Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 86

"Elara, for Melody's birthday, can I invite a coworker to attend?"

"What?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Elara's mind instantly jumped to the one person he might want to invite: Vivian.

She lowered her eyes, staring coldly at Julian, and asked in an impeccably flat tone, "Why would you invite a coworker?"

Julian avoided her gaze, walking toward where Melody was playing. "She mentioned it at work. She's interested in Melody's birthday party and said she wants to celebrate with her."

Julian was not the type to make idle chitchat with his employees.

At the company, aside from Leo Hammond and a handful of senior employees who had been with him since the startup days, the only person he would casually chat with was Vivian.

A freezing wave of dread crept up from the soles of Elara's feet. She gripped her phone so tightly it felt like she might crush it, the veins on the back of her hand popping from the sheer force.

"Who?"

Elara fought to keep her composure, pretending she hadn't seen right through his motive. "Is it Leo?"

"That's weird. He didn't ask to come celebrate Melody's birthday last year. Why the sudden interest?"

"...It's not him."

Julian didn't stop walking, carefully weighing his words. "It's a female coworker. She really likes kids, and when she heard Melody was having a party, she wanted to come experience the atmosphere. What do you think—"

When someone had something to hide, they always talked too much.

In the past, if someone was coming over, Julian would simply tell her who it was and what they were coming for.

He had never acted like this—spouting a bunch of irrelevant nonsense without hitting a single key point, not even daring to say the person's name.

"No."

Julian forced a smile at Melody. Once his daughter looked away to study her balloon bunny again, he reeled in his emotions. Closing the distance between him and Elara, he leaned in, lowered his voice, and whispered directly into her ear, "What if I insist on inviting her?"

With a height difference of several inches, Julian loomed over her. His imposing stance carried the oppressive aura of a dominant executive. It wasn't a question; it was a notification.

Elara tilted her head up slightly. Her dark, heavy gaze met his dead-on, engaging in a silent, unflinching war.

"Try it."

Elara parted her lips, her voice smooth and deliberate, leaving zero room for negotiation. "If you dare invite her without my permission, I'll kick her out in front of everyone."

Julian's face shifted sharply. "Elara, you—"

"I what?"

Elara's expression remained utterly stone-faced. "You know exactly what kind of person I am and exactly what I'm capable of, don't you?"