I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 280

Chapter 280

Lauren felt as if the world had just slammed into her. She stood there stunned for a long moment.

A moment later, choking back tears, she asked softly, her eyes red, “Carter, so in your eyes, you think Rhea has done more than me? You saw how hard it was for me to carry them. And you know how dangerous it was for me during the delivery…”

Peter, holding Arielle protectively, asked sharply, “So you think those ten months you carried them can compare to the six years of sacrifices Rhea made? You ran off after giving birth, and you have the nerve to call yourself their mother?”

His words hit Lauren like a punch, blunt and unforgiving. Lauren had to gasp several times to catch her breath.

She truly found it hard to believe because deep down, she had always thought that a caregiver could never match a birth mother.

How could the children be in this world without their birth mother?

She had given them life and the chance to enter the world. The children owed their existence to her.

In other words, any credit Rhea received was still thanks to Lauren’s own efforts.

This was how Lauren thought, and she had never considered it wrong.

She could handle being misunderstood by others, but she couldn’t accept Carter not feeling for her.

They had come so far together. She had never once given up on her pregnancy during the most challenging times. She couldn’t believe that now that Carter was successful, he felt that she had no right to discipline them.

She was their birth mother! Why didn’t she have the right?

Lauren wiped her tears. “Carter, as their birth mother, I have the right to discipline them. No child can insult their mother. I know you care about the kids, but do you think I don’t? During my fight against cancer, my biggest worry was them. Who could possibly understand what I went through?”

The mention of cancer softened Carter’s anger slightly.

He knew all too well how hard it was to struggle alone, especially after raising two newborns by himself back then. He remembered those times vividly.

He understood Lauren’s pain, but he understood Rhea’s sacrifices even more.

“These are two different things. Don’t mix them up. Even if you are their birth mother, you cannot hit them,” Carter said firmly.

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Chapter 280

+25 BONUS

“But she insulted me…” Lauren cried. “And you’re not going to do anything? You’re just going to let het continue? Didn’t Rhea teach them to respect their elders?”

Lauren tried to shift the blame onto Rhea again.

Peter couldn’t take it anymore. “Stop using the kids as an excuse. You don’t have to raise them. Besides, they don’t like you. How about looking at yourself for once? Why are they fine with Rhea but not you? You’re both their mothers.”

After saying that, Peter left with Arielle to get some treats.

The ward fell silent.

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