I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113

Rhea’s eyes were already glistening with tears.

George frowned and said, “Don’t cry.”

She quickly forced the tears back. She wasn’t supposed to cry during postpartum recovery.

Rhea tried her best to smile. “You haven’t had dinner yet, have you? Come try Uncle George’s cooking.”

Arielle blinked up at George politely. “Thank you, Uncle George.”

Adrian echoed, “Thank you, Uncle George.”

George chuckled. “You’re welcome.”

At the dining table, the twins ate quietly, their faces innocent and happy. As long as Rhea was there, nothing else could trouble them.

During the meal, Arielle couldn’t hold back and voiced Adrian’s grievances.

Frowning, Rhea moved to Adrian’s side. “Let me see. Where did she hit you?”

Adrian pointed to the back of his shoulder. “Here. But it doesn’t hurt anymore, so don’t worry, Mom.

Rhea gently pulled back his collar.

There was no visible injury, but just the thought of someone laying a hand on her carefully protected child made anger boil in her chest.

“Didn’t I tell you? You have to learn to endure if things aren’t in your favor,” she said as she sat back

down.

“I couldn’t.” Arielle pouted. “She scared us. The way she looked at us was really mean.‘

Smiling, George ruffled her hair. “Don’t think about things that make you unhappy. Focus on the food.”

Arielle giggled and praised, “Uncle George, your cooking’s amazing!”

“Then have some more.”

As they ate, Adrian looked between Rhea and George and suddenly blurted, “It’d be perfect if you two were our mom and dad.”

George seemed so strong, yet so gentle. Adrian really liked him. Still, he thought it was a shame that

1/2

Chapter 113

+25 BONUS

bad dads couldn’t be traded.

Adrian had always spoken his mind and never kept his thoughts to himself. This, obviously, was him showing that he liked George.

However, Rhea felt a flicker of awkwardness. She said, “Adrian, your dad does have his faults, but he’s still your father. If he thought you were missing, he’d be worried sick. Let’s at least let him know that you’re safe, okay?”

She wasn’t about to badmouth Carter to his kids just because she resented him. She believed that adult matters should stay between adults.

Then, George spoke up. “They’re already here.‘

One of his men outside the neighborhood had just called, telling him that Carter’s car had pulled in.

As he said, the doorbell rang less than ten minutes later.

The new maid opened the door and asked, “Can I help you?”

From the table, Arielle and Adrian instantly spotted Lauren. They dropped their cutlery and darted

behind Rhea.

“Mom, we don’t want to go with her…” Adrian’s voice was pleading, which made Rhea’s chest ache

even more.

At the door, Lauren’s face was pale. She looked at Rhea in disbelief. “Rhea, how could you do this? Just because you lost your baby doesn’t mean you can steal mine! They’re my life…”

Her voice broke, and she began sobbing.

Steal?

Behind her, Chloe huffed. “Officers, arrest this vile kidnapper!”

Rhea had long since grown used to their shamelessness.

George, however, had not. Without even moving from his spot, he looked down at the kids. “Who are they?”

Arielle and Adrian glanced toward the group at the door and instinctively shrank back again.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify