I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

He clearly understood why Rhea had reached out. Dealing with Carter was nothing to him.

She said, “Thank you.”

George nodded and left. His goodwill didn’t pressure Rhea much. This was one of his personal strengths.

But when George set his mind to something, his forcefulness was more than most people could handle.

Later that night, Rhea dozed off beside the bed.

+25 BONUS

At the Jamison residence, after dropping Lauren and Chloe off at their new place, Carter didn’t stay. He went home, expecting Rhea and the kids to return too.

But deep into the night, there was still no sign of them.

Carter’s expression darkened. He showered and tried to rest, but the empty, silent house made him uneasy.

The sight of Rhea pacing back and forth was gone.

By the time morning came and Carter woke up, the usual sounds of the children moving around on time were nowhere to be heard.

The silence was too much.

Irritated, he went downstairs and asked, “Has Rhea come back yet?”

Alisha shook her head. “No.”

Just then, his driver called. “Mr. Jamison, we can’t trace that car. Its information is kept completely under wraps. All we know for sure is that it came from Draventh.”

They couldn’t trace it? Who had that kind of secrecy?

Carter frowned and wondered how Rhea would know someone like that

It was 8:00 am at the hospital, and Rhea still hadn’t woken up.

Arielle sat on the couch receiving IV fluids, careful not to wake Rhea.

Meanwhile, Adrian showed Arielle the toy George had given him the night before.

“Adrian, is Mr. Snider nice?” Arielle asked curiously.

Adrian nodded vigorously. “He’s very nice. He’s good–looking and not scary at all. And he brought those gifts for you. Dad never played with me like this. He’s always busy.”

At that moment, someone entered the ward.

George, dressed all in black with a spotless shirt and trousers, had neatly trimmed hair and eyes that seemed to see right through everything.

Noticing that Rhea was still asleep, he softened his footsteps and headed toward the two kids.

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Chapter 26

+25 BONUS

“Mr. Snider,” Adrian greeted him.

George stopped and glanced at Rhea. “Her back will hurt if she sleeps like that. I’ll have someone move her to the bed. Is that okay?”

He was respecting the kids by asking. This mutual regard made the siblings comfortable.

As the older sibling, Arielle replied, “Yes, Mr. Snider. Thank you.”

George quickly called for help. But the bodyguards were all men, and nurses might not have the strength to gently

lift Rhea.

After thinking it through, George walked over himself.

With swift, effortless moves, he lifted the sleeping Rhea from the edge of the bed, turned, and gently laid her

down.

When Rhea frowned, George immediately stopped.

After a few seconds, seeing that Rhea hadn’t woken up, he pulled the blanket up over her and stepped away. Arielle’s eyes sparkled. She thought that George was an amazing man! It was no wonder Adrian kept praising him.

“Mr. Snider, breakfast is here,” one bodyguard said softly.

George nodded, signaling the food to be placed near the kids.

“Your mom’s still asleep. You two should eat first,” George said.

Arielle’s hand was tied to the IV, making it hard for her to eat, so Adrian helped feed her. The siblings looked out for each other.

“Mr. Snider.” Arielle suddenly spoke up.

George sat down, rested his elbows on his knees, and leaned forward slightly. As he tried to lower his voice, a subtle tremor crept into his tone as he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Do you like our mom?”

George was rendered speechless. The two kids stared at him wide–eyed.

George chuckled and said, “I’m like your mom’s brother.”

“So you’re our uncle?” Arielle was excited. “We have an uncle?”

George thought that if Nathan heard that, he would probably explode right then and there. He said, “Of course you do. But I’m not your biological uncle. I’m just a friend of your real uncle.”

Adrian asked, “Where is our uncle? We’ve never met him.”

Ever since they could remember, they had never met any of Rhea’s family. They thought that they had no maternal grandparents, aunts, or uncles.

George said simply, “He lives far away. He’ll come someday.”

It was far, indeed. Colburn was in the south, while Draventh was up north.

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