Chapter 28 Rhea joined them , but after staying up all night , she didn't have much appetite . " Mom , eat a little . " Arielle placed the food on her plate . Rhea smiled . " Okay . " Carter sat across the table . It was a rare moment of peace and warmth for the family of four . " Were you at the hospital yesterday ? " he asked . Rhea didn't look up . " Yeah . " " Who picked you up ? " he couldn't help but ask . " A friend . " Carter responded instinctively , " You don't have friends . " Finally , Rhea looked up . " Am I not allowed to have friends ? " Carter said , " You should be mindful of timing and boundaries when you make friends . " Rhea laughed . " You should take your own advice . " If this counted as crossing a line , then what he and Lauren did was outright disgraceful . Just then , Arielle chimed in , " It was our uncle , Dad . He's really nice . " Carter froze . " Uncle ? " He clearly didn't buy it . He figured that Rhea had just told the kids to call the person that . So the person Rhea knew was really a man ? And one she could call , and he would show up right away . Something twisted in Carter's chest . He asked , " Why didn't you tell me that your brother was here ? " Rhea didn't want to discuss her personal life with him . " Weren't you busy yesterday ? " When she showed up yesterday , he was at the hospital with Lauren and Chloe . So , what difference did it make whether she told him or not ? Knowing that she was still upset , Carter suggested , " Why don't you invite him tomorrow to celebrate the kids ' birthday together ? " " No need , " Rhea said flatly . " He already left . " To prevent him from pressing further , she added , " I'm starting work the day after tomorrow . The kids will be with Alisha . " " Work ? " Carter frowned . " Where ? " " I found a job just to pass the time . " Rhea didn't elaborate as she had no interest in telling him more . At that moment , the front door opened again . " Sweeties , guess what I brought you ? " Lauren showed up with something in her hands . The once warm and peaceful atmosphere shifted , and the kids ' expressions dropped immediately . Carter got up and took the bags from her , " You shouldn't be carrying heavy things in your condition . " 1/3 Chapter 28 +25 BONUS Upon hearing that , Rhea didn't feel the slightest bit of anger . She just found it utterly ridiculous . " I'm happy to do anything for my children . " Smiling , Lauren walked over to the table . " Oh , is that my favorite seafood pasta ? " Carter paused , instinctively glancing at Rhea . She was calmly wiping Arielle's mouth . Her own plate of pasta was still untouched . Adrian pressed his lips together and said , " Too bad . We've already finished it . " They had, in fact , already split the portions . There was nothing left . Lauren's smile froze , and Carter noticed . So he said , " I'll have someone make more . " " It's fine . I already ate . " Lauren then turned to Carter . " My grandma's coming over . She got in touch with some old friends from Colburn and sent them invitations . They'll be here tomorrow to celebrate the kids ' birthday , and she can catch up with her friends as well . " Carter gave it a thought and said , " Sounds good . " Then , Lauren sat down . " Arielle , Adrian , I'm going to work after your birthday . " Work ? She was going to work too ? The kids stayed quiet . Lauren smiled . " I'll work hard and earn money to buy you snacks . But don't worry . I'll get off work on time . Your dad wouldn't dare make me work overtime anyway . " Carter added , " Your mom's working at my company . A secretary's schedule is flexible . It makes it easier for her to take care of you two . " It turned out that Lauren was going to work as Carter's secretary . The way he said it , it almost seemed like it was meant for Rhea to hear . In that instant , whatever lingering affection Rhea had left for Carter vanished . She had made the right decision by taking the job at Scott Group , Jamison Group's biggest rival . Carter spoke again . " Rhea , maybe you shouldn't work . The kids need someone around . What if the school needs to reach a parent- " Before he could finish speaking , Rhea interrupted coolly , " Aren't you two capable of looking after them ? " Lauren asked , " Rhea , have you talked to Carter about going back to work ? I mean , I can help take care of the kids , but I don't have much experience . " It seemed that the two had suddenly remembered that the kids needed to be cared for . What happened to all that drama from yesterday about not wanting them to leave ? Carter disapproved of Rhea going back to work . " Don't do this just to spite me , You're an adult . Think things through before you act . " " Fine , " Rhea said , crossing her arms and staring straight at them . " If I'm expected to act like their mother , then let one of the kids take my last name . "