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
Marcel was saying that all the recent turmoil and arguments in the family were because of Rhea. He cited her incompatible energy with Carter's as the reason all this trouble kept happening."Let's set that aside for now. Mr. Coleman, is there anything we can adjust in the house?" Lauren asked.Marce
In the past, Carter would throw a birthday party for Rhea. He would invite friends and business partners. But this year, Rhea didn't want the fuss.Since they were on the verge of divorce, she didn't think that there was any point in celebrating."Oh? Is it Rhea's birthday tomorrow? Well, since I'm
Arielle smiled and said, "It doesn't hurt, Mom."She was trying hard to appear as though everything was fine. She was worried that Rhea would feel worse if she didn't.These days, Rhea's tears only appeared for the two children. She wrapped her arms around them and picked them up. She asked, "Were y
"Why wouldn't a birthday be a big deal?" Arielle wrapped her arms around Rhea and said sweetly, "I want to thank Grandpa and Grandma for giving birth to Mom. That's how Adrian and I got the best mom in the world!"She could tell that Carter had let Rhea down again.Chloe said, "Arielle, your birth m







