Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 431

Julian instantly noticed the shift in all three of their expressions. His heart sank, but as he met Melody's terrified, defensive gaze, he violently forced his visible frustration down.

"I came to drop off the Holiday Provisions."

Julian pointed to the pile of lavish boxes at his feet. "These are all Melody's favorites."

Only then did Elara and Jocelyn realize he hadn't come empty-handed.

Elara glanced at the boxes, said absolutely nothing, and led Melody out of the elevator. Right in front of Julian, she pressed her thumb to the scanner, unlocked the heavy security door, and ushered Melody and Jocelyn inside.

Once the door clicked shut behind them, Elara turned back to Julian, her voice freezing over. "We don't need it. We already bought everything Melody likes. Take it back."

With his daughter out of sight, Julian no longer needed to bottle up his emotions. His face darkened instantly. "Elara, these aren't for you."

"I know, but we still don't need them."

Elara spoke with absolute indifference. "If you're perfectly fine with me throwing them in the dumpster the second you leave, feel free to leave them here."

"You..."

Julian's face turned a sickening shade of pale. "Elara, we might be getting divorced, but I am still Melody's father. The Child Custody ruling hasn't been finalized yet..."

"You still think you're fighting me for custody?"

Elara cut him off with a chilling scoff. "What exactly are you going to fight me with?"

"You constantly run your mouth about how much you love your daughter, yet you completely disregard her feelings. You know she doesn't want to see you, yet you keep showing up to upset her. Is this your twisted version of love?"

Elara nudged the lavish gift box on the floor back toward him with her foot. "Did you see the way Melody looked at you just now?"

Julian pressed his lips into a tight line, staring at her in agonizing silence.

Of course he saw it.

His only daughter no longer sprinted into his arms, demanding hugs and kisses the second she saw him. The only things left in her eyes when she looked at him were terror and panic.

She didn't want him to hold her. She didn't want to be near him. When she had to walk past him, she instinctively shrank away as if he were carrying a plague.

His precious baby girl no longer told him he was her favorite person in the world; she looked at him like he was the most vile creature alive.

The moment their eyes met, Melody's desperate need to escape violently pierced Julian's eyes, shattering his heart into pieces.

But he had absolutely zero right to say a word.

He was the one who had destroyed everything. The moment he chose divorce, he had thrown away everything he used to cherish.

But she was still his flesh and blood. You couldn't just sever years of emotional connection overnight.

So when the Beckett family butler handed him the Holiday Provisions Elara and Melody used to love, he hadn't hesitated for a second to deliver them himself.

"Elara."

Unable to answer her accusation, Julian forcefully changed the subject. "I know you despise me, but Melody is still young. You shouldn't raise her to be consumed by hatred."

"I know I have no right to preach, but regardless of how toxic things get between us, I am still going to fulfill my duties as a father! I will raise Melody alongside you!"

Elara stared at him with wide, incredulous eyes, looking at him as if he had just delivered the punchline to the most pathetic joke of the century.

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