I Quit Being a StepMother Novel

2/2 Chapter 425 Chapter 425 +25 BONUS Steven and George had both left , leaving Cynthia alone in the house . She sat there in a daze . After some time , Maverick entered the room and asked , " Mrs. Snider , do you want me to heat up the dishes ? " Lost in thought , Cynthia merely hummed in response . She wasn't really listening to what Maverick was saying, just responding out of habit . Her mind was still spinning with George's words . He had admitted it . He had admitted that Gerard's death was connected to him , yet he wouldn't take responsibility .

But to a mother , that was negligence - something to hold someone accountable for . She loved both her sons , but she couldn't accept that one's death was tied to the other and that another woman was involved in the mix . The dishes were brought over . Suddenly , Cynthia looked at Maverick and asked , " Do you think Gerard's death was normal ? " Maverick didn't dare speak freely . " Mrs. Snider , I feel sorry for Mr. Gerard , too . " Everyone knew that it had been an accident , a twist of fate that no one could foresee or prevent .

Cynthia stared at the table , muttering to herself , " But if things had gone differently , maybe it would have turned out another way . " If George hadn't gone to pick up Rhea that day and had gone with Gerard instead , perhaps Gerard would still be alive . Her sorrow for Gerard's passing left no room for nuance . She could only channel her pain toward Rhea and Nathan . Meanwhile , in a spacious villa , Rhea was reading on a couch . " Ms. Ravelle , your supper is ready . " This villa had been a gift from George when they were just starting to date .

Rhea didn't care much about such things , but she knew that living at home wasn't ideal either . After all , Nathan had reached an age suitable for marriage . And she had heard that he had been seeing a woman named Elena fairly often recently . 1/2 Chapter 425 +25 BONUS " Ms. Ravelle . " Carmelo Chapman , the villa's butler , approached . George had handpicked him personally for this role . Rhea looked at him . Carmelo reported , " One Ms. Elena Austin has arrived to visit . " Once the intercom connected , Elena identified herself . Rhea nodded . " Let her in .

" A few minutes later , Elena entered the living room . " Ms. Ravelle , " she greeted politely . Rhea gestured . " It's quite late . Since you're here , would you like to join me for some supper ? " Elena smiled . " I won't refuse . " She had been waiting for Nathan for hours , only to hear that he had gone home to rest . Elena , frustrated , had come straight to Rhea . Rhea looked at her . " Ms. Austin , you can just say whatever's on your mind . " Elena was stunned for a moment , surprised by Rhea's directness . Then , she bluntly said , " I couldn't find Nathan , so I came to you .

" Rhea wasn't surprised . " You fancy him ? What is it that you like about him ? " Did Elena fancy him ? That was obvious . But what did she like about him ? Elena was momentarily caught off guard by the question . After a moment , she wiped the corner of her mouth with a tissue . " Just so you know , before I take my leave , you can't kick me out . " Rhea couldn't help but chuckle . " Okay . " Elena hummed softly for a moment before saying , " I actually fell for Nathan at first sight , though not completely .

I've always been protected and pampered , but he ignored me , and I took it as a personal affront . Over time , I realized that I couldn't stop thinking about him . I'll wonder what he's doing , whether he's thinking of me , or if he's seeing someone else . " Her voice grew softer as she spoke , and she was tracing circles on the table with her finger . " I know I'm not the perfect lady . I'm clumsy and carefree , neither elegant nor refined . But if he needs me to be like that , I can change and learn . "