Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 4

Just six short months. A brand-new employee was enough to erase their ten years together.

Julian arrived half an hour later.-

Perhaps having heard the news from Leo, he looked slightly panicked as he rushed in.

He took off his coat and hung it up, asking, "Why did you come to the office so suddenly?"

Elara countered playfully, "Am I not allowed to come anymore?"

"...That's not what I meant."

Julian frowned, looking like he wanted to defend himself. Elara pushed the thermos toward him. "This is the honey tea Melody made for you."

At the mention of his daughter, Julian finally remembered he was a father. The rest of his words died in his throat, replaced by a fleeting mix of pain, guilt, and remorse.

He awkwardly avoided Elara's gaze and took the thermos. "Thank you."

"You can tell Melody that yourself," Elara pressed.

"...Right."

Julian opened the lid and took a sip. The overly sweet tea slid into his stomach, bringing with it the fragmented remnants of his paternal love. He finally thought to ask about his daughter.

"How is Melody's knee doing?"

"It's fine. We went to the hospital, and the doctor gave us some ointment..."

Elara stopped abruptly, staring at him in shock. "I texted you all this last night. Did you not see it?"

When he thought of last night, all Julian remembered was the fiery passion. He couldn't recall Elara sending a text at all.

"I... I saw it."

Julian took a tactical sip of water and mumbled, "I was just too drunk to reply right away. I'm sorry."

He hadn't read her messages at all.

He was drinking the tea his daughter lovingly made, yet spouting lies to excuse his neglect.

The disappointment in Elara's eyes was undisguised, and the anger and hatred buried deep within her began to stir.

From studying law to becoming an attorney, Elara had encountered plenty of hypocrites and liars. She never imagined she would end up like the victims in her cases, played for a fool by the person she trusted most.

"Her scraped knee is fine, but emotionally, she's struggling. She cried for over half an hour last night, constantly asking if you weren't coming home because she was a bad girl."

"You haven't been home in days, and you haven't even video-called her. It's really taking a toll on her."

"Even this morning, she asked if you came home last night. She was worried you drank too much and insisted on making this tea for you."

The faint, sickeningly sweet scent of perfume wafted over. Before he could touch her, Elara turned away to pack up the lids, saying half-jokingly, "If you really appreciate me, come home more and share the load. You're right here in Shoreline City, but you haven't been home for eight days straight. People might start thinking you have someone on the side."

"Don't overthink things..."

Julian instinctively defended himself, but a knock on the door interrupted him.

"Mr. Beckett."

Vivian walked in holding two cups of coffee. "I heard we had a guest, so I brought some coffee."

Julian frowned in displeasure. Realizing he hadn't told her Elara was here, he couldn't exactly scold her, so he let her in silently.

Vivian acted as if she didn't recognize Elara. She walked straight to the desk and placed one cup in front of Julian.

The other cup, she carried directly to Elara. "Here you go."

Vivian wore a subtle but flawless everyday makeup look. Her long hair fell loose, making her look gentle and obedient. Perhaps out of habit, her right pinky finger curled elegantly as she held the cup, drawing attention to a flashy diamond manicure.

It was exactly the same manicure from the photo she had sent Elara last night.

As Vivian leaned in and straightened back up, the overwhelming scent of her sweet perfume aggressively filled Elara's senses.

It was her.