I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 629

Resting her chin on one hand, Lauren continued to tutor Adrian and Arielle, her tone patient but firm. “Look, this one’s a grammatical error.”

The kids were bright, and they picked things up fast. Lauren nodded, pleased with their progress. “Not bad. You two definitely take after your dad.”

“Were you good at school when you were young?” Adrian asked with a curious tilt of his head.

Lauren smiled. “I was pretty good.” It wasn’t a lie or an exaggeration. She did excel in her studies.

Lauren was a patient tutor who explained things carefully.

By the time Carter returned, this was the sight that greeted him–Lauren, bathed in the chandelier’s glow, sitting between the two kids and explaining something with all seriousness. She even predicted what might show up on the test.

The only problem was the bottle of wine sitting in front of her.

The moment she noticed him, she panicked and tried to hide it, but it was too late. Her brows pinched. Was she about to get another lecture from him?

But Carter merely washed his hands, brought over a plate of pasta, and took a seat across from them. “Keep going. Don’t mind me.”

He had to listen in and make sure that the kids remembered everything. Because if they didn’t, he’d have to go through it with them again.

Lauren blinked, taken aback. “You’re not going to scold me?”

She had been drinking, after all.

He

gave

her a sidelong glance. “Everyone’s allowed a hobby or two.”

She rubbed her nose awkwardly. She hadn’t really touched alcohol for over a year. Lately, though, she’d been sick and worn thin.

After the lesson, the kids went off to wash up for bed. Lauren stayed seated, motionless. Across from her, Carter sat scrolling through his phone.

Carter had built everything from scratch again and was starting to gain his boss‘ trust at work. He needed to make money, and he’d never let an opportunity slip.

Even when he ran into former business partners these days, the encounters no longer felt awkward. Instead, he’d smile, nod along, and lower his pride if he had to. Sometimes, he even turned bits of old information to his advantage, cutting new deals.

Watching him, Lauren finally gathered her courage to speak. “Carter.”

He didn’t look up from his phone. “Yes?”

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“I want to start over… with you.”

The phone slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a thud. He frowned at her, and after a long silence, he flatly said, “Get lost. Stop screwing with me.”

Laured blinked in surprise, rendered momentarily speechless. “Am I still not doing well enough?” she softly

asked.

He picked up the phone and gave her a hard look, as if trying to see through her. “What are you up to this time?”

“Nothing, I swear!” She quickly raised a hand.

“I just… I thought I knew you better, and I was getting used to being around you and the kids. I’ve changed a lot, and I just want someone to be with.”

Her tone was sincere as she spoke. There was no mention of love, and that alone eased a little of his suspicion.

However, Carter didn’t reply. He merely stood and headed upstairs.

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