I Quit Being a StepMother Novel

Chapter 71 +25 BONUS Arielle's head was spinning , and nausea was setting in . Feeling diffident , Lauren quickly said , " Carter , she- " Alisha couldn't stay silent anymore . She interrupted , saying , " Ms. Thayer and that new nanny , Ms. Norton , insisted on teaching the kids to cook . They weren't tall enough to reach the counter , so she made them stand on stools . That's how Ms. Arielle got splashed with oil and fell . Mr. Adrian's fingers got cut too ! " Cook ? Carter's gaze was filled with disapproval as he turned to Lauren . " You made children this young learn how to cook ?

" Lauren tried to defend herself . " Carter , they're six . They're not young anymore . They should start learning basic life skills . Didn't we start that early , too ? " Alisha suddenly asked , " Did you learn to cook at six ? " The truth was that Lauren didn't learn until she was in high school . Her parents had always pampered her , never letting her near the kitchen . Noticing Carter's expression darkening , Lauren quickly said , " I guess I got too eager . I just wanted to spend more time with them . If I had been with them since they were born , maybe I wouldn't have done this .

" Carter's anger subsided the moment he heard that . He figured that Lauren's intentions came from love and that she just didn't know the right approach . 1 " Arielle , I'm here . Are you in pain ? " Carter asked gently . Arielle looked pale . " Dad , I feel like throwing up ... 11 " Lay her flat , " the doctor instructed . " She needs to be admitted . " Arielle had been in and out of the hospital so frequently this month . Her face fell at those words . Adrian refused to leave her side . Now that Rhea was gone , Arielle was all he had . " Arielle , I'm sorry .

I should've protected you , " Adrian apologized , clearly distressed . However , Arielle was too sick to respond . She missed Rhea so badly that she wanted to cry . But she couldn't . If she cried , Carter might start blaming Rhea again . And Rhea had told her that some things have to be endured . So , she had to be strong . " Carter , you're busy at work . You should go back first . I can stay with them , " Lauren said . Carter was still worried . " I'll head to the office for a bit . I'll be back soon . " " Go ahead . Leave this to me . " " Arielle , I'm just going to a meeting .

I'll be back before you know it , " Carter said gently . 1/2 Chapter 71 +25 BONUS Arielle blinked up at him slowly . After Carter left , Lauren turned to Alisha and Devan . She instructed , " Go home and prepare dinner for the kids . Bring it back here later . " The kids needed something nutritious . After they left , only Lauren , Scarlett , and the children were left in the ward . Lauren shot Scarlett a look . " Follow them back and keep an eye on them . " Scarlett nodded . " Okay . " Arielle was on an IV drip , drowsy and struggling to stay awake .

Adrian , having missed his nap , soon fell asleep as well . Lauren scrolled through her phone absentmindedly . Suddenly remembering something , she pulled up a screenshot . It was Rhea's phone number . Lauren glanced at the sleeping kids , then quietly stepped out of the ward with her crutch . She called the number , but no one answered . Lauren had no experience in caring for children , so she figured that it was better to have Rhea handle it just to be safe . After all , Rhea was still Carter's wife in name . It was only natural for her to look after his children .

Lauren called around four times , but there was still no answer . With no other choice , she went back into the ward and sat down to rest . Fatigue crept in before she realized it . Suddenly , a burst of noise jolted her awake . She happened to be dreaming about the time a rich man's wife beat her . Her heart was pounding from it . ( 1 ) When her eyes snapped open , she saw a nurse rushing over to pull the IV needle from Arielle's arm . The IV line was filled with Arielle's blood . The young girl lay there as white as a sheet of paper . Panic surged through Lauren .

She had completely forgotten that Arielle was still hooked up to the IV . 2/2 Chapter 72 +25 BONUS Chapter 72