Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 27

This time, she sent the photo first. As soon as Julian saw her message complaining about the inconvenience, he quickly replied:

[Sure.]

[Do you have Lester's number? Just call him whenever you need a ride.]

Elara responded: [Okay.]

She followed up: [Melody requested braised short ribs for dinner tonight. Are you coming home?]

Julian: [No. I have a networking event.]

Melody, who was sitting right beside her, saw the rejection and instantly deflated. She snatched the phone and pressed the voice memo button.

"Daddy! Daddy! Didn't you promise yesterday that you'd spend more time with me?"

"Why do you have another event? When are you ever going to finish your work?"

"You haven't hung out with me and Mom in forever!"

It took a long time for Julian to reply. He sent a voice memo back, repeating the exact same empty comfort he had offered the day before.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. I really can't get away from work right now. Just be patient a little longer, okay? Once I wrap up these projects, I'll take some time off, and we can all go out and play."

Melody wasn't having it. Her voice trembled as she shot back, "But Daddy, you said the exact same thing yesterday! And the time before that! You never keep your promises!"

Julian offered nothing but apologies, regurgitating the same hollow reassurances over and over.

The more Melody listened, the more heartbroken she became. She was on the verge of breaking down.

Right at that moment, Julian sent one final voice memo: "I'm sorry, sweetie. Daddy has to go into a meeting now. I'll talk to you later."

After that, the chat went dead.

Melody's eyes were rimmed with red, tears pooling dangerously as she fought them back, remembering they were still in a cab.

She handed the phone back to Elara, lowered her head, and fell into a suffocating, heavy silence.

Elara didn't coddle her, giving the little girl the space to process the disappointment on her own.

There would come a time when she wouldn't see Julian for much longer stretches, and Elara had to prepare herself for that reality. Melody, too, needed to start getting used to his absence.

Mrs. Gable carried the groceries inside, and Elara asked her to take Melody upstairs to change out of her heavy clothes.

After washing her hands, Elara walked over to the sofa where Meredith was sitting. She poured her a fresh cup of tea before finally answering, "We just picked up a few things at the supermarket."

"Melody really wanted braised short ribs. Why don't you stay for dinner?"

Meredith, who obsessed over her figure and strictly monitored her light evening meals, scoffed at the offer. "I'll say my piece and leave."

Elara didn't push it. She set her teacup down and sat perfectly still, adopting the picture-perfect posture of an obedient daughter-in-law ready to be lectured.

Meredith crossed her arms, tilted her chin up, and glared down her nose at Elara. "Are you aware of how many crucial networking events Julian has had lately?"

Elara maintained her docile demeanor and nodded. "I know."

"If you know, then why did you crash that banquet and interfere with his business?"

"A birthday party filled with high-profile VIPs—what exactly were you trying to accomplish by dragging a child there?"

"He built his company from the ground up without relying on the Beckett family's connections. It's exhausting enough fighting his way to the top alone, and yet you show up to sabotage him. Do you think he's not working hard enough?"