Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 38

Julian was haphazardly shrugging into his overcoat as he ran, still sporting his sharp business suit and flawless office hair, making it painfully obvious he had just arrived.

In fact, it looked like he had barely set foot on the second floor before immediately turning back around to leave.

"Daddy, are you here to help us carry things?!"

Melody had already bolted across the driveway, launching herself like a missile straight into Julian's legs.

"Wow, you're finally home! You've been gone for so, so, so long!"

Giddy with overwhelming excitement, Melody spun back around to scream at Elara.

"Look, Mommy! Daddy came home! He didn't break his promise!"

Slammed by the tiny torpedo that was his daughter, Julian stumbled backward, his frantic escape route utterly derailed.

Vivian had been out to dinner with friends and was accidentally shoved during a sudden street brawl. She was currently en route to the emergency room, and he desperately needed to get there immediately.

Trapped between his injured mistress bleeding in a hospital and his oblivious daughter happily blocking his path with endless chatter, a dark surge of irritation flared in Julian's chest.

"Melody!"

Completely failing to curb his soaring temper, the sheer volume of his explosive shout violently startled everyone in the driveway.

Still caught in the middle of a triumphant twirl, Melody froze instantly, the pure joy melting from her features, replaced by a devastating mask of stunned, terrified confusion.

"Julian Beckett, what the hell is wrong with you?!"

Elara closed the distance in three massive strides, snatching the paralyzed toddler out of his reach.

She firmly pressed Melody's face into her chest, shielding the little girl's ears with both hands before unleashing her fury on her husband.

"Are you out of your goddamn mind?"

Elara's voice wasn't a screech, but her delivery was dangerously quiet and laced with a terrifying, absolute lethal rage that bit into Julian like a rabid dog.

Knowing covered ears couldn't block out everything, Elara forced herself to keep her volume contained, biting back the vulgar curses resting on her tongue.

"You disappear for over ten days, and the second you show up, you scream at a toddler who is simply thrilled to see her father? Do you feel like a big man?"

Her glacial stare dragged over his half-worn coat. "You couldn't even bother to change your clothes. Where the hell are you rushing off to? What emergency is so damn important that it gives you the right to treat Melody like garbage?"

"I..."

Elara rarely unleashed this kind of venomous anger, and Julian instinctually opened his mouth to defend himself, only to realize he had zero justification for his vile behavior.

Melody was his flesh and blood; he would never intentionally hurt her, but in that split second of blind panic over Vivian, his toxic anxiety had completely eclipsed his parental instincts.

The crushing regret had hit him the moment the roar left his throat, but the damage was already done.

"I'm sorry."

Julian broke eye contact with Elara's blistering glare, taking a heavy breath before stepping toward them.

"I have an absolute emergency I need to handle. I lost my temper."

Dropping into a low crouch in front of the two most important women in his life, he tentatively reached out a hand. "I messed up, sweetheart. I should never have raised my voice at you."

With her face buried deep in Elara's sweater and her tiny fists gripping the fabric like a lifeline, Melody violently flinched away from his extended hand, refusing to even acknowledge his apology.

...

Julian's hand hung rigidly in mid-air.

"Melody."

He lowered his tone to an incredibly gentle, coaxing whisper, practically begging for her forgiveness.

"Mr. Beckett?"

Witnessing this catastrophic nuclear fallout play out on the front steps was the absolute last thing Lester wanted to see.

Knowing he needed to vanish immediately, but trapped by the mountain of party supplies loaded in his arms, he had no clean exit strategy.

"These are the bags Elara and Melody picked out," Lester stated awkwardly, gesturing to his loaded arms.

He looked helplessly at Julian. "Should I... carry them inside, or...?"

Dropping his outstretched hand, Julian braced his palms against his knees and stood up. "I've got them."

"Yes, sir."

Snatching the heavy shopping bags from his driver, Julian issued a brisk command. "You're dismissed."

With Melody in a state of sheer emotional collapse, fleeing the house now was completely off the table.

Depositing the bags inside the foyer, Julian pulled out his phone and fired off a rapid text to Vivian, warning her he was delayed, before heavily ascending the sweeping staircase.

Elara and Melody were secured inside the nursery.

Melody was still weeping uncontrollably. Elara remained entirely silent, simply rocking the little girl on the plush sofa, gently rubbing circles into her back to provide a silent, unwavering pillar of safety.

As Julian tentatively pushed the door open, Elara lifted her head and shot him a single, withering look.

It was a shockingly flat, deadened stare—a chillingly detached look of absolute disillusionment, proving she no longer held an ounce of expectation for the man standing before her.

A vicious spike of dread pierced Julian's chest, and her name slipped from his lips in a desperate rasp. "Elara..."

"If you have any desire to have a civilized conversation in the future, you will shut your mouth right now."

Elara sliced through his plea with razor-sharp ice. "Julian, neither Melody nor I want to hear the sound of your voice."