frustration bubbling within her. “And yet they still won’t let me into the main house. They keep me waiting, as if my status isn’t clear enough.” Her breath came out in sharp bursts. “Even though they know the evidence I brought is solid.”

The man chuckled softly, a sound devoid of warmth. “You can’t waver. This is all part of the plan. You need to make them believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that Eli is Chase’s biological child. Understand?”

“I’m not doubting anything,” Selena shot back, her voice rising slightly. “I’m just tired of the way they look at me.”

“Good. Then move on to the next step.”

Selena leaned against the wall, folding one arm across her body, her expression sharpening. “And what exactly is the next step?”

“You need to get Riana close to Eli. Intensely close. Make that woman soften, grow comfortable, and eventually trust you. Once Riana believes it, Nathan will follow suit.”

Selena’s eyes glinted with a sly determination, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Why didn’t I think of that sooner?”

“Because you let your emotions cloud your judgment. When that happens, you overlook the cracks you can exploit. Even the smallest opening becomes a chasm when you think clearly.”

Selena gazed down the dimly lit apartment hallway, her breathing steady and controlled. “And if they still refuse to believe?”

A pause hung in the air, thick with tension. When the man finally spoke, his voice was heavy, deliberate—leaving no room for debate.

“Then we move to the second method.”