Paula Broadwell returns home with her husband Dr. Scott Broadwell

Paula Broadwell is devastated by the fallout from her affair with David Petraeus, a close friend of hers revealed on Sunday night as she returned to family home after several days in hiding.

The friend said that Paula Broadwell deeply regrets the damage that has been done to her family and others, and insisted she was trying to repair that and move forward.

Paula Broadwell, who was writing a biography of David Petraeus when they started an extra-marital affair, has been staying with her brother in Washington DC ever since news of the relationship broke more than a week ago.

But she moved back in to her home in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, accompanied by her husband and their two children.

The family was welcomed by a group of friends and neighbors on her return, and a friend – who did not want to be named – said that Paula Broadwell was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.

Paula Broadwell maintained her stony silence after being confronted by a number of reporters when she pulled up in an SUV, according to WSOC-TV.

Her husband, Dr. Scott Broadwell refused to comment, but appeared happy to joke about the media circus which has surrounded his family since last Friday, when the scandal became public following David Petraeus’ resignation as director of the CIA.

Paula broadwell was wearing large sunglasses and showed no emotion as she tried to hide her face from waiting photographers.

Scott Broadwell was asked: “Is there anything at all you’d like to say, Scott? Now’s your chance, this is it.”

But after pausing for a moment, he simply replied: “No comment at this time.”

Scott Broadwell later returned to the driveway to take groceries out of the car and joked with reporters, saying: “I’ll be out here Tuesday taking out trash, if you want to shoot that.”

The doctor revealed that the family would be releasing a statement soon, but did not elaborate on when it would be.

Paula and Scott Broadwell were seen in public for the first time on Saturday night returning to her brother’s $2.3 million home after apparently going out for dinner in the Washington area.

Looking stern and taking the lead from her husband, Paula Broadwell did not speak to the gathered news reporters as she marched into her sibling’s home.

It was the first time that Paula Broadwell had been seen since Tuesday evening, when she was photographed wearing a hot pink top in the kitchen of her brother’s home.

Friends and family of the pair told reporters in the wake of the affair revelations that the Broadwells had built a happy home in Charlotte, where they live with their two sons, Lucien 6, and Landon, 4.