Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 40

He had already shrugged his heavy overcoat back on, leaving absolutely no illusion about his immediate departure.

Elara had briefly assumed his chaotic arrival and frantic haste were tied to some catastrophic corporate meltdown, but logic quickly tore that theory to shreds.

The real reason he couldn't look her in the eye and name his emergency was that he was racing off to coddle his mistress.

Elara almost wanted to laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all.

Had Julian Beckett always been this spectacularly fake?

Less than ten minutes ago, he had played the part of the guilt-ridden, desperate father begging for absolution, yet he couldn't even maintain that pathetic charade long enough for his daughter to catch her breath.

"Mommy."

Melody had quietly reined in her sobs, her voice thick and raspy. "I don't want to forgive Daddy."

She had leveled out just enough to notice Julian's retreating silhouette vanishing past her doorframe.

But her father hadn't even bothered to look back to see her watching him.

He had practically jogged down the hall, proving his flashy apology was completely empty.

A real apology meant you fought for forgiveness, doing whatever it took to coax a smile out of the person you hurt—even if it meant trying two, three, or four times until the pain faded.

She loved her dad so intensely; she never would have dragged out the silent treatment forever if he had genuinely tried to fix it.

That was exactly how he used to handle things, but tonight, he threw out a single half-hearted 'sorry' and immediately abandoned ship.

Elara didn't skip a beat, continuing the soothing rhythm against her daughter's spine. "Okay."

"Daddy is being a huge jerk," Melody whispered fiercely.

"He keeps forgetting his promises to us."

"He's the one breaking the rules and messing everything up."

"He apologizes, but he never actually fixes the stuff he promises to fix."

"He doesn't respect me at all."

"Even if I'm just a kid, he doesn't get to lie to me. People who lie to kids are bad guys."

"And I don't like bad guys who lie to me."

Wrapping her arms tightly around Elara's neck, Melody poured out her litany of grievances through fresh, jagged hiccups.

"I ran to say hi because I wanted him to pick me up and hug me, but he just yelled at me instead."

"He used to love hugging me."

The raw sting of rejection clawed its way back up her throat, violently reigniting her tears until she was choking on her own heartbreak.

Julian was barely stepping out of his dress shoes in the foyer when Vivian surged toward him, looking so eager that his heart practically vaulted into his throat.

"Careful! Stop running!"

Barking the command, Julian instantly crossed the distance, effortlessly scooping the injured woman into his arms. "You just left the ER! Running around like that is going to tear your stitches wide open!"

"I don't care."

Hooking her arms around his neck, Vivian planted a soft, lingering kiss on his jaw, batting her eyelashes. "Because I knew you'd be here to catch me."

She played him like an absolute master, perfectly manipulating his deepest protective instincts, yet Julian couldn't summon an ounce of annoyance.

Carrying her straight to the living room sofa, he carefully settled her onto the velvet cushions, affectionately tapping the tip of her nose. "Just promise me you'll take it easy next time."

Vivian offered a radiant, cheeky grin before practically melting into his embrace like liquid honey.

"Let me see the knee."

To avoid aggravating the scrape, Vivian had strategically changed into a flowing silk skirt.

Julian gently pushed the silk aside, revealing the thick white gauze taped over her kneecap. Though the laceration itself was hidden, the severe swelling and angry purple bruising bleeding past the bandages painted a brutal picture.

A savage ache twisted in Julian's chest. He desperately wanted to inspect the damage closer but was terrified that even the slightest pressure would send her into agony.

Leaning down, he pressed a reverent, soothing kiss against her temple. "Does it hurt badly?"