I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 62

One of the maids quickly answered, “Ms. Thayer borrowed those needles yesterday.”

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A flicker of unease flashed across Lauren’s face. She said, “Carter, some buttons on my clothes were loose, so I thought I’d sew them myself. I don’t know how the needles ended up in Rhea’s clothes.”

Devan asked, “What about the photo? Besides us, you were the only one who has been in the master bedroom these past two days.”

Naturally, Carter knew that he hadn’t done it himself. The kids adored Rhea. They would never tear up her face in the photo.

The household staff wouldn’t either. That left only one likely suspect–Lauren.

But even as he thought about it, Carter shook his head in denial.

He believed that Lauren wasn’t the kind of person who would do that. She had always been generous and kind- hearted since they were young. So, how could she secretly do something so malicious?

“Have the kitchen start cooking first,” Carter said before heading upstairs.

Lauren’s heart pounded with anxiety. She wondered if Carter was starting to suspect her.

Lauren’s old classmate, Zoe Simpson, gently urged, “Lauren, take a seat and rest.

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Peter nodded in agreement. “Yeah, your ankle is pretty badly hurt. Don’t stand.”

The kitchen buzzed back to life.

Yet, everyone’s attention was fixated on Lauren, as if they had forgotten that Rhea was the real star of the day.

Upstairs, Carter stepped into the master bedroom. “I’m sorry I’m late. Lauren-”

Rhea cut him off coldly, “You’ve seen everything, right? Is that the gentle, kind, helpless woman you talk about?

Carter frowned. “There’s no proof that it was her.”

Rhea smiled. She didn’t know whether to be angry or resentful. Angry that Carter was so blind or resentful that he favored Lauren without reason.

Rhea stood and faced him. “Carter, we reunited on my birthday six years ago. After all this time, what I got was nothing but a ridiculous outcome.

“Let’s end this here. There’s no point in dragging this out any longer. I’m moving out today. Figure out how to tell the kids yourself.”

She couldn’t keep backing down.

Carter’s frustration showed as he said, “Rhea, I’ve already apologized. I promised that I’d protect our family.

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Chapter 62

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Why are you so impatient? Are you that intolerant of Lauren? Didn’t you know that she got hurt?”

Rhea’s gaze turned icy. “What does her injury have to do with you?”

Carter frowned. “How can you be so heartless?”

Heartless? Wasn’t he the one who made the promises?

“I came back to spend your birthday with you, as I said I would. What more do you want? Can’t you control your emotions for once?”

Rhea’s tears wouldn’t even fall anymore. She could feel her heart turning into a withered rose, falling with a

crisp snap.

Whenever it was about Lauren, all the blame landed on her.

“I don’t care about this birthday,” Rhea said softly before turning to leave. She had come alone once, and she would leave the same way.

Downstairs, the room was filled with lively chatter. Everyone was reminiscing about Lauren and Carter’s childhood together.

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