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"Mom, why is Dad hugging another lady?" On our celebration party, I held the kids' hands, watching my husband tightly embrace his first love, tears of joy streaming down his face. Six years ago, I ran away from my family just to marry Carter Jamison, a man with a failing career and two children born out of wedlock. I treated his children as my own and helped him rebuild his crumbling business from the ground up. But now, on the day our company went public, his first love— the birth mother of the two children showed up with red-rimmed eyes. That night, he didn't come home. The next day, he returned with that woman in his arms and filed for divorce. "Thanks for everything, Rhea. But the kids need their birth mother." She added softly, "Thank you for taking care of them all these years. But a stepmother will never compare to a birth mother." I almost threw up. So, I had given six years of my life, yet one single night with that woman outweighed it all? To hell with being a stepmother, I'm going back to inherit the billion-dollar fortune. I sign the divorce papers and throw them in his face. But just as I turn to leave, the two kids clutch at me. "Rhea, you are our only mom!" They cry, "If you're leaving Dad, then we're going with you!" Chapter 1 It was 8:00 pm in Colburn. Jamison Group's celebration party was in full swing. Laughter echoed across the venue as glasses clinked and compliments flew freely. At the center of the crowd stood Carter Jamison, the man of the hour. Once from a fallen family, he had clawed his way back up. He had rebuilt the crumbling Jamison Group from the ground up and taken it public again. The achievement was enough to earn endless praise. "Congratulations, Mr. Jamison. You're truly young and accomplished. I look forward to working with you." "Mr. Jamison, not only is your career thriving, but your family life seems just as perfect. You're a lucky man." Of course they were envious. Carter's wife had taken on the role of stepmother at such a young age and raised his two children as if they were her own. What man wouldn't admire that? As soon as his wife was mentioned, Carter, who had been basking in the spotlight, glanced around the room. Across the crowd, his wife, Rhea Ravelle, stood poised and elegant in a sleek black evening dress. She was the one who had planned every detail of that night's party a month in advance. Even in the midst of her busy schedule, she hadn't once neglected the kids. Now that the children were growing up strong and his career was finally steady, Carter had to admit that none of it would have happened without Rhea. Just then, Rhea approached with the twins in tow and gently linked her arm with Carter's. Compliments flowed from all directions. "Mr. and Mrs. Jamison, with their two adorable children, make a truly picture-perfect family." "They're truly blessed!" Rhea smiled graciously. "You're all too kind. Thank you for supporting Carter all these years. We hope to—" Before she could finish speaking, a surprised voice rose from the entrance. "Lauren? You're Lauren Thayer, right?" A security guard chimed in, "Mrs. Miller, this woman's been lurking around all night. Do you know her?" The voice wasn't loud, but it cut straight through the chatter, and everyone heard it. Rhea's heart skipped a beat the moment she heard the name "Lauren Thayer". Before she could react, her arm was suddenly empty. Carter was already striding toward the door. His expression was tense, with a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. Could it be the Lauren Thayer? At the entrance, a guard was holding a woman by the arm, demanding, "Who are you? Do you have an invitation?" "Let go!" The sharp voice came from Carter. The guests quickly followed. The name Lauren Thayer was familiar to all of them. She was Carter's childhood sweetheart, the woman he was once engaged to. More importantly, she was the birth mother of the two kids Rhea had raised. "Lauren? Is it really you?" Carter grabbed her arm like he couldn't believe it. His tension and concern at that moment didn't escape Rhea's eyes, making her chest tighten. "Carter, I-I just missed the kids so much, so I came to see them. I didn't mean to intrude… I'm really sorry…" In her plain clothes and red-rimmed eyes, Lauren looked at the two children beside Rhea with quiet longing. Seeing that, Carter felt like something sharp had stabbed him right in the chest. He remembered Lauren as a bright and fearless person. She was always laughing, nothing like the fragile, pitiful version of her standing in front of him now. He kept his gaze locked on her like she might disappear again if he blinked. "Where have you been all these years?" Silence suddenly blanketed the crowd. "Who's that woman Mr. Jamison's holding? Is she his mistress?" "No, that's Lauren. She was once the heiress of the Thayer family. When the financial crash hit years ago, it took down both the Jamison and Thayer families. She and Mr. Jamison were engaged, but after giving birth to the twins, she vanished. The wedding never happened." "Wait, she's the biological mom of the twins? That makes Mrs. Jamison…" Every eye turned to Rhea. She clutched the children's hands and was forced to watch her husband disregard her completely as he fussed over another woman in front of everyone. Lauren looked helpless as she said, "I-I got really sick after giving birth. We were struggling so much, and I didn't want to drag you down. I know leaving without saying goodbye was wrong, but the kids are innocent. Now that you're doing well, please treat them well." To the others, it sounded like she was accusing Rhea—the stepmother—of not treating the children well. Carter frowned. Lauren had been sick after giving birth? She left to avoid being a burden? Lauren pulled her arm away and said, "I should go. Carter, let me go." "Stay," he said. Upon hearing that, the crowd reacted in their own quiet ways, though most eyes inevitably drifted to Rhea. But what power did she have to stop any of this? Lauren was the children's biological mother. That was a fact that no one could erase. Just then, Arielle Jamison, the older twin, looked up at Rhea and asked, "Mom, who's that lady Dad's hugging?" Adrian Jamison, the younger one, chimed in with confusion. "Why is Dad holding another lady?" The room was already quiet, so the two children's voices reached everyone present when they spoke. Carter paused, as if something had just occurred to him, then said, "Apologies, everyone. It's getting late. I'll invite all of you over another day." "Oh, of course! We'll take our leave then, Mr. Jamison." The guests made a swift exit. Once the room was nearly empty, Carter reached out and gently wiped the tears off Lauren's cheeks. "Don't cry. If you really want to see the kids, then stay the night. Spend some time with them." Lauren lifted her head in surprise. Her expression was tinged with hesitation. "C-Can I do that?" Then she turned to Rhea. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Jamison. I just want to see my kids. I hope you don't mind." How could Rhea say no to that? It was only natural for a biological mother to want to see her children. Rhea lowered her gaze and replied, "Of course not." A rare hint of relief appeared in Carter's eyes when she agreed. He instructed the butler, Devan Witt, "Get the guest room ready. Make sure it's spotless. Lauren's a clean freak." Lauren's eyes lit up at that. It seemed that he still remembered. Rhea, on the other hand, lowered her gaze and said nothing. Once inside, Lauren crouched to look at the twins and tried to touch their faces. But Arielle and Adrian both instinctively backed away. Instantly, a look of hopelessness washed over Lauren's face. "Carter, do they hate me?" Carter immediately told the kids, "Arielle, Adrian, this is your one and only mother. Come on. Call her 'Mom'." Rhea's heart twisted painfully. One and only mother? Then what was she? The maids watching from the side frowned. Rhea might not have given birth to the kids, but she had raised them since they were babies. They thought that Carter's words were a little too harsh. "I don't want to!" Adrian snapped, his temper flaring. "She's not our mom! Our mom is right here!" As he said that, he gripped Rhea's arm tightly and ducked behind her. How could Rhea not be their real mom? Adrian couldn't believe it. He felt that Carter had to be lying. Carter tried to explain, "Rhea isn't your birth mother. Lauren is. She's the one who loves you the most. No one can compare to a birth mother. So, you two need to be respectful." Rhea's head jerked up. She wouldn't deny a mother's love. But Carter's words left her feeling excluded. She had given everything to raise Arielle and Adrian like they were her own. She had even sacrificed having children of her own to care for them. Arielle snorted. "I don't know about any of that! All I know is, the one who loves us the most and takes care of us is Mom! It's Rhea, not anyone else!" Chapter 2 Carter hadn't expected the twins to reject Lauren so strongly. Lauren was in tears, wobbling on her feet. "It's my fault… I shouldn't have left… They don't even know me…" Right there in front of Rhea, Carter wrapped an arm around Lauren's shoulders. "Don't blame yourself. You didn't have a choice. Come on. Don't cry. Go upstairs and freshen up a bit." Dressed in plain clothes, Lauren looked fragile and miserable. She was too weak to stand on her own, so Carter ended up escorting her to the guest room himself. They passed by Rhea without so much as a glance, paying no mind to how she might feel. Rhea bit back the strange discomfort swelling inside her. She told herself that Lauren simply missed the kids and wanted to see them, and that Carter was just doing what any decent father would do. He was trying to keep things civil. At that thought, she forced a smile. "Alright, sweeties. It's time to wash up and get ready for bed." "Okay, Mom!" The twins grinned and followed behind Rhea. … In the guest room, Lauren quickly freshened up and changed into a clean set of clothes. However, a sense of unease lingered in her chest. "Carter, the kids are probably getting ready for bed by now, right?" Carter nodded. "Yeah. It's late." If it hadn't been for the celebration party that night, the kids would have been asleep already. Lauren set down a cup of warm water. Her eyes were still red-rimmed as she asked, "Do you think I could give them a bath? It might help us bond a little. I've missed them so much, and I've already lost so much time with them. It really hurts." Her eyes were filled with a deep, aching longing for the kids. How could Carter possibly deny a mother's love for her own kids? Especially since their parting hadn't come from a lack of love, but from circumstances beyond their control. Carter couldn't bring himself to see Lauren so upset. Those two children were, after all, the ones she had carried and given birth to. So he nodded and said, "Alright." … Carter arrived at the kids' room and knocked on the door. "Arielle, Adrian." Rhea opened it with water still clinging to her hands. When she saw him standing next to Lauren, she quietly pressed her lips together and asked, "What is it?" "Lauren wants to help the kids with their baths. Maybe they can bond a little," Carter said. It wasn't an outrageous request. So Rhea stepped aside and said, "Come in. Arielle's using the bathroom on the right." The twins were six now. They were old enough to need separate bathrooms. Lauren hurried to the bathroom on the right. Pushing the door open, she called out softly, "Arielle? It's Mom." Startled by the sight of this woman who wanted to take Rhea's place, Arielle quickly pulled her towel around herself. "I don't need your help," she said. The rejection hit Lauren hard, causing her eyes to well up with tears again. Carter stood with his back to the bathroom door. "Arielle, don't speak to your mother like that." Lauren quickly said, "It's alright, Carter. They don't really know me yet. It makes sense that they'd be guarded. I'm okay." She sounded so patient and forgiving, which only made Carter feel more sorry for her. How was it fair that a biological mother wasn't allowed to be near her own children? At that thought, he turned to Rhea, who was about to bring a rubber duck to Adrian. "Is this what you've been teaching them?" Rhea paused, confused by the sudden accusation. "What did I teach them?" "Lauren is their mother. Even if she were a stranger, they should still show some basic respect." Carter believed that the children's resistance toward Lauren stemmed from Rhea's failure to teach them better. Rhea felt her heart sink. "They don't know her. What do you want me to do—" "Enough," Carter cut her off. "Help Lauren bathe Arielle." Without saying another word, he headed off to Adrian's bathroom. Rhea looked at his departing figure, then slowly stepped into Arielle's bathroom. Lauren was already holding a bottle of body wash. "Arielle, let me help you with this." Arielle wanted to push her away, but she had just heard Carter scold Rhea. So, she gritted her teeth and tolerated it. Rhea stood by and watched Arielle forcing herself to endure for her sake. It made her chest ache. Nevertheless, she couldn't stop the mother and daughter from spending time together. Fortunately, the bath was quick. After that, Lauren eagerly picked up a small glass jar. "Arielle, would you like to use this strawberry lotion?" Arielle stared at her blankly and said, "No, thanks. I want my mom to do it." Rhea walked over. "I'll do it." The way Arielle resisted her made Lauren's heart clench with pain. "Alright." Just as Rhea reached for the jar in Lauren's hand, the latter suddenly jerked, causing the glass jar to slip and shatter on the floor. The crash startled Arielle. She stumbled and stepped right on a shard of glass. Blood instantly bloomed from her foot. She cried out, "Mom! I'm bleeding!" Rhea's eyes widened in panic, but she reacted quickly. She scooped Arielle into her arms and hurried out. Lauren quickly followed. "What happened? What's wrong?" Hearing the commotion, Carter rushed over, only to see Arielle's foot bleeding heavily. Rhea immediately went to grab the first aid kit and began treating the wound. Her hands moved with practiced ease. "What happened?" Carter asked. Lauren looked stricken. "Mrs. Jamison, even if you hate me, you shouldn't take it out on the kids. A broken jar is really dangerous. If you hadn't grabbed it from me…" Rhea's hand froze midair. The cotton swab nearly jabbed Arielle's open wound. Rhea didn't have time to argue. Treating the wound came first. Fortunately, the glass shard hadn't lodged itself in the skin. It was just a surface cut. Hearing that, Carter frowned at Rhea and said, "If you have a problem with Lauren, bring it to me. Why take it out on the kids?" Rhea looked up when she heard those words. "I didn't try to grab the jar. And I don't have a problem with anyone." Lauren appeared to be overwhelmed with guilt as she said, "Don't, Carter. It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked to bond with the kids or tried to bathe them. If I hadn't been here, Arielle wouldn't have gotten hurt. This is all my fault." But Carter said firmly, "None of this is your fault. You're her birth mother. Anyone else might hurt her, but not you." The cotton swab in Rhea's hand snapped into two. She gritted her teeth, and her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. She wondered if Carter really thought that she was taking out her anger on the kids. A rush of hurt swelled in her chest. "Don't be sad, Mom." Arielle threw her arms around Rhea and said, "It doesn't even hurt that much." A warm feeling welled up in Rhea's chest. She fought to hold back the tears forming in her eyes. "Thank you. I'm fine." Carter looked at Arielle. "Your birth mother is crying here, and you don't even say a single word to comfort her?" Lauren tugged at Carter's sleeve gently and shook her head. "Don't scold the kids. They're still young. They don't understand." So it all came down to Rhea's failure to raise the children properly. Carter's anger flared, and he snapped at Rhea, "Starting tomorrow, you don't need to take care of the kids anymore. Lauren will handle it." Rhea couldn't believe her ears. She finished bandaging Arielle's wound and stood up. But before she could respond, Arielle blurted out, "Dad, Mom didn't try to take the jar! This woman let go of it before Mom even touched it! She did it on purpose!" Chapter 3 Lauren froze for a moment, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Arielle, how could you slander me?" The way Lauren looked so hurt only made Carter believe that Arielle was lying. In his mind, Arielle was trying to protect Rhea, which was why she intentionally slandered Lauren. Carter firmly said, "Arielle, children shouldn't lie. And she's not some stranger. She's your and Adrian's biological mother. Without her, you wouldn't even exist." "I'm not lying!" Arielle insisted. Tears shimmered in Lauren's eyes, but she managed a smile. She quickly tried to calm Carter down, saying, "It's okay. Kids don't lie. They only lie because they want to protect the people they love. It's fine if they like Mrs. Jamison. It means that she's been good to them. That's what matters." Her statement about how kids wouldn't lie implied that Rhea had told Arielle to say that. Seeing the hurt and grievance in Lauren's eyes only fueled Carter's anger. "Where are the maids?" A nanny, Alisha Berry, rushed in. Carter fixed his eyes on Rhea as he ordered, "Take the kids away." He was clearly trying to keep the children away from her. Once Alisha had carried both children out, Carter—still fuming—left with Lauren without looking back. Rhea stood frozen in place. Her chest constricted at the sight of the bloodied swab. But beneath the pain, it was the disappointment that cut deeper. Throughout their six years of marriage, she managed the household and cared for the children, just so he could devote himself fully to his work. She thought she was special. After all, Carter had remained loyal over the years. He had treated her with care and fulfilled his duties as a husband. But now, she realized that all of that only held true because Lauren hadn't been around. In just one evening, the way Carter defended Lauren far outshone anything he had done for Rhea in the past six years. Suddenly, all the care he had shown her felt like a cruel joke. … Later that night, after Rhea had showered and lain down, footsteps soon followed. Carter had also taken a shower and gotten into bed. They lay back-to-back in silence. After a long pause, Carter said, "Lauren only came because she missed the children. You didn't have to be so defensive, and you certainly shouldn't have taught Arielle to lie. Don't let this happen again." Rhea couldn't believe her ears. She clenched her jaw. "I've been raising them for six years since they were newborns. I want what's best for them more than anyone. So what makes you think I'd teach them to lie?" "If it wasn't you, then who? Lauren?" Carter's tone turned ice-cold. "Do you need me to remind you that she's their birth mother?" Those words hit her like a knife to the chest. She had given six years of her life, yet one emotional moment from Lauren outweighed it all. Did those years mean nothing at all? … The night passed without Rhea and Carter exchanging another word. The next morning, Rhea woke up to an empty bed. It was the weekend, which meant that it was family day. Carter always stayed home with the kids on weekends. As Rhea walked downstairs, Devan met her at the bottom of the stairs. "Mrs. Jamison, breakfast… is ready." He looked like he wanted to say more, but bit his tongue. Then Rhea stepped into the dining room and understood why. Lauren had made breakfast. And it was elaborate. "Mrs. Jamison, good morning. Come eat!" Lauren's smile was gentle. But in Carter's eyes, it only looked like Lauren was trying to please Rhea. He couldn't bear to see that. "You don't have to do that. This is your kids' home. You have every right to live here with peace of mind." Rhea froze mid-step. It felt like someone had just slapped her across the face. Lauren only smiled. "Alright." Once Rhea took a seat, Lauren said, "Try this. I used to be great at making crab quiche. Carter used to love it. So, I thought I'd make some for you and the kids to try." He did love crab quiches. Carter didn't hold back his praise. "It's even better than I remember. Thank you for making it. But you don't have to cook next time. Rhea knows how to make it, too." Thank you? Rhea knew how to make it, too? So what, Lauren didn't need to cook, and she had to? Rhea stared down at her oatmeal. She recalled that she had stayed up two nights straight caring for a feverish Adrian. Her eyes were red with fatigue, but Carter hadn't even thanked her. She chose to believe that Carter was simply treating Lauren like a guest, but she was reaching her limit. Rhea lifted her head and said, "Yeah, I know how to make it too. But Arielle's allergic to crab. She can't have this." Lauren was surprised. "Allergic? Carter, that's probably because she wasn't properly weaned. You can't be too overprotective with kids. They need exposure to germs when they're young. It helps build a stronger immune system." Carter paused at those words and glanced at Rhea. But to be fair, Rhea had taken immaculate care of the kids all these years. He had nothing to criticize. So this time, he didn't go along with what Lauren said. Lauren noticed his silence and quickly changed the subject. "I was thinking of taking the kids out for the day. Carter, can you come with us?" Then she turned to Rhea and said, "Mrs. Jamison, you should come too." Carter cut in. "Just call her Rhea." Lauren complied. "Alright, Rhea." They just talked among themselves without even asking Rhea what she wanted. Rhea hadn't touched her food. "You guys go. I'm meeting a friend today." Carter asked, "What friend? You don't have friends." "I had a friend who moved to Colburn. I'm going to catch up with her." She used to have a wide circle of friends, but after marrying Carter and relocating to Colburn, the distance made it hard for her to keep in touch with them. Almost all of her friends were still in Draventh, which was the capital. Carter didn't press. He simply reminded, "Be careful. Don't come back too late." Rhea nodded and went upstairs to get ready. After she was gone, Carter reached over and plated some more food on Lauren's plate. "So your health's really back to normal?" Smiling, she nodded. "I'm fine now. Don't worry." "You must have been through a lot." Lauren lowered her gaze, sorrow flickering in her eyes. "It was fine. Things have finally turned around, haven't they?" In truth, she hadn't really suffered. Life had been fairly comfortable. She just couldn't speak of the past. … Once the kids woke up, Rhea helped them get ready to head out. She packed water bottles, wet wipes, kid cameras, and spare clothes. "I'm not coming with you today, okay? So, be good and listen to your dad. Don't run around yourselves," she said while crouching down to adjust their collars. Adrian pouted. "Then who's coming with us?" "Your dad and…" Rhea paused before saying, "...your birth mother." "We don't want her!" Arielle's temper flared. "How could you not be our birth mother? That lady's lying! We've never even seen her before!" Rhea patiently said, "Arielle, she is your birth mother. If you keep resisting her, your dad will be upset." The kids were upset, but they nodded in agreement. After all, they had always listened to Rhea. They still couldn't accept that Lauren was their biological mother. That rejection had only grown deeper with time. After descending the stairs, Rhea placed a piece of paper on the dining table. "Here's a list of the kids' food allergies and eating preferences." She didn't stick around after that. She changed her clothes and left. … Rhea stayed at her friend Maeve Corbin's bar until just before evening. "It's family day, and here you are spending half of it with me. That's rare," Maeve said, setting down a plate of fruit. Rhea gave a soft chuckle. Her tone was laced with self-deprecation as she spoke. "What's there for me to do when the perfect family of four is off having fun?" "You could start your own business." Rhea shook her head and said, "There's no space for my kind of work in Colburn." She had studied venture capital. However, Colburn was home to several mid-sized manufacturing businesses. At the moment, there weren't any massive, billion-money projects that would call for mergers or partnerships. The only business with real growth potential here was Carter's. Jamison Group had basically become the dominant force across the entire southern tri-state area. But Rhea never got involved in Carter's work. "You're wasting your talent." Even Maeve couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Rhea had grown up under the influence of the men in her family. By the age of 17, she was already learning about investments from her father. Sharp-eyed and astute even at a young age, she had helped the Ravelle family earn more money than they could count. It was precisely because of this that Rhea faced such fierce opposition from her family when she insisted on marrying Carter. After all, he had two children out of wedlock. The conflict ran so deep that it eventually led to a complete severing of ties. But the young man she had secretly loved since her school days had become her husband. Naturally, she was going to give him her all. Maeve couldn't blame her for that. Not that Carter ever knew any of it. He simply assumed that Rhea had come from an ordinary family, tucked away in some distant, remote town. And that was why her parents had never shown up all these years. Rhea's head was starting to spin. "No more drinks. I should go—" Suddenly, her phone vibrated, cutting her off. It was Carter. Rhea guessed that it had to be something about the kids, as he hardly ever called her. She picked up the call. "Hello?" Carter's voice was cold and tight as he said, "Get to the children's hospital now." Rhea didn't even say goodbye to Maeve. She just ran out of the bar. Chapter 4 Rhea rushed into the emergency department of the children's hospital, breathless. "What happened?" "Adrian had an allergic reaction," Carter said, his voice tight with worry. Rhea's heart sank. "Allergic? I wrote down everything he can't eat. Didn't you see it?" Lauren quickly apologized. "It's my fault. I didn't realize that mango would trigger him. I'm so sorry…" "Lauren meant well," Carter cut in. "Besides, the list you gave us got lost. Maybe you didn't write it clearly." "I didn't write it clearly?" Rhea was furious. She knew everything the kids couldn't eat by heart. Before handing over the list of precautions, she had even double-checked it to ensure that nothing was missed. How could it possibly not be clear? And now he was saying it had gotten lost? Carter suddenly caught a whiff of al-cohol off her. "You've been drinking? Adrian's in the hospital, and you were in the mood for a drink?" Rhea's chest burned with anger. "You're the ones who took them out. How is this—" "Rhea!" Carter's stare was piercing as he snapped, "What you should be doing right now is checking on Adrian. Not standing there trying to shift the blame. A stepmother is still just a stepmother." Her heart dropped. It felt like something inside her tore clean down the middle. She couldn't believe those words had come from Carter. To spare Lauren's feelings, he turned around and lashed out at her, as if she were the one who caused Adrian's allergic reaction. Was that all she was in his eyes? An unfit stepmother? The frustration and hurt sat heavy in her chest, too overwhelming to release. Just then, a nurse called from the hallway, "Family of Adrian Jamison?" All three of them entered the consultation room together. The attending physician, a woman in her 50s named Emily Mitchell, asked, "Who are the child's parents?" "We are." Lauren immediately stepped forward, pulling Carter along. Her expression was full of a mother's urgent concern. Rhea stood behind them both, too worried to pay attention to anything else. All she wanted to know was how Adrian was doing. Emily said sharply, "Adrian's six years old. Don't you know what he can or can't eat? Don't treat allergies like a joke. Some can actually be fatal. Fortunately, he didn't eat much of it today, or it would have been too late by the time he got here." Lauren took the criticism on the chin and apologized, "It was my fault." Emily had the least patience for careless parents. She continued scolding, "You, as his mother, should've known better." Lauren looked both hurt and anxious. "I-I wasn't around when they were younger. I didn't know about their allergies. Besides, they often experience allergic reactions. Is it because of the environment they're growing up in?" She sounded as though she were blaming Rhea for not raising the kids right. Emily explained, "There are many allergens that can affect children, and many factors involved, like their environment, genetics, and so on. But one of the most important is the mother's diet during pre-gnancy." Lauren glanced away, looking guilty. Back then, during her pre-gnancy, her family had gone through a significant upheaval, leaving her in a bad state of mind. She hardly ever watched her diet. She even drank al-cohol. Through her years of experience, Emily sensed there was more to the story. So, she asked bluntly, "Are you divorced? Who's taking care of the children?" Carter suddenly looked at Rhea. She stepped forward and said, "Hi, doctor. I'm… the kids' stepmother." Emily glanced at Rhea, then paused. "You didn't know about their allergies?" Rhea clenched her fists, refusing to take the blame anymore. "I knew. Their mother took them out, and I left a list of precautions, but they lost it." Carter frowned. It seemed like he didn't want Rhea to blame Lauren for this. But Rhea wasn't thinking about his feelings. She quickly asked, "Is Adrian going to be okay? Is he still vomiting? Does he have a fever?" From her questions, Emily could tell how much she cared for the kids. By contrast, Lauren hadn't shown much concern. She hadn't even asked how Adrian was doing. Emily pulled Rhea aside and gave her a thorough rundown of what to watch for. Finally, she said, "He needs an IV and some monitoring. If all goes well, he should be able to go home soon." Rhea finally let out a breath of relief. Emily didn't spare Carter and Lauren. "If you can't take care of your kids, don't pretend that you can. Do you really think raising a child is an easy job? Lauren's face flushed red. Tears welled up as she turned and walked out. On the way to the ward, she felt overwhelmed with guilt. "Carter, I've really failed as a mother. It's because I was careless that Adrian ended up like this." Carter comforted her, saying, "It's not your fault. You didn't know about the allergies. The doctor said he'll be fine anyway." The three of them entered the ward together. Rhea wanted to check on Adrian, but Lauren was quicker to approach the bedside. She and Carter stood on either side, quietly guarding Adrian. It was such a peaceful scene. "Adrian, I'm sorry. I'll be more careful from now on." Carter held Adrian's hand, worry clear in his eyes. Unhappy with Lauren being here, Adrian pouted and didn't respond to Carter. He wanted Rhea to be with him. Watching them stand by Adrian, Rhea took Arielle and left the ward. As she sat down on a bench in the hall, Arielle hugged her neck. "Mom, don't be sad. If Dad won't be with you, I will." That made Rhea's sadness swell even more. Still, she said, "I'm not sad." … Inside the ward, Lauren looked at Adrian with tenderness. "They say that sons take after their mother. Look at Adrian's eyes. They're just like mine. And Arielle completely inherited her personality from me. Watching them, it's like seeing younger versions of myself." Carter couldn't help but recall the fiery, fearless Lauren from their younger days and thought that Arielle really was a copy of her. He nodded, saying, "Yeah, you're a lot alike." Lauren lowered her gaze. "It's just a shame that all those childhood photos are gone." Her family had gone bankrupt, so they had to sell their house in a hurry. When the Thayers left, they took only some documents and clothes, leaving everything else behind. Carter remembered those hard times well. He said reassuringly, "It's okay. We can take new ones later." Lauren's eyes were filled with tears as she said, "I remember how you tried making seafood pasta for me when I was pre-gnant. It was really good." Carter remembered that, too. "Would you like some now?" "No. It's all in the past." She sniffed before turning away. "Excuse me. I need to use the restroom." But she barely took a few steps before bumping into the end of the bed. "Lauren!" Carter caught her quickly. "What's wrong?" Her lips turned pale. "Nothing. I'm just feeling weak. I guess years of poor nutrition are finally catching up to me." Carter frowned and asked, "Then why push yourself? Let me take you back." "No. Don't forget that we have dinner plans with Peter and the others. It's already late. It wouldn't be right for us to bail. You should go. I'll stay and watch the kids." Carter wanted to cancel the dinner, but Lauren continued firmly, "Don't you dare skip it. If you do, they'll think that I don't want to see them. Say hi to them for me. When you're done, could you get me my toiletries?" That was doable. Lauren used to laugh and get along with his friends, but now… At that thought, Carter agreed. "Alright. I'll head over for a bit." "Good." After Carter left the ward, he told Rhea, who was holding Arielle, "I made plans with Peter and the others earlier today. There will be quite a few people, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to just skip. I'll be back soon." Rhea knew that he was just informing her, so she simply nodded. Once he was gone, she took Arielle back to the ward. Without Carter there, Adrian got braver. He ordered Lauren away. "I don't need you to watch me. You can leave. My mom will look after me." Lauren's heart sank at his words, but she held back her tears. "Adrian, I'm worried because you're sick." Adrian was about to say more, but Rhea walked over. She said, "Adrian, go to sleep." Adrian pressed his lips tightly into a line and closed his eyes. No one spoke after that in the ward. Arielle stayed close to Rhea's arm, their bond clear. Meanwhile, Lauren kept glancing at her phone, which continued to buzz. Arielle looked up and said, "Go ahead and take care of what you need to do. You don't have to stay with Adrian." A six-year-old didn't yet understand the complicated feelings about who was or wasn't their biological mother. They only knew that Rhea had been there for them all along. And now, their happy life with the mother they love was under threat. So they resisted the sudden appearance of Lauren. Lauren replied gently, "I'm not busy. It's just that your dad just messaged me. I asked him to bring me some toiletries. He's just asking about that." She even showed Arielle her phone. At that moment, Rhea felt a pang in her chest. She sat on the same side as Arielle. Even though she tried not to look, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the screen. She caught an unintentional glimpse of Carter's thoughtful, caring side. However, it wasn't meant for her. A minute later, Lauren's cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke with a hint of embarrassment. "Sorry, Rhea. Carter couldn't find them. They're my personal thing, after all. I'll get them and be back soon. Please watch the kids while I'm gone." Chapter 5 Rhea pressed her lips together and gritted her teeth. She told Lauren, "Go ahead." Rhea stayed at the hospital all night, looking after Adrian with Arielle by her side, never stepping away. As for Carter and Lauren, who had said they would be back soon? They never showed. Rhea felt a deep, bitter ache in her chest. In the photo Carter had sent Lauren earlier on WhatsApp, he was clearly at home, asking Lauren if he had gotten the items right. That level of care wasn't just about being a good host or co-parent. Rhea wondered if he was still in love with Lauren. At first, Rhea had believed that Carter was simply trying to make up for the past. After all, Lauren had given birth to his twins, and he had even said so himself. But now, with the way he treated Lauren, and especially after what he said about a stepmother being just a stepmother, the past six years felt more and more like nothing but a hired arrangement. It felt like her worth was entirely tied to the children, and her only role was to care for them. When the kids were doing well, she was the devoted, capable wife. But the moment something went wrong, she became the irresponsible stepmother, looking to shift the blame. No matter how much she gave, she could never compete with Lauren's title of birth mother, even though Lauren had done absolutely nothing. … It was 9:30 pm when Adrian finally finished his IV. He didn't want to stay in the hospital any longer. He said, "Mom, I'm fine now. Can we go home?" Rhea thought about it, then nodded. "Alright. I'll get you discharged. You and Arielle stay here, okay? Don't go anywhere." "Okay!" he chirped. Rhea left the ward but kept glancing back every few steps. She had no one to help her. Carter hadn't even bothered to send Alisha. She was terrified that the kids might wander off or get lost in the hospital. When she left the ward, she flagged down a nurse to keep an eye on the twins and rushed through the discharge paperwork. Once everything was done, she hailed a cab and took them home. … The Jamison residence was blazing with lights, and a few luxury cars were parked out front. Rhea remembered Carter saying that he was meeting his friends. It seemed that the gathering was happening at their house. "Mom, is that car expensive?" Adrian asked as he pointed out one of them. Rhea glanced at it and said, "Not really." To her, it really wasn't expensive. Back in the day, any random car she had picked would have cost more than all of these put together. When she brought the children inside, she was frozen by the sight before her. For a second, it was like her chest had exploded, and the sound of it rushed to her head. The house wasn't just occupied. It was lively. The front door was well soundproofed, so she only heard the cheers and laughter after she stepped inside. "Come on! Kiss her! Kiss her!" "Carter, don't be shy!" "Come on, Lauren! You two have kids together! What's there to be embarrassed about?" Everyone was having a grand time, so much so that no one noticed Rhea walking in with the kids. However, the maids saw them. They wanted to speak up but were scared stiff by Rhea's expression. Across the room, Carter stood face-to-face with Lauren. Smiling, Lauren scolded their friends, "Stop it, guys! Carter and I were engaged, but that's not the case anymore." "Well, that's only because fate was cruel. If it weren't for what happened back then, you two would still be living the dream. Come on. Carter's company just went public, and he's reunited with his childhood sweetheart. Let him kiss you to celebrate!" said Carter's friend, Peter Henderson. As they brought up the past, Carter looked at Lauren, who had stepped in to defuse the situation. She always seemed to have his best interests at heart. And yet, he had given her nothing in return. Lauren smiled softly. "Let's not dwell on the past. Look at Carter now. He's so successful. That's enough for me." Her words hit Carter hard. A wave of guilt surged through him, tightening in his chest. Before he realized it, he was leaning in toward her cheek. "Kiss her! Kiss her!" The crowd kept chanting, with Peter shouting the loudest. However, one of Carter's childhood friends frowned and stayed silent the entire time. Everyone was waiting for Carter and Lauren to kiss, so the room fell into complete silence, all eyes locked on them. The sudden stillness made Rhea's voice ring out with startling clarity. "Having fun?" Just two simple words, yet they made everyone in the room flinch. Carter jolted back two full steps, as if snapping out of a trance. Lauren, too, looked a little flustered. No one had expected Rhea to return all of a sudden. Rhea felt as though her heart was being torn apart. If she hadn't walked in when she did, they would have already kissed by now. She knew Carter. He never did anything he didn't want to do, no matter how much pressure there was. So if he leaned in toward Lauren just now, it could only mean one thing—that deep down, he wanted to. He still had feelings for Lauren. That realization nearly took Rhea's breath away. She had been caring for the kids alone while they said that they would be back soon. Yet here they were, flirting with each other and enjoying a lively gathering like nothing else mattered. Carter's friends had seen Rhea before, but not often. Most people assumed that she was the one who had gotten lucky. After all, she landed a ready-made pair of twins without having any title or notable background. To them, she was just an unemployed woman from an ordinary family—a housewife at best. She was nothing more than a pretty face with a touch of grace. Otherwise, how could she have possibly caught the eye of Carter, once Colburn's most eligible bachelor? But technically, she was Carter's wife, which made what he and Lauren were doing a little hard to justify. Peter grinned. "Rhea! You're back! Weren't you at the hospital?" Rhea smiled faintly. Her eyes trailed over to Carter and Lauren as she said, "Yeah, I was." So what were they doing? The moment she said that, the guests grew even more uneasy. Arielle was furious. "Dad, you said you were just meeting your friends for a bit and that you'd be back soon." Adrian also huffed and said, "You don't even care about me anymore! I almost died from that allergy, and you're here partying with the person who caused it. I don't like you anymore!" Everyone exchanged awkward glances. They hadn't known about that. The children's words hit Carter like a punch to the gut. He had originally planned to return to the hospital, which was why he changed his dinner plans to a gathering at home. That way, he could head back later with the kids' clean clothes. However, his friends wouldn't let him leave, and Peter had also called Lauren back, which only ended up delaying everything. Rhea looked around the room and remarked, "You're Carter's friends. I'm happy to welcome you into our home. But I ask that you show some basic decency. Ms. Thayer is our guest. Please show her the respect she deserves." Everyone could hear what she really meant. She was calling them out for their lack of decency and shame. Yet, no one dared to say a single word. Suddenly, Rhea turned to Lauren and asked, "Ms. Thayer, did you forget that Carter is married?" No one ever expected it. Rhea, known for her gentle nature and for always responding with a smile, regardless of what was said, was suddenly confrontational in front of everyone. Yes, confrontational. Peter, who had known Carter and Lauren since they were kids, saw Lauren as the delicate one who needed protection. To him, Rhea was the bully, the one playing innocent after getting the better end of the deal. Lauren didn't know how to react. "I'm sorry. I didn't—" Carter stepped in. "Rhea, that's too harsh." "I'm being too harsh?" Rhea's eyes were red with unshed tears. "I was at the hospital with the kids, while you both are here, about to kiss in front of everyone. Ever heard of decency?" Carter snapped, "That's enough!" The room fell deathly quiet. Rhea stood frozen, stunned by his tone. She was faced with Carter's furious expression. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the curious stares of everyone watching. And in her ears, the children's voices calling her "Mom" echoed. But in her mind, all she could see was their wedding day, when Carter took her hand and said, "I do." What had six years of pouring her heart and soul into this family gotten her? It earned her nothing but Carter calling her "stepmother" and everyone else mocking her with thinly veiled disdain. She had tried to fill so many roles but forgot to see Carter's feelings for her through the one identity that truly mattered—simply Rhea. Something deep inside her broke. It had been six years. She thought that it might now be time to step out of the roles of stepmother and Mrs. Jamison and finally start being Rhea again. Tears welled in her eyes, but Rhea smiled and nodded. "Alright, then. Carry on." Carter felt like someone had clenched his heart in a fist. He instinctively reached out to grab her, but she dodged him, leaving his hand awkwardly hanging in the air. Arielle rushed to block her way. "Mom, where are you going? Take me and Adrian with you!" Carter, finally snapping out of it, picked Adrian up and grabbed Arielle's hand. "I'll stay with you." Lauren stepped forward, too, trying to soothe them. "I'm here too." Their effortless harmony made it painfully clear to Rhea that this family would remain whole even without her. They were the true family of four, while she was merely an extra. In the living room, Aiden Wilkinson, Carter's only friend who hadn't joined the rowdy chant, hurried to his feet. "Rhea, I'm sorry. Peter had too much to drink. He wasn't thinking. Please don't take it to heart." Peter opened his mouth to argue, but Aiden shot him a look, silently warning him not to make things worse. "We'll see ourselves out," Aiden said, dragging Peter toward the door. The others took the hint and quietly followed. Once they were in the car, Peter finally snapped. "What's wrong with you? Why didn't you side with Lauren? And why did you apologize to Rhea? She just swooped in and got lucky. Does someone like that even deserve respect?" Aiden told the driver to start the car, then said coldly, "If you ever act like that again, we're done being friends." Peter was confused. "What are you—" Aiden cut him off, saying, "I don't care how you feel about Rhea. Like her or not, she's Carter's legal wife. What is Lauren doing living in their house? And you even yelled for them to kiss? Are you out of your mind?" Peter didn't think he had done anything wrong. "Come on. A nobody like her marrying Carter is already hitting the jackpot! She even got two amazing kids for free. Taking care of them is the least she should do. What right does she have to get upset and throw a fit?" "It's because she raised the kids as if they were her own! If it were your sister, do you think she could've done it?" Aiden asked. Peter scoffed. "If my sister ever dared to be a stepmother, I'd beat the…" He stopped himself mid-sentence. … Back at the Jamison residence, Rhea was just about to leave. But as she reached the foyer, her eyes landed on a phone left behind on the shoe rack, clearly forgotten by someone. The screen was still lit, displaying a photo. It was a group shot, and Carter looked like he was in high school. The first thing that caught her eye was the shirt he was wearing in the photo. It matched Lauren's outfit exactly. It looked like a couple's matching set. Carter still kept that shirt. It no longer fit him, but he made sure that it was always freshly pressed and hung neatly in the closet. No one was allowed to touch it. Rhea had always known the shirt was important to him. She had even guessed that it might have been a gift from his mother. But she never imagined that it was part of a couple's set with Lauren. The realization hit her like a punch to the chest. Tears finally spilled from Rhea's eyes as if a dam had broken. She felt like her heart had been torn open. The pain was so sharp that she couldn't speak. She turned and walked out the door. Carter saw her leave. He then turned to Lauren and said, "You should rest first." "Mom!" Arielle and Adrian were already rushing after Rhea. She hadn't made it far before Arielle caught up and tugged on her hand. Rhea looked down, her tears still clinging to her cheeks. "I'm going to my friend's place tonight. Be good at home, okay?" "No!" Adrian shouted instantly. Arielle, who was very protective of Rhea, said, "If anyone should leave, it's her. You're our mom! You're the one who belongs here." Rhea froze. She thought that Arielle was right. She was the one who belonged here, but Carter kept making her feel like she didn't. He had followed them outside. When he heard Arielle's words, he realized just how much the kids rejected Lauren and how much they liked Rhea. Images of Rhea staying up through the night to care for the children flashed through his mind. Everyone had seen how much she had given. "Rhea," he called softly. She didn't look up. But the sound of his voice suddenly brought her back to that morning years ago when they first met at the prep class. Rhea's tears flowed even harder as she asked, "Do you still love her?" Carter didn't answer, and she laughed bitterly in response. "You're my wife. That's what matters. We're married," he said. Her eyes widened. "So that's all I am to you? Just a wife on paper? You…" Rhea had been raised like a princess, and now, she was falling apart. She realized that she truly lost her voice when she was drowning in helplessness. At that moment, Rhea wanted so badly to ask Carter if he had married her just so she could help raise his kids. The realization hit her as if she were waking from a dream. She had been wrong—wrong for not listening to her family back then, for revolving her life around Carter and his children after the wedding, and for giving up her career and losing herself, only to be seen as someone whose only job was to take care of the kids. Every step she had taken had been a mistake. She once thought that her parents were chains holding her back, so she broke free of them for him. But reality hit her hard. It turned out that they were her dignity, her lifeline. Tears burst from her eyes like a snapped string of pearls. Carter frowned. "Rhea…" He had never seen her cry like this. Not once in their six years of marriage. His chest tightened, and he suddenly wanted to hold her. But just then, Lauren's voice rang out. "Rhea, wait! Please let me explain! Ah!" Lauren, who was supposed to be resting upstairs, had come down in a hurry and missed a step. Her cry made Carter whip around. "Lauren!" She looked like she had twisted her ankle badly. A sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead from the pain. "I can't move. It hurts…" Without hesitation, Carter swept her into his arms and rushed her to the car before speeding off to the hospital. The engine's roar echoed in the air. Rhea, standing there, felt her chest go numb from the pain. All the hope she had clung to and every bit of comfort she had tried to convince herself of were completely shattered. … Late that night, with only the maids around, Rhea had no choice but to stay and get the two exhausted children to bed. She sat beside Arielle's bed and gently stroked her hand. Whenever Arielle stood up for her, Rhea felt that all these years of effort hadn't been for nothing. But now, she also understood how deeply a child could tie her down. Just then, the door creaked open. Carter was back. Rhea looked at him but didn't say a single word. Carter asked, "Are they asleep?" "Yeah." She stood and walked out of the kids' room. With her body turned slightly away from him, she said, "We need to talk." Carter pressed his lips together, silent. In the master bedroom, Rhea took a seat and bluntly said, "Let's get a divorce."