I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99

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That day was the first day of school for the two kids, and they only had a half day.

Carter was waiting outside the school gate to pick them up for lunch.

Lauren was close enough to hear the urgency in the caller’s voice. It sounded like they had mentioned something about Rhea.

Her hands curled into tight fists.

Carter’s expression shifted as he asked, “She’s at your hospital?”

“Yes!” Aiden replied.

“Keep her there! I’m coming right now!”

As he hung up, Lauren said, “Carter, the kids are about to come out.

He was torn between his kids and Rhea, who was about to have an abortion. Carter was caught in a storm of frustration and indecision.

After ten long seconds, he finally got out of the car. “You take them to lunch.”

He ultimately chose Rhea.

Lauren wondered what could have happened to Rhea that got Carter this panicked. She sat in the car, dazed. She never thought that even after everything, Carter would still care this much about Rhea.

Was it because he didn’t really like Arielle and Adrian?

Lauren stared at the school in the distance.

Taking care of two kids on her own would be exhausting. She didn’t think she could handle it, so she called Alisha and Scarlett to come over.

At the hospital, Rhea was waiting for her scheduled procedure. She had already chosen a postpartum recovery center.

Once the procedure was done, someone from the center would come to pick her up.

“Rhea!” Carter stormed in, his expression dark with anger.

Rhea didn’t flinch. She didn’t even look at him.

Carter snapped, “Don’t you think you should’ve asked for my opinion before deciding to have an

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Chapter 99

+25 BONUS

abortion?”

“The baby’s in my body. Your opinion doesn’t really matter.”

“I’m the father! I’m not going to let you do this. Get up. We’re leaving.”

Rhea pulled away from his grasp.

Her resistance only made him angrier. He sneered. “Is it because of George? Are you afraid that he’ll hate you for having my child? Is that why you’re in such a rush to get an abortion?”

He was crossing the line further with every word.

Rhea stared at him. “You’ve changed. You’re not the man I used to know.”

“Is it me that changed, or you?” Carter’s eyes were filled with a kind of hurt that cut deep. “Have I ever mistreated you all these years? When have I ever ignored what you wanted?”

Rhea suddenly stood up. “You’re right. You didn’t mistreat me, but you never loved me either. The moment someone else came along, I was just a backup plan. Why should I sit around waiting for your charity?

“Did you ever think about me when you were seeing Lauren? If you really think you’re so understanding, why don’t you try accepting Lauren’s past?”

Carter frowned. “What past?”

Rhea smiled. “You’ll find out.”

But not right then. Some truths had to be saved for the right moment.

“I’m not letting you have that surgery!” Carter suddenly yanked her arm.

Rhea pulled hard to break free. They struggled for a moment, and then their hands slipped apart.

She lost her balance and went tumbling down the nearby stairs.

“Rhea!” Carter’s face turned white with shock.

Rhea felt a buzzing in her head, as if everything had disappeared. A sharp pain bloomed in her ribs

and her lower abdomen.

Then, she vaguely saw Carter’s alarmed face and bloodshot eyes. She mumbled, “Get away from me…

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