I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Inside the hospital ward, Carter sat at the edge of the bed and said, “Arielle, Adrian, I’m not taking your birth mother’s side, but you need to be respectful. If something’s bothering you, you need to talk it out calmly.”

“But we don’t like her. We just want Mom.” Arielle looked so pitiful that it was hard not to feel for her. Carter was their father, so naturally, he cared. However, he couldn’t help the frustration simmering in his chest.

“I did raise my voice earlier,” he said, wrapping an arm around Adrian. “I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”

Feeling upset, Adrian let silent tears fall as he whispered, “We just want Mom to come back.”

Mom…

Rhea…

The kids relied on her heavily.

“She’s not here, but I am, aren’t I?” he reasoned.

Carter thought back to Rhea’s words. She had said, “They’re your kids.”

Rhea had just up and left, just like that, without a second thought. He thought that it was very irresponsible of

her.

Anger surged in Carter again. He refused to believe that he couldn’t take care of the kids without her.

Adrian asked again, “Dad, is it true that Mom doesn’t want us anymore?”

Carter didn’t want to say anything that would hurt them, but Rhea was the one who ignored the kids. He replied, “I’ll be with you for the next few days, okay?”

That reply made the siblings feel like Rhea really might not want them anymore.

Carter stubbornly refused to contact Rhea. He spent the entire night at the hospital. His suit was wrinkled, his eyes were bloodshot, and his back ached from the stiff chair.

Arielle had been on an IV drip and ended up staying in the hospital for two days before returning home.

Carter paused his work for the time being and stayed home to take care of the kids.

Arielle remained moody, so he stayed by her side and watched cartoons with her. At night, he wiped her face, hands, and feet before she fell asleep.

“I don’t want to wear this. Mom bought me a bunny one,” Arielle said.

Carter sighed. “You don’t like this teddy bear one?”

She shook her head in response.

It was understandable for a sick child to be moody. Carter could only look for the bunny pajamas for Arielle

himself.

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Chapter 44

+25 BONUS

It wasn’t until Arielle finally fell asleep that Carter got a moment to sit down and rest. He had been taking care of the kids from sunrise to sundown, and he felt utterly exhausted.

The next morning, Carter hadn’t even opened his eyes when Arielle started shaking his arm. Off to the side stood Lauren, who didn’t dare approach them.

Pulling his tired body upright, Carter asked, “Arielle, what’s wrong?”

“Dad, can you do my hair?”

Lauren tried to coax her. “Arielle, let me do it. Your dad doesn’t know how.”

“It’s easy. He can do it.” Arielle insisted that Carter help her.

With Rhea gone, the children could only go to Carter for help. They didn’t want Lauren to take care of them at all.

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