+25 BONUS Chapter 42 Rhea was tired of Carter's questioning . Her tone was calm as she questioned , " Carter , do I exist just for you ? Am I only here to help you take care of your kids and do whatever you ask ? " However , Carter shot back , " You're not helping me . You're just protecting your life . Didn't the kids call you ' Mom ' ? They never once called Lauren that . And I've given you a comfortable life in return , haven't I ? " Rhea couldn't believe he had the nerve to say that . Her gaze turned ice - cold . " I raised them for six years . It's only natural for them to call me ' Mom ' . If they never called Lauren that , that's not on me . Since the day we got married , I've never taken a single thing from you . And as for your so - called ' comfortable life ' ? To me , it's worthless . " If she had married him for wealth and status , then she would deserve every bit of what was happening now . Worthless ? Carter suddenly sneered . " What , now that you've met George , your standards have shot up ? Rhea , the most important thing a person can have is self - awareness . Know your place . To get on the same level as someone like George , you'd better have the credentials to match . " His words dripped with insult . Rhea burst out laughing . So what he really meant was that she was nothing . She belonged in the house , raising his kids , and had no right to push back against him . " Whether I can get to that level or not is my business . I don't need your concern . " With that , Rhea turned to leave . However , Carter stepped in front of her , blocking the way . " So you're really abandoning the kids for wealth and status ? They've been crying nonstop at home , asking for you . And you can just ignore that ? " Rhea finally snapped and shouted , " They're your kids ! I've already done more than enough ! If you've got something to say , take it to Lauren ! " After saying that , she stormed off and got in a cab . Her words echoed in Carter's ears . Carter stood frozen , his expression cold and indifferent . 1) So it was true . Rhea had never really seen Arielle and Adrian as her own . A stepmother was still just a stepmother . It seemed that he had hoped for too much . His phone kept buzzing with an incoming video call on WhatsApp . Irritated and fuming , Carter finally picked up , only to bark at his upset children on the screen , " Stop asking for 1/2 Chapter 42 +25 BONUS her ! She doesn't want you anymore ! " In his rage , Carter didn't care how badly those words might scar those two children who had clung to Rhea . All he thought was that if they hated Rhea from now on , she had brought it on herself . Carter rushed back to Colburn that very night . They had only been gone two days , but Arielle's fever kept coming back . Alisha was extremely worried . Back then , with Rhea's attentive care , Arielle would have already recovered by now . But with no adults at home , the young girl was upset and missing Rhea . That was why her fever hadn't broken . " Mr. Jamison ? " Devan was surprised to see Carter home so late . " Would you like me to prepare some late - night snacks ? " " No. " Carter tossed his coat to a maid . Lauren followed closely behind . " I'll check on the kids . " He sat alone in the living room , chain - smoking one cigarette after another . He was starting to think that Rhea's decision to divorce was not solely due to Lauren . Perhaps she had met someone powerful and decided this family wasn't worth sticking around for . So , who was really unfaithful here ? Who was the fickle one ? Suddenly , a burst of crying came from up the stairs , causing Carter to frown deeply . .. " Dad ... " Arielle's voice was hoarse . She sounded like her fever was worse than it had been two days ago . " Arielle , I'll put you to bed , " Lauren cooed , trying to hold her . However , Arielle resisted . " Let go of me ... " She tugged desperately to free herself , but Lauren wouldn't release her grip . The latter felt a wave of frustration . She wondered why Rhea got to have a close relationship with the kids . 1 Lauren thought that since she was their biological mother , she was the one they should be close to . Today's Bonus Offer X GET IT NOW