Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 287

Melody was squeezing so tightly that Elara could barely breathe, but she didn't utter a single complaint. She simply held her daughter close, letting the little girl cry her heart out against her collarbone. Elara gently stroked her tangled hair, rubbing soothing circles into her back while pressing soft, lingering kisses to her tear-dampened cheek, forehead, and ear.

Seeing Elara wince as the child practically choked her, Jocelyn hurriedly stepped forward to pull Melody back. Elara stopped her with a subtle shake of her head.

"I've got her," Elara mouthed silently.

She softly added, "Mom, why don't you go get some water? Leave her to me. I'll stay right here with her."

Jocelyn looked at them with profound worry etched into her features. Knowing there was nothing else she could do to break through the child's panic, she let out a heavy sigh and headed to the kitchen, returning shortly with three glasses of water.

Melody still refused to speak, her tiny frame shuddering with every ragged sob.

Elara's arms were slowly going numb under the dead weight of the thrashing child. To relieve the strain, she carefully lowered herself to the hardwood floor, sitting cross-legged and settling the sobbing girl securely into her lap, wrapping her in a protective cocoon.

Utterly helpless, Jocelyn paced anxiously near the door, clutching a glass of water. In her nervous state, she accidentally chugged her own glass and had to go refill it with lukewarm water.

It wasn't until Jocelyn was halfway through her third glass that Melody's exhausted sobs finally began to taper off. The vice-like grip around Elara's neck slowly loosened.

Seeing the shift, Jocelyn quickly dumped the cold water from the remaining glasses on the nightstand, replaced it with fresh, warm water, and handed a glass down to Elara.

Elara took it, sipping a small amount to clear her own dry throat. She turned her head, pressing another kiss to Melody's flushed cheek. "Does my baby want some water?"

Melody was finally coming back to reality, though her mind was still sluggish from the sheer exhaustion of her meltdown. After a long, delayed beat, she slowly shook her head.

"You don't want water, huh?" Elara murmured.

Feigning a highly exaggerated pout of disappointment, Elara offered, "What about some juice? Or maybe a little soda? What about some Jell-O?"

"We still have those sweet oranges we bought at the store this morning," Jocelyn quickly chimed in, eager to help.

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