I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 431

Rhea and George locked eyes, their gazes flickering between warmth and coolness, a faint spark passing between them.

Rhea let go and looped an arm around George’s neck. Her breath was warm against his ear. “I’ve never believed that giving up on your parents is proof of loyalty in love. It may be out of impulse or foolishness. So don’t worry. I won’t treat family conflicts as if they were ours to fight over.

“If you want to be with me, then I’ll stand by you. But if it feels too hard for you, I’ll just wish you well.”

As soon as she finished speaking, George pressed his lips to hers in a mix of frustration and urgency, as if trying to erase every defiant thing she had said.

Wish him well? Stand by him? Didn’t she want to marry him?

Moonlight glimmered in Rhea’s eyes, the curtains swaying in its glow. She couldn’t tell if the world was spinning upside down or if her mind had left her.

Sweat stung her eyes, forcing her to shut them as wave after wave of George’s punishment crashed

over her.

“George…” Her voice cracked.

He sank a possessive bite into the tender skin of her neck. His voice came out rough and husky. “Go

on.”

“George…”

He wasn’t letting up. “Say you love me.”

Rhea forced her eyes open.

His urgency was almost tangible. “Say it!”

Pressing her cheek to his sweat–dampened chest, she whispered in small, shaky breaths, “I… love you…”

She admitted that part of her was still holding back.

She knew that it wasn’t fair, but she feared that another man like Carter might appear in her life. To protect herself, she treaded lightly in this relationship.

But Rhea also knew how wholly George had given himself to her and how safe he made her feel.

Even with Cynthia’s confrontations, George hadn’t mentioned a single word of it.

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Chapter 431

A night of exhaustion settled over them.

+25 BONUS

At 10:30 am, Rhea finally stirred awake. Her back ached, and no matter how she tried to sleep it off, she couldn’t. And so, she decided to get up.

When she sat up, she found that the space beside her was empty, but she didn’t feel sad about it. She got out of bed and changed.

Just as she was brushing her teeth with her eyes closed, a voice suddenly came from behind her.

“Rhea, you have to take responsibility for me.”

Rhea’s eyes snapped open. Through the bathroom mirror, she saw the tall figure leaning over her, his arms wrapped around her.

His reliance on her and his anxiety were unmistakable.

With toothpaste in her mouth, Rhea arched an eyebrow in confusion.

George looked up, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror with deep emotion.“Yesterday was my first time.”

Rhea started coughing uncontrollably. She had nearly choked and took a long moment to recover.

Even when she took a seat at the table, a faint smile still lingered on her face.

George frowned. “Can you stop smiling?”

Rhea leaned closer, her voice soft. “Are you serious?”

Yesterday was his first time? No way.

George’s gaze darkened. “Are you not going to take responsibility?”

That sounded like…

Rhea felt a little embarrassed. “No, I’m just surprised.”

“So in your eyes, I’m that kind of man? Even without a girlfriend, I can have…”

He trailed off.

Rhea hurriedly said, “I didn’t mean it like that!”

“What did you mean then?”

She sighed in defeat. “Fine. I’ll take responsibility.”

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