I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 218

Chapter 218

+25 BONUS

Priscilla didn’t like it when things got too rowdy, so she’d only invited the ladies of the various families to the celebration.

“Mom, what are you guys talking about? It’s so lively in here,” Marcus said.

Carter and the children were trailing behind him. Carter was in a wheelchair, pushed by Glen.

Lauren immediately walked over to him. “Carter…”

Seeing how crestfallen she looked, he guessed that she’d probably been treated unfairly.

The women exchanged looks. They could sense that the situation was turning into hot gossip!

The things that they’d learned that day were truly astonishing. Firstly, Rhea, the heiress of the Ravelle family, had deigned to marry a man who already had children. Secondly, Priscilla’s honored guest was a homewrecker who was a compulsive liar!

Priscilla had an ugly look on her face. She knew the other women were probably upset with her for treating a homewrecker as an honored guest.

“Mom!” Arielle cried out in delight.

When Lauren heard that, she quickly responded, “I’m right here!”

Everyone watched them silently. Lauren crouched to gather Arielle and Adrian into her arms, but they backed away simultaneously, making her arms stiffen mid–air.

Then, they ran toward Rhea. “Mom!”

They threw themselves into her arms and held her joyfully.

Rhea didn’t feel awkward or embarrassed at all. She said graciously, “Allow me to introduce you to my stepchildren. Arielle, Adrian, say hi to everyone.”

They did so obediently. “Hi, pretty ladies.”

Kate laughed. “Hi, sweethearts!”

“Oh, my. They’re so well–mannered. They’re adorable!” someone said.

Rhea turned the kids to face Ruby. “This is my mother.”

Carter’s eyes widened when he heard that. Ruby was Rhea’s mother? That meant that… Rhea really was Liam’s daughter!

The suspicion had nagged at him for a while now, so he was more flustered than shocked. At that

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Chapter 218

+25 BONUS

point, he was numb.

Arielle and Adrian said timidly, “Hi, Grandma.”

Ruby adored them. Although she was upset with the Jamison family, she knew that the children were innocent. Besides, they were sweethearts that Rhea had raised herself.

She smiled and said, “Hi, darlings. This happened on such short notice that I didn’t have time to bring you any gifts. I’ll make it up to you later, alright?”

“It’s okay, Grandma.” Arielle already had a way with words. “Getting to meet you is already the best gift Adrian and I could have.”

Ruby’s heart was instantly won. “Oh, you darling!”

She wrapped her arms around Arielle, who snuggled up to her obediently. It was such a sweet, heartwarming scene, and it made the other ladies look at Lauren, their expressions cryptic.

“Ms. Ravelle must be inherently kind to have raised two children who are so obedient and sweet. More importantly, she must be gracious and magnanimous enough to have treated them like they’re her own. It’s a virtue, and it deserves praise,” one woman said. Then, she clapped.

The other women joined in, feeling genuine admiration for Rhea. Was this something just about anyone could handle? Marrying beneath her station and becoming a stepmother… They felt bad for Rhea because of how things had turned out.

How could Carter not appreciate having such a wonderful woman as a wife? And how could he be shameless enough to show his face here when he was entangled with Lauren? They thought that he was absolutely unscrupulous!

Lauren was stunned. She wondered why none of the women were scorning Rhea and making fun of her. In fact, they seemed almost appreciative of her. She hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.

“Mrs. Cain, I’m feeling under the weather. I should go.” A woman of equal standing to Priscilla was already upset about what had happened.

Priscilla looked at her apologetically. “You…”

A few other women filed out after the first. What bothered them the most about the debacle wasn’t what Rhea had experienced. That was her life, after all.

What had truly upset them was how Priscilla had treated someone like Lauren as an honored guest and had even asked them to show her some care. What did she take them for?