I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72

The nurse snapped, “You were supposed to ring the bell to have the IV switched out! You’re her mother! How could you fall asleep?”

If she hadn’t sensed something amiss and come to check, Arielle might have bled to death!

Just then, Carter came home from work, and the scene before him was the first thing he saw. “What happened?” he asked panickedly.

His kids were his whole world. They were living proof of the time he and Lauren once shared. (1)

Carter never saw himself as an attentive parent like Rhea, but his love for them was genuine.

Lauren quickly stood up. “Carter…”

His gaze locked on Arielle’s pale face. “Was no one watching her IV bag?”

The nurse seemed somewhat innocent as she said, “The accompanying family is supposed to press the call button. There are too many patients on IV. We can’t monitor every single one constantly.”

After finally flushing Arielle’s IV and switching it to the other hand, the nurse left.

Carter shot a look of frustration over his shoulder at Lauren.

Lauren’s eyes showed a hint of resignation. “Carter, this one’s on me. I stepped out for just a moment to call Rhea. Arielle was so upset, and I couldn’t stand it. I thought that even if I had to beg, I’d try to get Rhea to see her. However, I couldn’t reach her. Look.” 1

Lauren pulled up her recent call log and showed it to him.

Carter gave it a quick glance. As expected, there were four outgoing calls, all to Rhea’s number.

Lauren didn’t let him look at it for too long. She locked her screen quickly because the calls hadn’t been made back–to–back. They were spread out, nearly 40 minutes apart.

Carter clenched his jaw. His anger flared in an instant. “She didn’t even bother to answer. If something happens to Arielle, I swear I won’t forgive her!”

“Don’t keep being angry with her,” Lauren said gently. Her words of comfort stirred a sudden hint of regret in

Carter.

If he hadn’t parted ways with Lauren back then, this family might have been warm and harmonious instead of being stuck in this constant cycle of arguments.

Noticing the trace of nostalgia in Carter’s eyes, Lauren smiled and said, “Carter, remember, as long as you and the kids are well, I’m fine with anything.”

There it was the difference between a stepmother and a birth mother.

Something in him softened as he helped her sit. “You should rest.”

“Arielle has been through so much. It’s my fault. I haven’t been a good mother.” Lauren sighed. “But where did

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Chapter 72

+25 BONUS

Rhea go?”

Just hearing her name sent another wave of irritation through Carter. They weren’t even divorced yet, and she was already pulling disappearing acts as if it were nothing.

“Carter, the kids have been in and out of the hospital lately. Their spirits must be low. I was thinking that we could take them on a short trip before school starts.”

“But your foot’s injured,” Carter reminded her.

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