LOGINThe seatbelt clicked into place, and Carter let out a quiet breath.Meanwhile, Arielle and Adrian watched as Lauren's figure faded into the distance. A dull ache rose in their chests.They couldn't help wondering why every mother they had ever had eventually left."Dad?" Adrian's voice was barely ab
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
Resting her chin on one hand, Lauren continued to tutor Adrian and Arielle, her tone patient but firm. "Look, this one's a grammatical error."The kids were bright, and they picked things up fast. Lauren nodded, pleased with their progress. "Not bad. You two definitely take after your dad.""Were yo
"Make sure you save it for me, okay? Don't sneak any for yourself. I'm saving up for a house," Lauren said.Affording a mansion was out of the question in this lifetime, but an apartment in an upscale neighborhood might be possible. Still, in a city like Draventh, even that wasn't easy.Lauren wasn'
A dull ache stabbed through Lauren's chest. All of a sudden, she sprang up from the ground, threw herself into Carter's arms, and let out a raw, anguished cry.She broke down completely. Her wails were hoarse and filled with grief as they tore through the air.Carter, Arielle, and Adrian were all sp
On the drive to Colburn, Carter watched the streets and buildings roll past outside the window.This was the city where he had spent most of his life. He'd grown up here, and every street seemed to hold a piece of his past.Out of nowhere, Lauren asked, "You must've shared a lot of memories here wit
Rhea knew that George was asking when she planned to return to Draventh.She had known George since they were kids. Since he didn't usually stick his nose in other people's business, she figured that he was asking for Nathan."Soon."George nodded. "I'll note that down."She gave him a bright smile
"Are you really staying here tonight and not going home?" Maeve was genuinely surprised.Rhea, who used to treat those two kids like her own flesh and blood, was actually letting go for once.They sat around a small table. Maeve had prepared a spread of late-night snacks, but Rhea barely touched a b
Lauren lowered her head, her hands slowly balling into fists in her lap.…It was 9:00 pm.Rhea sat alone at the dining table, eating a late-night snack. She hadn't eaten much earlier, as her mood had killed her appetite.She was mid-bite when Carter and Lauren returned home."Mr. Jamison, this arri
Rhea never once regretted it—not when she became a stepmother, not when her parents disapproved, and not even when they cut ties with her completely. She bore it all in silence and never said a single word to Carter about it.Because she wasn't just chasing a childhood crush. She wanted closure for







