Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 128

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you the most in the whole wide world."

Elara kissed her cheek in return. "I love you too. You're my most precious girl."

Melody's temper vanished as quickly as it had erupted. Now that she had calmed down, she was incredibly easy to reason with.

Elara offered a compromise. "I'll go downstairs and get a cold towel. How about Grandma helps you with your bath?"

"Okay."

Melody nodded instinctively before suddenly protesting awkwardly, "I can wash myself."

Elara lightly tapped the corner of her eye. "You just cried a lot. I'm worried you might slip and fall."

Melody bashfully covered her face. "I won't! I can see perfectly fine."

Jocelyn feigned heartbreak. "I'm so sad. Do you really hate Grandma helping you bathe that much?"

"No, no, no!"

Melody immediately dropped her hands, standing on the couch to hug Jocelyn. "I don't hate it at all!"

Elara chuckled softly. "Then it's settled."

"Yeah."

Elara grabbed a fresh set of pajamas, and Jocelyn led the little girl to the bathroom.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Elara gathered the remaining presents and carried them into Melody's small study.

Once she confirmed they were fine, she tidied up the room and headed downstairs.

Julian had placed the gifts on the second-floor counter and was sitting on the couch, waiting for her.

He had originally planned to catch up on some work emails, but Vivian had texted him to ask how things were going at home.

Before he knew it, he was engrossed in a conversation with her.

He had just made sure Vivian was feeling alright and urged her to go to sleep.

"Has she calmed down?"

Downstairs, Elara grabbed a fresh towel, soaked it in water, wrung it out, and placed it in a plastic bag to chill in the fridge.

She had used this trick before whenever Melody cried too hard. Julian instantly knew that his daughter's eyes must be incredibly swollen again.

He stood silently behind Elara.

It wasn't until she began heating milk in the microwave that he finally stepped closer. "We need to talk."

Elara slowly lifted her gaze, looking at him with frigid apathy, as if she had only just realized he was there. "What is there to talk about?"

Her tone was perfectly calm, without a trace of anger. Yet, for some reason, Julian sensed a haughty disdain radiating from her expression.

He frowned. Acknowledging that he was at fault for the afternoon's mess, and wanting to avoid upsetting Melody or waking the staff again, he forced himself to swallow his frustration.

"I know I was wrong for missing your calls and texts this afternoon," Julian said flatly. "But that's because something happened..."

"Are you going to tell me that you were with Vivian? That you blew off your daughter's birthday party to take care of your girlfriend?" Elara cut him off.