Chapter 14 A maid suddenly knocked at the door . " Mr. Jamison , Ms. Thayer just left . " Carter turned sharply . " She left ? Where to ? " " She said she was moving out . " Upon hearing that , Carter didn't even say a single word . He left Rhea behind and rushed out the door without a second thought . Rhea stood there , feeling nothing . Two days had passed , and she had come to terms with the truth that Carter didn't love her . The pain was sharp , but the truth wasn't hard to accept . After all , there was no deep love between them to unravel . If there was no love , then it was better to part ways . She only grieved one thing . Why did it take her six years to realize this ? Just then , two heads poked through the doorway . " Mom ! Time to eat ! " Arielle and Adrian said in unison . Looking at them , Rhea felt as if her heart were being torn in two . She forced a smile and said , " Alright . " But the cold rising inside her made that smile stiff and bitter . Nevertheless , facing the two children she had raised , she had to pretend everything was fine . She couldn't bring herself to let them get caught in the crossfire . Outside the neighborhood , Carter drove after Lauren and quickly caught up . Her eyes were red - rimmed as she fought back tears , watching him step out of the car . This was the man she had once dated , then become engaged to , then borne children with . But the one sharing his bed now wasn't her . It was another woman . " Why the sudden move ? " Carter walked toward Lauren . Lauren looked down . Her voice was hoarse and flat as she said , " I don't want you fighting with Rhea because of me . It'll only make the kids reject me more . Don't worry . I'll find a job and live my life . I just hope I get to see the kids from time to time . " Carter , I really do love you , and I love my children . But I don't want to be a third party in their eyes . " The breeze picked up , and leaves rustled around them . The rain came without warning , tapping against the dry ground . Carter stared at her and said , " We weren't fighting . Rhea just wanted to talk . " Lauren frowned . She had heard the whole conversation . They had talked about divorce , and Carter still said it wasn't a fight ? It seemed that he was defending Rhea . That realization stung more than Lauren had expected . She forced a smile and said , " I'll get going now . Take care of yourself . " " Where will you go ? " She looked toward the empty road ahead . Rain started to soak her clothes . " I'll find a job . I've still got a Chapter 14 +25 BONUS grandmother , after all . I need to work hard and make money for her . One day , maybe I can bring her to Colburn , and who knows , she might even get to meet her great - grandchildren . " Carter remembered that Lauren's grandmother lived in another city . Lauren stood there all alone . Thinking back to the pride and confidence she once carried , and seeing the contrast now , Carter felt a growing sense of unease . He stepped forward and grabbed her arm . " I'll arrange a job for you at my company . As for housing , I'll have a place ready for you and your grandmother tomorrow . Stay in Colburn . " Those words made Lauren look up . Her eyes shimmered with tears . It wasn't gratitude or joy she felt . It was disbelief . So Carter was really willing to have her live outside for Rhea . A swirl of emotions churned inside her , and she suddenly asked , " If you do that , wouldn't Rhea be upset again if she found out ? " Her use of the word "again " was deliberate . Lauren made it sound as if Rhea were a petty , jealous woman . Carter immediately denied , " She won't . She has a great personality . " Lauren clenched her fingers slightly . " Let's go home , " Carter said . At the height of the downpour , Rhea was having breakfast with the two kids . Footsteps echoed behind her . She didn't even have to turn around to know that Carter didn't come back alone . Lauren walked up to Rhea and softened her stance . " Rhea , the kids ' birthday is the day after tomorrow . Once that's over , I promise that I'll disappear from your and Carter's lives . " She paused , glanced at Carter behind her , and continued , " I just hope you won't argue with Carter because of me . His company just went public . He's already exhausted . If you're upset , direct it at me . I'll cooperate with anything you need . " What did that even mean ?