MasukThe 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
The guests couldn't believe that Lauren actually had the nerve to pull such a cheap trick at an event in Draventh.Lauren couldn't bear another moment there and strode out of the hotel.Behind her, Carter wanted to give chase but couldn't. Considering his ties with the Donovan family, he couldn't ju
Carter spent the rest of the night at the hospital, going without sleep. Then, after the sky turned bright, he received a call from Rhea. He asked darkly, "What do you want?""I'm reaching Colburn soon. Let's get this finalized," she said. She was talking about the divorce.Carter stood up. "Fine. I
"We don't know her, Mom," Arielle said.That angered Sharon. "Your birth mother is the closest person you've got, you brat! How can you side with an outsider? Anyone can be your stepmother, but you only have one birth mother! Can't you tell the difference at your age? It looks like someone didn't ra
Lauren smiled weakly and held Carter's hand. She said, "Carter, I've never wanted Rhea's acceptance and understanding. I don't care how she bullies me at all. The only thing I care about is you. I don't ask for anything else."She'd said the same things since their youth, so Carter fell for it hook,







