I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 226

Chapter 226

+25 BONUS

Just then, Scarlett hurried over, saying, “Ms. Thayer, Mr. Jamison just called. He said that he’s hosting a dinner at home tonight and told us to be prepared.”

They had only just settled in Draventh. The household staff were still the same ones from Colburn, but with the bigger house, there weren’t enough hands.

Lauren, already irritated, simply instructed, “You take care of dinner. Leave the cleaning to Devan and the others.”

“I’m not sure what Mr. Jamison’s friends prefer to eat,” Scarlett said.

“Did he say who they were?”

“No.”

“Then… go all out.” Lauren decided. She believed that it was better to play it safe in case Carter’s guests were people of influence.

Once Scarlett left to make the arrangements, Lauren sat alone in the living room.

However, her frustration only lasted a moment before her mood brightened again.

She figured that even if the ladies in Draventh had heard the rumor, they wouldn’t believe it and would just dismiss it as gossip.

After all, she was Arielle and Adrian’s birth mother. Who would actually believe that she would

threaten her own kids?

Lauren laughed at herself, thinking that she had been worrying for nothing.

She then threw herself into decorating the dining room and choosing the most glamorous dress she owned, ready to receive Carter’s guests.

“Lauren,” a voice said.

It was Chloe, fresh from Colburn.

Lauren greeted her warmly. “Grandma, didn’t you say that you’d need a few days to get here?”

“I couldn’t stop worrying about you here all alone,” Chloe said. “What if someone bullied you?”

Lauren chuckled softly. “Grandma, I’m no longer the down–and–out Ms. Thayer. I’m Carter’s fiancee now, and he’s the new elite of Draventh.”

“Fiancee? Really?” Chloe’s eyes lit up with excitement.

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Lauren lowered her gaze. “Don’t spread it around yet. Carter wants to keep things quiet for now to avoid complications.”

Chloe understood. She looked visibly relieved now. “You’ve finally gotten your happy ending!”

Elsewhere, Carter had just finished discussing important business with Marcus when he got a call from Aiden. The latter said that he and Peter had come to Draventh to visit him.

After that, Carter called his kids.

When Arielle heard that Aiden and Peter were coming, she asked, “Dad, are we eating out?”

Carter gave it some thought before saying, “We’ll eat at home.”

“Oh.” Arielle sounded disappointed.

“What’s wrong?”

“I was just thinking that if we ate out, Adrian and I could’ve invited Mom.”

“You only saw her a few days ago,” Carter reminded.

“Yeah. But that was days ago.”

Carter wondered if he should invite Rhea to his house. He recalled his recent talks with Marcus. “I’ll

see if I can invite her.”

“Yay!” Arielle’s joy was instantaneous.

After hanging up, Carter wrestled with the decision, then finally dialed Rhea’s number from his secretary’s phone.

In a deal he and Marcus were pursuing, the other party learned that he was the Ravelle family’s son- in–law and immediately treated him with newfound respect. He even said that he would consider the partnership.

And since Carter intended to snatch this deal from the Snider family, he figured that highlighting his ties to the Ravelles could only help him.

The call was quickly answered. A woman’s lazy voice came through. “Hello?”

Carter could tell that Rhea had just woken up. Her drowsy voice sent a shiver straight through his

ears.

“It’s me,” he said.

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The moment Rhea recognized his voice, she instinctively moved to hang up.

Carter, expecting it, quickly said, “Don’t hang up yet. Peter and Aiden are in Draventh. We’re having dinner at my place. The kids wanted me to invite you, so I’m passing along the message.”

“I’ll take them out another time.” Rhea rejected him without hesitation.

Carter chuckled. “Even if we divorce, it doesn’t have to mean we’ll never see each other again. Let’s at least be civil in front of kids. Besides, Peter said he wants to apologize to you in

person.”