I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71

+25 BONUS

Arielle’s head was spinning, and nausea was setting in.

Feeling diffident, Lauren quickly said, “Carter, she-”

Alisha couldn’t stay silent anymore. She interrupted, saying, “Ms. Thayer and that new nanny, Ms. Norton, insisted on teaching the kids to cook. They weren’t tall enough to reach the counter, so she made them stand on stools. That’s how Ms. Arielle got splashed with oil and fell. Mr. Adrian’s fingers got cut too!”

Cook?

Carter’s gaze was filled with disapproval as he turned to Lauren. “You made children this young learn how to cook?”

Lauren tried to defend herself. “Carter, they’re six. They’re not young anymore. They should start learning basic life skills. Didn’t we start that early, too?”

Alisha suddenly asked, “Did you learn to cook at six?”

The truth was that Lauren didn’t learn until she was in high school. Her parents had always pampered her, never letting her near the kitchen.

Noticing Carter’s expression darkening, Lauren quickly said, “I guess I got too eager. I just wanted to spend more time with them. If I had been with them since they were born, maybe I wouldn’t have done this.”

Carter’s anger subsided the moment he heard that. He figured that Lauren’s intentions came from love and that she just didn’t know the right approach. 1

“Arielle, I’m here. Are you in pain?” Carter asked gently.

Arielle looked pale. “Dad, I feel like throwing up…

11

“Lay her flat,” the doctor instructed. “She needs to be admitted.”

Arielle had been in and out of the hospital so frequently this month. Her face fell at those words.

Adrian refused to leave her side. Now that Rhea was gone, Arielle was all he had.

“Arielle, I’m sorry. I should’ve protected you,” Adrian apologized, clearly distressed.

However, Arielle was too sick to respond. She missed Rhea so badly that she wanted to cry. But she couldn’t. If she cried, Carter might start blaming Rhea again.

And Rhea had told her that some things have to be endured. So, she had to be strong.

“Carter, you’re busy at work. You should go back first. I can stay with them,” Lauren said.

Carter was still worried. “I’ll head to the office for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”

“Go ahead. Leave this to me.”

“Arielle, I’m just going to a meeting. I’ll be back before you know it,” Carter said gently.

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Chapter 71

+25 BONUS

Arielle blinked up at him slowly.

After Carter left, Lauren turned to Alisha and Devan. She instructed, “Go home and prepare dinner for the kids. Bring it back here later.”

The kids needed something nutritious.

After they left, only Lauren, Scarlett, and the children were left in the ward.

Lauren shot Scarlett a look. “Follow them back and keep an eye on them.”

Scarlett nodded. “Okay.”

Arielle was on an IV drip, drowsy and struggling to stay awake. Adrian, having missed his nap, soon fell asleep as well.

Lauren scrolled through her phone absentmindedly. Suddenly remembering something, she pulled up a screenshot. It was Rhea’s phone number.

Lauren glanced at the sleeping kids, then quietly stepped out of the ward with her crutch. She called the number, but no one answered.

Lauren had no experience in caring for children, so she figured that it was better to have Rhea handle it just to be

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