HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 370

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**
**Chapter 370**

Althea felt a rush of warmth creep up her cheeks. Daven had an uncanny ability to act completely unashamed in front of their children, a trait that seemed to linger from his youth. “Um… roast chicken?” she suggested, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

“That sounds absolutely delicious,” Daven replied, loosening his tie with a casual flick of his wrist and shrugging off his blazer as if shedding the weight of the day. “Let me just put my things away first.”

However, before he could take a single step, the doorbell rang, cutting through the cozy atmosphere. Lydia, ever the eager one, stood up with a bright smile. “That’s probably Cale,” she said, her voice brimming with anticipation.

And indeed, it was Cale. He stood at the threshold, clad in a long coat that seemed to frame his sharp features, his expression alert and focused—as if part of him was still tethered to some distant thought. But the moment his gaze landed on Josh and Grace, the tension that had gripped him melted away, replaced by a warm grin.

“Sorry for dropping by so late,” he said, stepping inside with a casual ease. “I promised Lydia I’d join.” Instead of approaching his girlfriend directly, he opened his arms wide, inviting the children into his embrace. “Don’t you two miss me? Josh? Grace?”

Without hesitation, both kids dashed toward him, giggling and vying for the best spot in his arms.

Althea couldn’t help but chuckle. “You lost to them, Lydia,” she teased, her laughter ringing through the room.

Lydia rolled her eyes playfully. “You know… this is just Josh and Grace. Can you imagine if we had our own kids? He’d probably kick me out of the house because all of Cale’s attention would be on them.”

Cale shot her a flat, unblinking stare, his lips twitching into a smirk. “Then why don’t you try getting pregnant and giving me a child? Let’s see who gets the most of my attention then.”

“You’re impossible!” Lydia exclaimed, her voice a blend of exasperation and amusement.

Their laughter echoed through the house, a sound that filled the air with warmth and familiarity. Everyone knew that Cale would never truly allow Lydia to drift too far from him; he had an innate dislike for any distance between them, a protective instinct that was almost palpable.

As the aroma of dinner wafted through the dining room, the atmosphere became increasingly warm and inviting. Light chatter filled the space, punctuated by the children’s giggles and Lydia sneaking soft, affectionate glances at Cale. Josh animatedly shared stories from school, while Grace was determined not to be overshadowed, chiming in with her own tales. Lydia occasionally teased Grace, noticing how effortlessly Josh seemed to excel at everything tonight.

But just as they settled into their comfortable routine, Daven’s phone buzzed insistently on the table. He chose to ignore it at first, but the incessant buzzing continued.

With a frustrated click of his tongue, he finally snatched it up. “What does he want now?” he muttered under his breath, irritation etching lines across his forehead.

Althea frowned at Daven’s growing agitation. “It might be important,” she murmured gently, concern lacing her voice.

“When has Arsen ever called me about anything that wasn’t important? We’re in the middle of something far more precious, sweetheart,” Daven replied, brushing a soft kiss over her cheek, but his attention was clearly divided.

Yet the phone vibrated again, this time with a sense of urgency that made Althea stifle a laugh. “Just answer it. I really think it is important,” she urged, her tone firm.

Daven pressed the call button, irritation still simmering beneath the surface. “What is it? I’m—”

But whatever Arsen said next cut him off completely. Daven’s whole demeanor shifted, his expression hardening as he listened intently.

“What? Slow down—Arsen, slow down,” he said, his voice low and tense.

Cale froze mid-bite, his fork hovering above his plate. Lydia’s eyes widened with concern, and Althea could no longer maintain the pretense that everything was fine—not when Daven’s face had suddenly darkened.

He listened, his jaw clenching tighter with every word. “What do you mean they pulled out? Wait—no. That’s impossible. The contract was already—”

He stopped abruptly, his face clouding over with a deeper worry. “Tell me everything, Arsen. Don’t leave anything out.”

More frantic words spilled from the other end, and Daven’s body turned rigid, tension radiating off him like heat from a flame.

“What do you mean a lawsuit? Arsen—dammit!”

“As if I’d ever,” Cale scoffed, though the tension in his tone was unmistakable. “I’ll dig deeper into this, Daven. Assuming you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Daven replied firmly, determination seeping into his voice. “Tell me what you need—Arsen will send everything to you immediately.” And before anyone could utter another word, he pushed back his chair and stood, urgency radiating from him.

“I must leave. Right now.”

Cale stared at him, stunned into silence. “Daven, you’re serious?”

“I am,” he affirmed, his gaze shifting to Althea, who looked both worried and resolute. “I need to handle this as soon as possible. If I don’t, it won’t just be Callister Group on the line—others will get dragged into it too.”

Althea exhaled slowly, her heart racing. “All right. I’ll help you pack.”

Daven gave her a faint, grateful smile, a flicker of warmth in the midst of the storm. “Thank you for understanding, sweetheart.”

Cale couldn’t sit still; the urgency of the situation gnawed at him. “Make sure you take a few people with you for protection.”

Daven frowned deeply, confusion clouding his features. “Protection? For what?”

“There’s no harm in preparing for the worst,” Cale replied, his tone serious but with an underlying sense of care. “For now, Althea and the kids should stay at the Miller residence. You don’t mind, do you?”

This time, confusion washed over both Daven and Althea, their expressions mirroring each other.

“Is this situation really that bad? Or… is there something else I’m not aware of?” Althea asked, her voice barely above a whisper, fear creeping into her heart.