Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 30

It was perfectly normal for Melody to dislike people.

She didn't just dislike a stranger like Vivian; she didn't even like her own grandmother.

Meredith kept that detail to herself, opting to soothe Vivian instead. "Melody is a deeply flawed child, and she's naturally resistant to strangers. She'll warm up to you once she gets to know you."

"I understand that. Julian explained her condition to me, but..."

Vivian let out a bitter laugh. "I've never been a mother, and I have no idea how to handle kids. With Melody's... special needs, I'm terrified I'll mess up and end up hurting her."

Meredith saw right through the performance. Vivian had absolutely zero desire to be a stepmother.

"I completely understand where you're coming from."

Meredith reached over and gave Vivian's hand a reassuring squeeze, sighing deeply. "I've tried convincing Julian to hand over full custody, but..."

"Melody is Julian's firstborn. Her personality is stunted, and her immune system is a disaster. She's always in and out of the hospital, and the medical bills are astronomical."

"Elara is unemployed. She doesn't have a dime to her name. If we let her take the child, she'll use every doctor's visit and tuition bill as an excuse to leech off Julian."

"And what happens when the child gets sick and cries for her father? Do you really expect Julian to just ignore her?"

Vivian was sharp. Meredith only needed to lay out the breadcrumbs, and seeing the flash of realization on Vivian's face, Meredith knew she didn't need to spell it out any further.

She patted Vivian's hand, cementing her point. "Keeping Melody with you two is the only guaranteed way to severe Elara's toxic grip on Julian's life."

Vivian's eyes lit up, but she played innocent. "What do you mean?"

Meredith threw a cautious glance toward the door and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "If you hold the custody rights, whether or not the mother gets to see her child is entirely up to you, isn't it?"

In other words, controlling the daughter meant absolute control over the mother.

It was like sunlight piercing through a suffocating overcast sky. A thrill rushed through Vivian, and she beamed with profound gratitude. "Thank you, Meredith."

Vivian refused to believe it. She had secretly tracked down Julian's corporate office, stalking the building for days until she finally saw him walking hand-in-hand with his girlfriend.

It was the first time Vivian had ever fallen in love, and the first time her heart had been shattered.

Driven by a manic obsession, she ran home and demanded her father arrange a marriage with Julian. Viewing her as an absolute lunatic, her father had forcibly exiled her abroad.

By the time she graduated and returned home, Julian was already married to that exact same woman and had a four-year-old daughter.

But Vivian could never forget him. She was still violently in love with him.

Going behind her parents' backs, she secretly submitted her resume to Ark Solutions. When that wasn't enough, she threatened her father with suicide until he used his leverage to secure her a position as Julian's personal assistant.

Vivian had never planned on burying her feelings, but she had never genuinely expected Julian to fall in love with her in return.

All she had ever wanted was to stay by his side, just so she could look at him every single day.