I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 42

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Chapter 42

Rhea was tired of Carter’s questioning.

Her tone was calm as she questioned, “Carter, do I exist just for you? Am I only here to help you take care of your kids and do whatever you ask?”

However, Carter shot back, “You’re not helping me. You’re just protecting your life. Didn’t the kids call you‘ Mom‘? They never once called Lauren that. And I’ve given you a comfortable life in return, haven’t I?”

Rhea couldn’t believe he had the nerve to say that.

Her gaze turned ice–cold. “I raised them for six years. It’s only natural for them to call me ‘Mom‘. If they never called Lauren that, that’s not on me. Since the day we got married, I’ve never taken a single thing from you. And as for your so–called ‘comfortable life‘? To me, it’s worthless.”

If she had married him for wealth and status, then she would deserve every bit of what was happening now.

Worthless?

Carter suddenly sneered. “What, now that you’ve met George, your standards have shot up? Rhea, the most important thing a person can have is self–awareness. Know your place. To get on the same level as someone like George, you’d better have the credentials to match.”

His words dripped with insult.

Rhea burst out laughing. So what he really meant was that she was nothing. She belonged in the house, raising his kids, and had no right to push back against him.

“Whether I can get to that level or not is my business. I don’t need your concern.”

With that, Rhea turned to leave.

However, Carter stepped in front of her, blocking the way. “So you’re really abandoning the kids for wealth and status? They’ve been crying nonstop at home, asking for you. And you can just ignore that?”

Rhea finally snapped and shouted, “They’re your kids! I’ve already done more than enough! If you’ve got something to say, take it to Lauren!”

After saying that, she stormed off and got in a cab.

Her words echoed in Carter’s ears.

Carter stood frozen, his expression cold and indifferent. 1)

So it was true. Rhea had never really seen Arielle and Adrian as her own. A stepmother was still just a stepmother.

It seemed that he had hoped for too much.

His phone kept buzzing with an incoming video call on WhatsApp.

Irritated and fuming, Carter finally picked up, only to bark at his upset children on the screen, “Stop asking for

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Chapter 42

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her! She doesn’t want you anymore!”

In his rage, Carter didn’t care how badly those words might scar those two children who had clung to Rhea. All he thought was that if they hated Rhea from now on, she had brought it on herself.

Carter rushed back to Colburn that very night.

They had only been gone two days, but Arielle’s fever kept coming back. Alisha was extremely worried.

Back then, with Rhea’s attentive care, Arielle would have already recovered by now. But with no adults at home, the young girl was upset and missing Rhea. That was why her fever hadn’t broken.

“Mr. Jamison?” Devan was surprised to see Carter home so late. “Would you like me to prepare some late–night snacks?”

“No.” Carter tossed his coat to a maid.

Lauren followed closely behind. “I’ll check on the kids.”

He sat alone in the living room, chain–smoking one cigarette after another.

He was starting to think that Rhea’s decision to divorce was not solely due to Lauren.

Perhaps she had met someone powerful and decided this family wasn’t worth sticking around for.

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