I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Before Evelyn could finish her sentence, Rhea returned with the twins from across the field. Their kite had snapped midair.

During the kite flying, Rhea and Carter didn’t exchange a single word, behaving like complete strangers.

As Carter watched her walk ahead, he found her strangely unfamiliar. Her eyes no longer held feelings for just him, and the confidence and radiance she carried were things he had never seen in her before.

Dressed elegantly, she exuded a refined air that left him stunned.

But then it occurred to him that her change might be due to another man. The thought made Carter hold back from speaking first.

Nevertheless, he struck up a conversation.

“Rhea, even if you’re set on the divorce, you need to wait until the baby’s born. Plus, when we do discuss it, I’d like your family to be present. I happen to have time these days. Have you contacted them?”

Carter stood with his back straight. There was a cool edge to his demeanor.

There was no denying that he was handsome, but it was that arrogance of his sometimes that made Rhea sick to her stomach.

He had the time now, so he suddenly wanted to meet her family?

Rhea looked away. “They’re busy and can’t come. Besides, we’re getting divorced. What’s the point? And whether I keep the baby or not isn’t up to you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You don’t want the baby?” Carter grabbed her wrist.

Rhea

gave

him a calm smile. “Of course I want it. But it’s mine. It’s growing inside me. How I raise it later has nothing to do with you.”

His gaze darkened. “So what, you want my kid to call some other guy ‘Dad‘? Dream on, Rhea. Once it’s born, you don’t stand a chance if I file for custody.”

“Oh, really? I don’t stand a chance?”

Carter let out a chuckle, “You can’t compete with me financially. I can take the kid once the nursing stage is over. You’re not making my child grow up calling some stranger ‘Dad‘.”

Rhea just stared at him. She thought that this man was becoming increasingly unrecognizable by the second. She couldn’t believe that he wanted to take everything from her, even her baby.

“Thank God,” she thought. She was relieved that she had never planned to keep it in the first place.

“And I seriously want to meet your family. There are some things I need to discuss with them,” Carter said.

Rhea frowned. “What exactly do you need to ‘discuss‘ with my family?”

Carter smirked. As if venting all his pent–up frustration, he said, “All these years, I’ve been the one supporting

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Chapter 87

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you and giving you a comfortable life.

“And now, before we’re even divorced, you’re already getting involved with another man. Don’t you think I have every right to bring that up with your family?”

Rhea felt disgusted beyond words. She couldn’t believe that Carter was actually capable of saying something like

that.

“Carter, what’s going on?” Lauren hobbled over with her crutch. She glanced at Rhea and scolded, “Rhea, can you not be so harsh? He’s your husband, after all. You should be more gentle and considerate.”

Carolyn stormed forward. “Who the hell do you think you are? This isn’t your place to speak.”

Carter immediately redirected his anger at Carolyn. “This is our family matter. Stay out of it.”

“Carter!” Rhea’s voice cut through the tension. She wasn’t about to let him treat her friend like that just because

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