I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 107

Lauren hid behind Carter’s back. “Carter…‘

Carter stared at George. “So, Mr. Snider, are you really planning to protect Rhea?”

Smiling, George nodded. “Absolutely.”

Carter gritted his teeth and looked back into the room at Rhea. He thought it was just perfect. Then, he said, “Let’s go.”

The crowd quickly cleared out, and the place fell silent.

George turned back into the room and looked at Rhea as he asked, “Did it scare you?”

Rhea shook her head. “No.”

She had seen worse.

But the way Carter protected Lauren clung to her like a thorn lodged deep in her chest. It was sickening and nauseating, yet impossible to pull out.

“Wait, you didn’t leave?” Rhea just realized that.

George’s gaze never left her face. “I was worried.”

Rhea parted her lips to speak, but before she could, he added, “Nathan was worried too.”

“Oh,” she replied.

Carter got into the car with Lauren. He only found out that Lauren had been humiliated after receiving the video Scarlett sent him.

It seemed that Rhea was becoming increasingly outrageous by the day. Not only did she show no respect for others, but she also bullied the defenseless Lauren.

It turned out that all the gentleness and grace she used to show had been nothing but an act.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Carter felt sorry for Lauren.

Lauren shook her head, her eyes full of concern. “I’m fine. What about you? Does it hurt?”

Carter’s expression was still dark. “It’s nothing. But you ended up being humiliated because of me.”

Lauren threw herself into his arms and sobbed. “I just wanted the best for you. How did it turn out like this…”

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Chapter 107

“Don’t cry.”

Carter hugged her close, gently coaxing, “Didn’t you say that you’ve always wanted a house with a big garden? I’ll get you one. There’s an auction next week. I’ll take you with me.”

Lauren looked up at him. “As long as I have you, I don’t need anything else.”

“You deserve everything.” Carter’s tone turned colder as he thought of Rhea. “All Rhea ever did was raise the kids, yet she enjoyed years of luxury like she earned it. You deserve more than she ever had. That’s only fair.”

Lauren wiped away her tears. Her eyes were fixed on him. “Thank you, Carter. Just being by your side makes me happy. I’ll stay with you, for richer or poorer.”

Carter felt a wave of warmth in his chest, along with a growing sense of guilt. “Go home and get some rest first.”

“Where are you going?”

“There’s something I need to take care of.” Carter’s gaze darkened. He wasn’t going to let Rhea keep playing queen.

He had fought his way through worse alone. Even if George wanted to go up against him, he refused to back down.

“Come home soon. I’ll be waiting.‘

“Okay.”

11

By the time Lauren returned home, her tears were long gone. She went upstairs to check on the kids.

The siblings were quietly writing. When they saw her, neither said a single word.

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