I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Liam also sat upright. “That Carter guy had a son and daughter before they got married. It’s not that I care about what people say, but Rhea? She has been a brilliant child since the day she was born. She’s smart, capable, well- educated, and was raised like a true lady! I just can’t accept her becoming someone’s stepmother!”

“You said it yourself. She’s a stepmother. Without strong backing, she’s bound to be pushed around. You’re aware of how cutthroat the business world can be. People always side with the powerful.”

Ruby clutched her chest, and her eyes welled with tears. “I just… I just dreamed she was calling out for me.”

Liam’s eyes were filled with lingering pain, but he clenched his jaw and said firmly, “Well, she deserves it! She made the choice herself!”

The next morning, Rhea hadn’t even gotten out of bed when she heard crying.

She sat up fast. Arielle was no longer by her side, and Adrian was gone from the small bed outside.

She jumped up and followed the noise.

In the master bedroom, Lauren was in Carter’s arms. Arielle was sitting on the floor, bawling, while Adrian hugged her tightly.

A woman’s nightgown was shredded on the floor. It was the one Lauren had borrowed from Rhea.

Rhea rushed over. “Arielle?”

“Mom!” Arielle ran into her arms like she was clinging to life.

Carter looked furious. “Look at what she did. She cut up an adult’s clothing! What kind of behavior is this?”

Rhea lifted Arielle in her arms and asked in a low voice, “Did you do this?”

Arielle wasn’t a tantrum–throwing child. If she was sitting on the floor crying, Rhea figured that something must have happened.

Just now, in his rush to grab the scissors from Arielle’s hand, Carter had indeed used a bit too much force. That caused her to lose her balance and fall to the floor.

Carter said, “She doesn’t even show respect to her own mother, and she was holding a pair of scissors. That’s dangerous. Even if I really did push her, she was the one in the wrong to begin with.”

Rhea stared at him and questioned, “What gives you the right to push her?”

Her tone at that moment sent an inexplicable chill through Carter. She didn’t yell, but it was precisely that icy calmness that made him uneasy.

She continued, “If you two want to show off your affection, please do it somewhere away from the kids.”

Upon hearing her accusation, Carter felt a pang of guilt. He tried again. “Didn’t you see her holding the scissors?” “They’re children’s scissors!” Rhea pointed at Lauren. “And was her nightgown cut? It was clearly torn apart!” Carter froze, frowning.

Lauren looked helpless. “She wanted to cut it. I was afraid she might accidentally hurt herself or Adrian, so I tried

Chapter 12

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