I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

A flicker of anger flashed in Carter’s eyes. He snapped, “That’s enough.”

Lauren seemed a little displeased. “I really don’t get it. Why do you two always have to argue in front of my kids? Can you not drag them into your problems?”

But whose fault was it really?

She then got to her feet and said, “Sweeties, let’s go. I’ll take you to play.”

Unfortunately for her, neither of the kids budged from their seats.

Arielle looked right at Lauren and said, “Dad and Mom never used to fight. Not even once. We were really happy. Our classmates were even jealous that we had such a perfect family and such a pretty and gentle mother.”

That was a slap right across Lauren’s face.

Then Arielle turned to Carter. “Dad, for our birthday tomorrow, we don’t need a big party. Just the four of us is enough.”

“Yeah!” Adrian echoed firmly.

They were blatantly leaving Lauren out.

Lauren looked crushed. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she said, “Sweeties, why do you hate me so much? Did I do something wrong? Tell me, and I’ll fix it. I live for you two.”

Arielle’s expression turned serious. “We don’t really know you. You say you’re our mom, so maybe you are. But why won’t you let Mommy Rhea be around us?”

Lauren explained, “I never said that Rhea couldn’t be with you.”

Adrian piped up without a filter, “But whenever you’re here, Dad ends up scolding Mom. Mom gets sad, so we don’t like you!”

The kids were firmly on Rhea’s side.

Lauren had always believed that being their birth mother made her irreplaceable. But now, she realized she had been wrong.

She turned away, her eyes watering. “Fine. I’m the problem. Carter, I won’t come tomorrow. Enjoy the birthday celebration.”

She made to leave, but Carter tried to stop her. “You’re their mother. How can you not be there? Don’t get upset with them. They’re just kids.”

Rhea stood up. “Sweeties, let’s go practice drawing.”

“Okay!”

Arielle and Adam bounced away with her, not sparing Lauren another glance despite her dramatic act.

Once in the room, Rhea grew serious. “Arielle Jamison. Adrian Jamison,”

Hearing her use their full names, the children straightened up.

Chapter 29

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Rhea sat in front of them. “I won’t always be home now. So, Lauren and Dad will spend more time with you. If you’re too hostile toward her, your dad won’t be happy. He’ll think that you’re being disrespectful.

“I always tell you that you have to be clear about what you want in life. If what you want is peace, then you’ll need to tolerate things sometimes.”

Arielle understood. Adrian, however, only grasped part of it, so he asked, “So you’re saying that when we’re with Dad, we shouldn’t hate her?”

“Yes.”

Rhea never badmouthed Lauren, but she also wouldn’t force the kids to accept her.

They could choose for themselves. If they liked her, they could accept her. If not, they could keep their distance.

But Carter had clearly taken Lauren’s side. That meant, in the future, the ones who would suffer would be the kids.

There wasn’t much Rhea could do. All she could do was teach the children to pick their battles wisely.

Arielle nodded. “I got it, Mom.”

“I can’t protect you forever. You need to learn how to protect yourselves. Lauren is your birth mother, of course. So she won’t harm you,” Rhea said as she held their hands.

At Ravenshade Villa, Lauren returned, her expression worried, which Chloe immediately noticed.

“What’s wrong?” Chloe asked.

“The kids don’t like me. They don’t want me at the birthday party tomorrow,” Lauren replied.

“It’s the stepmother’s doing, right?”

Lauren frowned. Even if it wasn’t, she still needed Carter to think it was.

The next day, as soon as Arielle and Adrian woke up, they heard cheerful commotion downstairs. It sounded like a full house.

“Mom.”

“Come on. Get dressed. The guests are already here.” Rhea waved them over to change into their formal outfits.

She had gotten up early to decorate and greet the first wave of guests. After that, she came up to help the kids.

After all, the later guests were all invited by Carter and Lauren.

“Is she here too?” Arielle asked. She was referring to Lauren.

Rhea nodded. “She is. When you go downstairs, be sure you greet everyone. You haven’t forgotten what I said yesterday, right?”

She didn’t want the kids to be seen as rude in front of all these people.

“We remember, Mom.”

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