Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 33

Their takeout bags rested precariously on the console table, right next to a potted pothos plant that she and Julian had rescued from a dumpster during an evening stroll.

Elara had always been a notorious plant killer who could somehow manage to let cacti die, so she hadn't held out much hope, simply tossing the cutting into a repurposed water bottle.

She figured if it didn't survive, she would just throw the whole bottle away—it was convenient and saved her the cost of a proper vase.

But that little pothos had been a stubborn survivor, completely defying her deadly track record by sprouting new vines and taking over the makeshift container.

Forced to upgrade, she had bought proper pots and soil, propagating it until the entryway, living room, balcony, kitchen, study, and bathroom were practically overflowing with vibrant greenery.

Even their current marital home was filled with its offspring.

That single success had given her an immense boost of confidence, convincing her that her past failures were entirely the fault of the environment or the flowers themselves.

So, while Julian was away on a long business trip, she had hit the nursery and splurged on a variety of exotic blooms.

Unsurprisingly, they had all perished within weeks.

Julian had comforted her, insisting it wasn't her fault and that those specific breeds were notoriously difficult to keep alive without a professional touch.

Elara had believed him, swearing off buying delicate flowers ever again.

Only much later did she discover that the sole reason her original pothos had survived was because Julian had been secretly adjusting the water levels, misting it, and meticulously pruning its leaves when she wasn't looking.

Crash—

The pothos was violently knocked off the console table.

The colorful, quirky monkey-faced ceramic pot shattered into dozens of jagged pieces across the hardwood floor.

That specific pot was something Elara and Julian had crafted together during a romantic getaway.

"Go sit down and relax. I'll clean this up."

"Okay."

Taking off his jacket, Julian grabbed a broom and rolled up his sleeves to get to work.

Vivian draped herself over the living room sofa, watching him with admiration.

Julian wasn't a spoiled heir raised by an army of servants; having grown up with a single mother for the first decade of his life, he knew exactly how to handle household chores.

He moved efficiently, putting on gloves to carefully gather the sharpest pieces into a paper towel, wrapping them securely in a clear bag, and labeling it with a marker to prevent anyone from getting cut.

After sweeping up the spilled dirt, he picked up the surviving pothos and casually tossed the entire plant into a separate garbage bag.

Throughout the entire process, he didn't hesitate for a single second, discarding their memories as easily as taking out the trash.