Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 148

"A married man, a father, acting completely frantic over a young assistant getting a little scratch..."

Elara intentionally emphasized the words *married man* and *father*, layering her voice with the sharp, acidic tone of a jealous wife. Yet, the logic beneath her accusations sounded like she was genuinely trying to protect his reputation.

Julian was completely blindsided, unable to formulate a response.

He hadn't thought the situation through at the time. Elara, as his wife and the mother of his child, had every right to care and feel jealous. If he tried to defend his actions or act annoyed, she would instantly twist it and accuse him of making excuses.

For the first time in his life, Julian experienced the agonizing frustration of being utterly trapped. If he spoke, he was wrong; if he stayed silent, the suffocating anger burned a hole in his chest.

Elara completely ignored his inner turmoil and pressed on with the earnest persistence of a devoted partner. "Besides, we're a married couple. Our interests are inherently aligned. Your decisions are my decisions. It's not like I'm ever going to actively vote against you, right?"

"..."

Elara paused, as if struck by a new thought. "Honestly, it doesn't matter if we change the clauses or not. I just thought that giving me the voting rights would save us both a ton of unnecessary drama down the line."

"At the end of the day, if something major happens and my vote is required, I'm just going to back whatever play you want to make. But having my name actively on the board versus just quietly collecting a check completely changes the narrative for you."

"You don't want the elite circles whispering about how whipped and controlled you are by your wife, do you?"

She had hit the bullseye. Julian's ego was his most fragile asset; he cared about his public image more than anything. Elara's words brutally exploited his deepest insecurity.

Elara dragged the Winthrop family into the line of fire as her ultimate shield. "Think about it. I've never held shares or cared about the firm. But right after their precious daughter gets hurt, I suddenly demand equity and force my way onto the cap table. Doesn't the timing seem a little too convenient?"

"..."

"Grabbing shares but having zero actual power, just acting as a figurehead? It looks exactly like I'm declaring my territory, warning all the scheming homewreckers out there to back off and stay away from the CEO!"

As Elara delivered the final blow, she lifted her chin, exuding the intimidating, icy aura of a ruthless matriarch from a prime-time soap opera, staring down an invisible mistress she was about to completely destroy.

The sheer force of her commanding presence momentarily paralyzed Julian.