I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 260

Chapter 260

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Lauren trembled, panic tightening her chest as tears slipped down her face. Deep down, she was terrified of losing Carter.

Carter almost used all his strength to grip Lauren’s face. “Dexter is freaking old! You actually…”

He couldn’t even bring himself to finish the sentence and let go of her face.

Freed, Lauren immediately shouted, “That’s because he hurt me years ago! If it weren’t to…‘

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Her voice cracked. “If it weren’t to help you, I never would’ve wanted to see him again in my life!”

She broke down in tears.

Carter narrowed his eyes, studying her.

Red marks burned on both sides of Lauren’s face. Her tears fell nonstop. “That man’s a monster. He saw that I was alone, with no one to turn to, so he preyed on me. When I refused him, he threatened to stop my treatments and let me die.”

As she said that, she sobbed so hard that it looked like her whole body might shatter.

Lauren was utterly devastated. “How could I ever tell you something like that? You think I wanted this? If my parents were still alive, I never would’ve gone through it. I wish I could be like Rhea, with parents and a brother to protect me. Who wouldn’t want to live carefree?”

Carter fell silent.

Back then, Lauren was like a little princess, never short of money or love. She was always cheerful and outgoing.

Then, her family went bankrupt, and she was diagnosed with cancer. She had to leave home alone to fight it. What happened after that was easy to imagine.

Carter forced down the wave of disgust rising inside him. “Even so, you shouldn’t have lied to me. I would’ve found a way to survive without going to him. You…”

The thought of Lauren being with that bald, old Dexter made him sick to his stomach.

“Stop the car,” Lauren said suddenly.

Glen reacted instantly, slamming on the brakes.

She opened the door. “I know you can’t accept me. I’ll go back to Colburn right now and take my grandma back to her old home.”

Her tears fell, and Carter happened to see them. He suddenly felt a pang of tenderness.

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Chapter 260

+25 BONUS

He grabbed her arm. “Calm down.”

“How am I supposed to calm down?”

Lauren was worked up. “Just bringing it up makes me sick! I hate how miserable my life turned out! I lost my parents, lost the good life I had, nearly lost my life giving birth to my two kids, and then I lost the man I loved most in this world!

“If it hadn’t been for all that, Dexter never would’ve had the chance to touch me. I can only blame

myself…”

Her words shattered the last bit of Carter’s resistance. His anger drained away, replaced with aching

pity. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

Lauren sobbed into his chest. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Carter…”

He murmured, “Don’t say another word.”

Up front, Glen’s expression stayed impassive. He couldn’t help but wonder how just a few words from her could sway Carter.

Was her tragic fate really a reason for her to throw herself into Dexter’s arms? Besides, wasn’t this whole thing about Lauren and Dexter’s relationship?

But of course, Glen didn’t dare voice his doubts aloud.

“Don’t cry anymore.” Carter wiped Lauren’s tears away. “You should’ve told me sooner. The disgusting one is Dexter, not you.”

Glen almost rolled his eyes when he heard that.

Lauren sniffled. “Carter, I promise I won’t ever hide anything from you again.”

“Drive,” Carter ordered Glen.

Lauren turned her face toward the window. A flicker of relief and lingering fear flashed in her eyes.

It seemed she had to make sure Carter never crossed paths with Dexter again, in case Dexter said something.