I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 236

Chapter 236

+25 BONUS

“I do have an issue with you,” Peter said bluntly. “Stop always trying to take credit for everything. People aren’t blind. Your effort will speak for itself. But you’re all talk and no action. You always speak as if you’ve achieved something legendary.”

“You…” Lauren felt punched in the gut. This time, she didn’t cry. Her eyes glistened, heavy with sadness and quiet despair.

Carter cut in, “Enough. Lauren meant well. If you don’t want it, just leave it.”

Their argument was giving him a headache.

Aiden stood and said, “We’re heading out. If you’re free tonight, let’s have dinner somewhere outside.”

Peter followed close behind. Before leaving, he glanced back. “Carter, maybe you should open your eyes a bit wider.”

Lauren knew exactly what he meant. She didn’t react at all. However, she felt that some people

should never have existed.

“Carter, I guess Peter and I can’t be friends anymore. I don’t even know what I’ve done wrong, or if it’s his parents who don’t want us to hang out. I’ll just stay out of it.”

Her voice dropped slightly. “I’ll try to learn how to get along with the kids more when I have time.”

As Carter looked at her frail figure and the loneliness etched into her face, he couldn’t help feeling a pang of pity.

Carter softened his tone. “From now on, keep Scarlett away from the kids. Bring back their old nanny. And send your grandma back. If you’re worried, hire two caregivers to help look after her.”

When it came to his children, Carter still displayed a father’s sense of responsibility.

Upon hearing that, Arielle and Adrian exchanged glances and smiled quietly with their heads lowered. They really disliked Scarlett and Chloe.

Lauren didn’t react at first. “S–She’s old. How can she manage on her own?”

Arielle corrected her. “Dad said you can hire two caregivers, so she won’t be alone. There will be three of them.”

At noon, Chloe found out that she was about to be sent away. She was furious. “You’re sending me away? I’m your grandmother! How-”

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Chapter 236

“Grandma!”

+25 BONUS

Lauren was utterly exhausted. “Grandma, don’t make Carter angry right now. He’s already starting to doubt me. I don’t want to ruin everything at the last minute. Please, just bear with it for now.”

“I… You…” Chloe’s chest heaved with anger.

By afternoon, Chloe’s things were packed.

Before leaving, she glared at the children in the living room, who were happily eating fruit and watching cartoons. “Ungrateful brats! You two ingrates!”

“Adrian, where’s our notebook?”

“Right here!” Adrian always carried it with him.

Arielle grabbed it. “I’m going to write this down. Mrs. Thayer Senior called us ingrates again today.”

“You-”

“Enough, Grandma!” Lauren hurriedly pushed Chloe toward the car.

Once in the car, Chloe grabbed Lauren’s hand. “Lauren, you can’t count on those two children. They won’t offer you any help at all. You can’t pin your hopes on them anymore. You need to have another child, understand?”

Lauren had realized that long ago. “Don’t worry, Grandma. I already have a plan.”

Lauren felt a deep sadness as she watched Chloe leave. Chloe was her only family, and yet she was being sent away.

If those two kids had sided with her, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

In just ten days, Carter’s divorce would be final. She simply had to be patient.

That evening, Carter had originally planned to have dinner with Peter and the others at a restaurant. Yet, he received a last–minute call from Marcus, asking him to attend a cocktail party to meet potential clients.

Carter knew that it had to be a big event if Marcus was this concerned. Thus, he knew that he had to treat it with full seriousness.