Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 32

Elara's words were incredibly direct, but surprisingly, Melody didn't get angry.

She fell silent, processing the explanation, before tilting her head up to confirm, "So it's really not my fault?"

"Exactly."

Elara nodded firmly. "You did absolutely nothing wrong."

A wave of relief washed over Melody's face as the tears stopped, but her curiosity quickly returned. "Then why did Daddy break his promise?"

"He never used to do this."

Unable to reveal the ugly truth, Elara simply replied, "I don't know, sweetheart."

"Wow, even you don't know?"

Melody sighed heavily, sounding far too mature for her age. "I guess I'll just have to ask him myself."

Elara fully supported her daughter's resolve. "That sounds like a plan."

"So, are you ready for sleep now?"

"Yes."

Melody pulled back from the embrace, planted a loud kiss on Elara's cheek, and slid under her covers, tucking herself in.

"Mommy..."

Instead of saying goodnight, Melody looked at Elara hesitantly, clearly holding something back.

Elara sat on the edge of the bed. "Yes, honey? Is there something else you want to say?"

Melody nodded, her mood visibly dipping again. "My birthday is next week. Since Daddy never comes home anymore, do you think he'll forget?"

Elara, who had been gently stroking her daughter's hair, froze for a fraction of a second before softly replying, "I'll make sure to remind him."

A radiant smile immediately broke across Melody's face, her eyes curving into bright little crescents. "Thank you, Mommy!"

"You're welcome, baby."

"Goodnight, Mommy."

"Goodnight."

They had barely stepped inside before they were tearing at each other with desperate passion.

Watching this agonizing live broadcast yet again, Elara found it utterly impossible to keep her composure.

A suffocating wave of nausea washed over her; her phone felt tainted, and she had the sudden urge to hurl it across the room.

But she couldn't.

Her hand clenched around the phone so hard it shook, a suffocating wave of revulsion washing over her as she fought to maintain her grip on reality.

In the corner of the screen, the heated embrace continued as they stumbled clumsily from the entryway toward the wooden shoe cabinet and console table, fully entering the camera's view.

Operating on pure instinct, Elara hit the record button.

She and Julian had lived in that loft for three whole years.

The core layout remained identical to their early renting days, though they had upgraded most of the furniture and decor when they officially moved in together.

By the time they actually purchased the place, they had already gotten married and moved into a larger house; they had bought the loft purely for sentimental reasons, never bothering to renovate or replace the furniture, leaving everything exactly as it was when they left.

The solid wood shoe cabinet and console table that Julian and Vivian were currently pressed against had been handpicked by Elara at a local thrift market.