I Quit Being a StepMother Novel

Chapter 216 Kate smiled and said , " I don't need a listening ear anymore . I've already worked through it myself . Don't worry about me . " Liora looked at her , feeling guilty . If not for her slip of the tongue , Kate wouldn't have gotten so upset and fallen sick for days . " I heard that Carter has moved to Draventh and is going to settle down here . Are you just going to stand by and watch them gloat like this ? " Kate asked . Rhea said , " Lauren's only confident because she thinks that I don't have the nerve to reveal my past . After all , I need to preserve my family's dignity .

" A family's dignity and reputation were indeed important . An heiress like Rhea had married Carter , who was beneath her station , and had been a stepmother for six years . To make matters worse , she was now about to get a divorce . No matter how one looked at it , it was a scandalous affair . Kate lowered her voice and said , " I heard from Marcus that Carter has plans for a gathering next week , and that all the prestigious families will be invited . It's supposed to be for building connections .

" Rhea caught her underlying meaning - Carter wanted to seize the chance to cozy up to Draventh's elite . It was no wonder he'd acted so oddly the day before . It seemed that he had latched onto the Cains . Other families were easy enough to handle , but the Cains ... Even her parents needed to show them some respect . After the banquet started , Ruby suddenly said , " Rhea , you don't need to feel ashamed as long as you've done the right thing . Your father and I don't care about those superficial things . " She felt frustrated on Rhea's behalf .

It was beyond easy for them to crush Carter , yet Rhea kept holding back for the sake of the Ravelle family's dignity and reputation . She had already disgraced the family once , so she didn't want to stir up any more trouble with Carter . Rhea gripped her glass tightly . " I understand , Mom . " During the meal , Lauren sat at another table and shared her parenting tips with the other wives . She spoke about her children as if she truly knew what she was saying . Anyone not in the know would think she had actually raised Arielle and Adrian herself .

1/2 Chapter 216 +25 BONUS " They're no trouble at all . They bathe , get dressed , and go to school by themselves . I don't need to worry about a thing . My daughter , especially , is such a sweetheart . She clings to me and can't bear to go a day without seeing me . " Lauren beamed . " You're so lucky . My boy is a handful . He has two nannies , but even they can't keep him in check ! " Lauren said , " Kids need to let loose , you know . I remember my boy being mischievous when he was younger , but I was patient with him , and he understood the things I told him .

" " Kids nowadays fall sick very easily , don't they ? " Lauren pressed a hand to her chest . " That's so true . My daughter ended up in the hospital due to an allergic reaction some time ago . As her mother , my heart ached so badly for her . I stayed by her bedside day and night . It was exhausting . " Rhea, who was seated at the table beside hers , smiled coldly . She wondered when Lauren had been by Arielle's side when she'd been hospitalized due to her allergies . Hadn't she been busy socializing with Carter , Peter , and the others then ? " Allergies aren't easy to fix , are they ?

" a woman asked . Lauren nodded . " Yeah , they're tough to treat . You've got to catch them early on . " She abruptly turned to Rhea and asked , " Don't you agree , Ms. Ravelle ? " Another woman said , " Ms. Ravelle's not married , and she hasn't had children yet . How would she know that ? " Lauren laughed . " My bad . I forgot . " " Did you ? " Rhea took a sip of her wine . " I'll come clean . I do actually have six years of experience in raising children . I might have a few thoughts on the subject . " " What ? " The women were astonished . " You've raised children before , Ms. Ravelle ?

" Lauren tightened her grip on her cutlery as she glared at Rhea . She didn't believe for a second that Rhea would dare reveal that she was once married !