I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 526

Wanting to recover from her injury as soon as possible, Lauren forced herself to finish her plate of pasta and even had half a serving of steak.

She had paid for her meals! Why shouldn't she eat?

"Was she that hungry?" Adrian's eyes went wide.

The two kids, already finished with dinner, sat quietly in the living room, whispering to each other over their fruit bowls.

Arielle shrugged calmly. "She paid for her food. It makes sense that she'd get her money's worth."

The two still treated Lauren like a stranger. They knew that she was their birth mother, but that was as far as their relationship went.

Carter took a shower, changed into fresh clothes, and came downstairs to check on the kids' homework.

After a short round of questions, he asked, "Have you two been listening to Mr. Witt while I was gone?"

"Of course," Arielle replied.

Since Rhea's departure, the siblings had been trying to adjust, but they still missed her. Whenever the longing became too much, they would hide under their blankets and cry softly, careful not to let anyone hear.

They hadn't understood before, but now that a year had passed, they had come to accept one truth—Rhea wasn't coming back.

Arielle had stepped up, taking care of Adrian the same way Rhea used to.

Every time Devan saw that, his heart broke a little more. He thought it was such a shame that a family once so happy was now reduced to this.

"Carter, why do you think Rhea kept Kate around instead of firing her?" Lauren asked as she slowly made her way into the living room.

Carter looked up. "Why are you asking me?"

"You used to be a boss. What do you think she's thinking?"

Lauren just couldn't wrap her head around it. Kate was a vile woman, and Rhea still let her stay? It made no sense.

Carter said flatly, "It's not her company. She doesn't get the final say. And Sawyer's friends with Damian. She couldn't exactly ignore that connection."

"Are you talking about Ms. Pearson?" Arielle asked curiously.

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