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
Carter immediately barked, "Transfer me! Now! Back to Colburn!"Peter frowned. "The surgery's already underway. Why rush back to Colburn now? Will you even make it in time? Do you want to lose your legs?"Carter glared at Rhea. "It's better to risk my legs than die!"He was involved in a car acciden
The truth was, Carter had overestimated Rhea. The day he had been shut out, every notion he had held about her came crashing down.He knew that someone as sharp as Liam would never leave him and the kids waiting in the night breeze like that. It would be completely beneath him—unless Liam didn't car
Since Rhea left, Adrian and Arielle had never greeted Carter with such enthusiasm. He sensed something amiss.Lauren stood to the side, her eyes narrowing as she stared at them.Arielle met Lauren's gaze, then spoke to Carter. "Dad, a few women came over today.""I know." Carter was concerned about
Lauren quickly laid out a plan. "Let's leave first. Later, we'll tell the media about your relationship with Rhea, pointing out that she became a stepmom at a young age. If the Ravelles don't want to be mocked, they'll have to acknowledge you as their son-in-law. Once you have that connection, every







