I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 152

+25 BONUS

Chapter 152

Lauren smiled weakly and held Carter’s hand. She said, “Carter, I’ve never wanted Rhea’s acceptance and understanding. I don’t care how she bullies me at all. The only thing I care about is you. I don’t ask for anything else.”

She’d said the same things since their youth, so Carter fell for it hook, line, and sinker. He even felt guilty for suspecting that something was wrong with her character.

Now, when he saw how weak and aggrieved she looked, he felt like he deserved death.

“Where are Arielle and Adrian?” Lauren asked.

“They’re in the car,” Carter said. “I’ll ask them to come be with you.

Lauren was feeling unwell after the miscarriage. As her children, it was only right for Arielle and Adrian to accompany her.

However, when Carter called Glen, the latter said, “Ms. Arielle and Mr. Adrian are asleep.”

Asleep? At this hour?

Carter checked the time. It wasn’t that late. He said, “Wake them up and bring them in here.”

Glen hesitated. “Ms. Arielle was very uncomfortable earlier, Mr. Jamison. She might be asleep now, but she still looks like she’s in discomfort. If I wake her…”

Arielle mumbled in the backseat, “Mom…”

Glen’s heart went out to her.

Carter flatly asked, “Did you not hear what I said?”

Glen fell silent. After a while, he said, “I understand.”

Over ten minutes later, Arielle and Adrian appeared. Arielle rubbed her eyes, looking weary. “Dad.”

Adrian looked equally bleary.

“Arielle, Adrian. Come and spend some time with your mother. She just lost one of your siblings and is upset now. She really needs you to be with her,” Carter said.

Lauren had lost their sibling?

Arielle didn’t understand what that meant, but she knew that she didn’t want to be around Lauren.” But Adrian and I are sleepy, Dad.”

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Chapter 152

+25 BONUS

“What’s a bit of drowsiness? Hurry up and head inside.” Carter held them by their hands and led them into the hospital room.

Lauren heard them and quickly ended her conversation with Holly, who’d come to check on her. The latter smiled and said, “I’ll get going and leave you guys to talk.”

Before leaving the room, she gave Arielle and Adrian an appraising look.

The children could barely even keep their eyes open. They stood by Lauren’s bed, not knowing what to say or do.

Carter had told them that they were there to have fun, but Arielle had been force–fed alcohol and stopped from sleeping when she was tired. Now, she and Adrian had to spend time with their birth mother, whom they didn’t even like.

The twins weren’t happy.

Arielle said, “Dad, Draventh isn’t a nice place.”

Carter, distracted and irritable, snapped to his senses. “What’s wrong with it?”

“You said we’re here to have fun, but we’re not happy at all.”

Adrian blinked. “There’s only one good thing about this place.”

Lauren wanted to take this opportunity to speak to them, so she smiled and asked, “And what’s that?

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He and Arielle exchanged a look. Then, they said in unison, “Mom is here.”

Lauren’s smile froze. She knew that they were talking about Rhea, not her.

Carter’s expression turned ugly at the mention of Rhea. He said sternly, “Arielle, Adrian, you’re forbidden from talking about her from now on. She has nothing to do with you. You have only one mother, and that’s Lauren. You have to give her the love and respect she deserves.”

They couldn’t talk about Rhea anymore?

“But why?” Arielle didn’t get it.

Carter spat,

“Because she’s evil! She’s of poor character and isn’t a good person to be around. I won’t let her see you two anymore.”

“No, don’t!” Adrian cried. “Mom is the best!”

That angered Carter. “Stop calling her that!”

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