I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 630

Lauren let out a laugh right after.

Perhaps some people just weren't meant to be together.

So, after the family event, she invited Carter and the kids out to dinner. The restaurant she chose was on the pricier end, and she'd planned to spend half a month's salary on that one meal.

At dinner, Arielle couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. She asked, "What's up with you?"

Lauren blinked, taken aback by how sharp Arielle was. Well, she was her daughter, after all.

"I've been staying at your place for over a year now. I figured that it's time I found a place of my own. Maybe a small apartment in a regular neighborhood. I'll just pay the deposit and settle down instead of drifting around."

She paused, then added, "So… this is goodbye."

As her words fell, the whole table went silent.

After spending more than a year together, the kids' guard against her had long since faded.

When Carter wasn't around, Lauren would keep them company. She never called herself their mother and never claimed them as her kids. At most, she'd call them by their names.

Lauren kept a comfortable distance, which led the twins to grow attached to her.

Last time, when the weather turned and they both caught colds while Carter was away on a business trip, it was Lauren who watched over them for several nights in a row.

Once they recovered, she took them to the amusement park for a day of fun. They had a nice meal and even took some pictures, which the kids promptly sent to Carter.

It was a feeling that the kids hadn't felt in a very long time.

Rhea had moved on, built her own life, and even had a new baby boy. Arielle and Adrian could only wish her well, but that longing for a mother's love never really went away.

And now, just when things were finally getting better, Lauren was leaving.

Arielle gripped her fork, remaining silent.

After a moment, Carter looked up. "The down payment for a property in Draventh isn't cheap. A couple of hundred thousand dollars won't get you very far."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify