Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 202

The man who had avoided her and their daughter like the plague for nearly a month was suddenly coming home after work. Just the fact that her taunts over the weekend had provoked him enough to stay away from Vivian was strange enough.

Now he was actually offering to pick her up so they could go get their child together?

Elara repeatedly tapped on Julian's profile picture, verifying it was actually his account and not some elaborate fake, which only cemented her belief that whoever sent this message had completely lost their mind.

She would rather believe Julian needed the car and Lester couldn't make it, than believe Julian wanted to do this himself.

But since they hadn't completely torn up their relationship just yet, Elara couldn't afford to burn the bridge completely. Playing the part, she replied with a text full of feigned, delighted surprise: [Really?]

[Julian, is work not busy today? No overtime?]

Julian replied almost instantly: [Yeah, I'm done with work.]

Elara didn't believe him for a second.

Setting aside the raging inferno over at Vanguard Strategic that he desperately needed to handle, Julian's recent attitude had made it clear he couldn't even stand to look at them. The idea of him getting off work early was absolute nonsense.

It was definitely a trap!

While calculating her next move, the text she sent back was practically overflowing with digital hearts, every single word radiating pure, unadulterated bliss.

[That's wonderful!]

[We haven't picked her up together in so long. I'm so happy!]

[Melody will be thrilled to see you too!]

After expressionlessly typing out the fake praise, Elara set her phone down, grabbed her coat and scarf, and headed out.

Seeing her glued to her phone since she came downstairs, heading for the door, and checking the time repeatedly, Jocelyn couldn't hold back anymore. "Aren't you going to get Melody?"

Elara said, "Julian said he's coming to pick me up so we can go get Melody together."

"What?"

Jocelyn looked as if the sun had risen in the west. "He actually said that?"

"Yeah, he's on his way right now."

Elara teased, "Mom, you think it's bizarre too, right?"

Jocelyn nodded, a bad premonition washing over her. She warned, "Did something happen to him today? Does he desperately need your help with something?"

Elara didn't deny it. "Probably."

"Then be careful, don't let him use you."

"I will, thanks, Mom."

As they chatted, Julian texted: [I'm at the gate. Come out.]

Elara replied with an OK emoji and stood up. "Mom, I'm heading out."

"Be careful on the road."

Elara put on her coat and scarf, walking toward the entrance. The moment she stepped out of the gate and into Julian's line of sight, she broke into a light jog, pretending to be in a desperate hurry.

Pulling open the passenger door, Elara hopped in, immediately turning to flash Julian a blindingly sweet smile. "Darling! Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Julian froze at the pet name.

They had known each other since childhood, dated freely, and gotten married, so they were entirely used to calling each other by their first names. They only ever used sweet pet names during special occasions or when the mood struck them in the bedroom.

But it had been a very long time since they used those words.

Julian couldn't even remember the last time Elara had called him 'Darling' with such sticky sweetness.

On the other hand, Vivian often called him that in the heat of passion.

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