Rhea rushed into the emergency department of the children's hospital, breathless. "What happened?"

"Adrian had an allergic reaction," Carter said, his voice tight with worry.

Rhea's heart sank. "Allergic? I wrote down everything he can't eat. Didn't you see it?"

Lauren quickly apologized. "It's my fault. I didn't realize that mango would trigger him. I'm so sorry…"

"Lauren meant well," Carter cut in. "Besides, the list you gave us got lost. Maybe you didn't write it clearly."

"I didn't write it clearly?" Rhea was furious. She knew everything the kids couldn't eat by heart.

Before handing over the list of precautions, she had even double-checked it to ensure that nothing was missed. How could it possibly not be clear?

And now he was saying it had gotten lost?

Carter suddenly caught a whiff of alcohol off her. "You've been drinking? Adrian's in the hospital, and you were in the mood for a drink?"

Rhea's chest burned with anger. "You're the ones who took them out. How is this—"

"Rhea!" Carter's stare was piercing as he snapped, "What you should be doing right now is checking on Adrian. Not standing there trying to shift the blame. A stepmother is still just a stepmother."

Her heart dropped. It felt like something inside her tore clean down the middle.

She couldn't believe those words had come from Carter.

Rhea knew that she hadn't been perfect with the kids, but she had done everything she could.

And now, just to spare Lauren's feelings, Carter had turned around and lashed out at her, as if she were the one who caused Adrian's allergic reaction.

Was that all she was in his eyes? An unfit stepmother?

The frustration and hurt sat heavy in her chest, too overwhelming to release.

Just then, a nurse called from the hallway, "Family of Adrian Jamison?"

All three of them entered the consultation room together.

The attending physician, a woman in her 50s named Emily Mitchell, asked, "Who are the child's parents?"

"We are." Lauren immediately stepped forward, pulling Carter along. Her expression was full of a mother's urgent concern.

Rhea stood behind them both, too worried to pay attention to anything else. All she wanted to know was how Adrian was doing.

Emily said sharply, "Adrian's six years old. Don't you know what he can or can't eat? Don't treat allergies like a joke. Some can actually be fatal. Fortunately, he didn't eat much of it today, or it would have been too late by the time he got here."

Lauren took the criticism on the chin and apologized, "It was my fault."

Emily had the least patience for careless parents. She continued scolding, "You, as his mother, should've known better."

Lauren looked both hurt and anxious. "I-I wasn't around when they were younger. I didn't know about their allergies. Besides, they often experience allergic reactions. Is it because of the environment they're growing up in?"

She sounded as though she were blaming Rhea for not raising the kids right.

Emily explained, "There are many allergens that can affect children, and many factors involved, like their environment, genetics, and so on. But one of the most important is the mother's diet during pregnancy."

Lauren glanced away, looking guilty.

Back then, during her pregnancy, her family had gone through a significant upheaval, leaving her in a bad state of mind. She hardly ever watched her diet. She even drank alcohol.

Through her years of experience, Emily sensed there was more to the story. So, she asked bluntly, "Are you divorced? Who's taking care of the children?"

Carter suddenly looked at Rhea.

She stepped forward and said, "Hi, doctor. I'm… the kids' stepmother."

Emily glanced at Rhea, then paused. "You didn't know about their allergies?"

Rhea clenched her fists, refusing to take the blame anymore. "I knew. Their mother took them out, and I left a list of precautions, but they lost it."

Carter frowned. It seemed like he didn't want Rhea to blame Lauren for this.

But Rhea wasn't thinking about his feelings. She quickly asked, "Is Adrian going to be okay? Is he still vomiting? Does he have a fever?"

From her questions, Emily could tell how much she cared for the kids.

By contrast, Lauren hadn't shown much concern. She hadn't even asked how Adrian was doing.

Emily pulled Rhea aside and gave her a thorough rundown of what to watch for. Finally, she said, "He needs an IV and some monitoring. If all goes well, he should be able to go home soon."

Rhea finally let out a breath of relief.

Emily didn't spare Carter and Lauren. "If you can't take care of your kids, don't pretend that you can. Do you really think raising a child is an easy job?

Lauren's face flushed red. Tears welled up as she turned and walked out.

On the way to the ward, she felt overwhelmed with guilt. "Carter, I've really failed as a mother. It's because I was careless that Adrian ended up like this."

Carter comforted her, saying, "It's not your fault. You didn't know about the allergies. The doctor said he'll be fine anyway."

The three of them entered the ward together.

Rhea wanted to check on Adrian, but Lauren was quicker to approach the bedside. She and Carter stood on either side, quietly guarding Adrian. It was such a peaceful scene.

"Adrian, I'm sorry. I'll be more careful from now on." Carter held Adrian's hand, worry clear in his eyes.

Unhappy with Lauren being here, Adrian pouted and didn't respond to Carter. He wanted Rhea to be with him.

Watching them stand by Adrian, Rhea took Arielle and left the ward.

As she sat down on a bench in the hall, Arielle hugged her neck. "Mom, don't be sad. If Dad won't be with you, I will."

That made Rhea's sadness swell even more. Still, she said, "I'm not sad."

…

Inside the ward, Lauren looked at Adrian with tenderness. "They say that sons take after their mother. Look at Adrian's eyes. They're just like mine. And Arielle completely inherited her personality from me. Watching them, it's like seeing younger versions of myself."

Carter couldn't help but recall the fiery, fearless Lauren from their younger days and thought that Arielle really was a copy of her.

He nodded, saying, "Yeah, you're a lot alike."

Lauren lowered her gaze. "It's just a shame that all those childhood photos are gone."

Her family had gone bankrupt, so they had to sell their house in a hurry. When the Thayers left, they took only some documents and clothes, leaving everything else behind.

Carter remembered those hard times well. He said reassuringly, "It's okay. We can take new ones later."

Lauren's eyes were filled with tears as she said, "I remember how you tried making seafood pasta for me when I was pregnant. It was really good."

Carter remembered that, too. "Would you like some now?"

"No. It's all in the past." She sniffed before turning away. "Excuse me. I need to use the restroom."

But she barely took a few steps before bumping into the end of the bed.

"Lauren!" Carter caught her quickly. "What's wrong?"

Her lips turned pale. "Nothing. I'm just feeling weak. I guess years of poor nutrition are finally catching up to me."

Carter frowned and asked, "Then why push yourself? Let me take you back."

"No. Don't forget that we have dinner plans with Peter and the others. It's already late. It wouldn't be right for us to bail. You should go. I'll stay and watch the kids."

Carter wanted to cancel the dinner, but Lauren continued firmly, "Don't you dare skip it. If you do, they'll think that I don't want to see them. Say hi to them for me. When you're done, could you get me my toiletries?"

That was doable.

Lauren used to laugh and get along with his friends, but now…

At that thought, Carter agreed. "Alright. I'll head over for a bit."

"Good."

After Carter left the ward, he told Rhea, who was holding Arielle, "I made plans with Peter and the others earlier today. There will be quite a few people, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to just skip. I'll be back soon."

Rhea knew that he was just informing her, so she simply nodded. Once he was gone, she took Arielle back to the ward.

Without Carter there, Adrian got braver. He ordered Lauren away. "I don't need you to watch me. You can leave. My mom will look after me."

Lauren's heart sank at his words, but she held back her tears. "Adrian, I'm worried because you're sick."

Adrian was about to say more, but Rhea walked over. She said, "Adrian, go to sleep."

Adrian pressed his lips tightly into a line and closed his eyes.

No one spoke after that in the ward. Arielle stayed close to Rhea's arm, their bond clear.

Meanwhile, Lauren kept glancing at her phone, which continued to buzz.

Arielle looked up and said, "Go ahead and take care of what you need to do. You don't have to stay with Adrian."

A six-year-old didn't yet understand the complicated feelings about who was or wasn't their biological mother. They only knew that Rhea had been there for them all along.

And now, their happy life with the mother they love was under threat. So they resisted the sudden appearance of Lauren.

Lauren replied gently, "I'm not busy. It's just that your dad just messaged me. I asked him to bring me some toiletries. He's just asking about that."

She even showed Arielle her phone.

At that moment, Rhea felt a pang in her chest.

She sat on the same side as Arielle. Even though she tried not to look, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the screen.

She caught an unintentional glimpse of Carter's thoughtful, caring side. However, it wasn't meant for her.

A minute later, Lauren's cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke with a hint of embarrassment. "Sorry, Rhea. Carter couldn't find them. They're my personal thing, after all. I'll get them and be back soon. Please watch the kids while I'm gone."

Rhea pressed her lips together and gritted her teeth. She told Lauren, "Go ahead."

Rhea stayed at the hospital all night, looking after Adrian with Arielle by her side, never stepping away.

As for Carter and Lauren, who had said they would be back soon? They never showed.

Rhea felt a deep, bitter ache in her chest.

In the photo Carter had sent Lauren earlier on WhatsApp, he was clearly at home, asking Lauren if he had gotten the items right.

That level of care wasn't just about being a good host or co-parent.

Rhea wondered if he was still in love with Lauren.

At first, Rhea had believed that Carter was simply trying to make up for the past. After all, Lauren had given birth to his twins, and he had even said so himself.

But now, with the way he treated Lauren, and especially after what he said about a stepmother being just a stepmother, the past six years felt more and more like nothing but a hired arrangement.

It felt like her worth was entirely tied to the children, and her only role was to care for them.

When the kids were doing well, she was the devoted, capable wife. But the moment something went wrong, she became the irresponsible stepmother, looking to shift the blame.

No matter how much she gave, she could never compete with Lauren's title of birth mother, even though Lauren had done absolutely nothing.

…

It was 9:30 pm when Adrian finally finished his IV. He didn't want to stay in the hospital any longer. He said, "Mom, I'm fine now. Can we go home?"

Rhea thought about it, then nodded. "Alright. I'll get you discharged. You and Arielle stay here, okay? Don't go anywhere."

"Okay!" he chirped.

Rhea left the ward but kept glancing back every few steps. She had no one to help her. Carter hadn't even bothered to send Alisha. She was terrified that the kids might wander off or get lost in the hospital.

When she left the ward, she flagged down a nurse to keep an eye on the twins and rushed through the discharge paperwork.

Once everything was done, she hailed a cab and took them home.

…

The Jamison residence was blazing with lights, and a few luxury cars were parked out front.

Rhea remembered Carter saying that he was meeting his friends. It seemed that the gathering was happening at their house.

"Mom, is that car expensive?" Adrian asked as he pointed out one of them.

Rhea glanced at it and said, "Not really."

To her, it really wasn't expensive. Back in the day, any random car she had picked would have cost more than all of these put together.

When she brought the children inside, she was frozen by the sight before her. For a second, it was like her chest had exploded, and the sound of it rushed to her head.

The house wasn't just occupied. It was lively.

The front door was well soundproofed, so she only heard the cheers and laughter after she stepped inside.

"Come on! Kiss her! Kiss her!"

"Carter, don't be shy!"

"Come on, Lauren! You two have kids together! What's there to be embarrassed about?"

Everyone was having a grand time, so much so that no one noticed Rhea walking in with the kids.

However, the maids saw them. They wanted to speak up but were scared stiff by Rhea's expression.

Across the room, Carter stood face-to-face with Lauren.

Smiling, Lauren scolded their friends, "Stop it, guys! Carter and I were engaged, but that's not the case anymore."

"Well, that's only because fate was cruel. If it weren't for what happened back then, you two would still be living the dream. Come on. Carter's company just went public, and he's reunited with his childhood sweetheart. Let him kiss you to celebrate!" said Carter's friend, Peter Henderson.

As they brought up the past, Carter looked at Lauren, who had stepped in to defuse the situation. She always seemed to have his best interests at heart.

And yet, he had given her nothing in return.

Lauren smiled softly. "Let's not dwell on the past. Look at Carter now. He's so successful. That's enough for me."

Her words hit Carter hard. A wave of guilt surged through him, tightening in his chest. Before he realized it, he was leaning in toward her cheek.

"Kiss her! Kiss her!" The crowd kept chanting, with Peter shouting the loudest.

However, one of Carter's childhood friends frowned and stayed silent the entire time.

Everyone was waiting for Carter and Lauren to kiss, so the room fell into complete silence, all eyes locked on them.

The sudden stillness made Rhea's voice ring out with startling clarity. "Having fun?"

Just two simple words, yet they made everyone in the room flinch.

Carter jolted back two full steps, as if snapping out of a trance. Lauren, too, looked a little flustered.

No one had expected Rhea to return all of a sudden.

Rhea felt as though her heart was being torn apart. If she hadn't walked in when she did, they would have already kissed by now.

She knew Carter. He never did anything he didn't want to do, no matter how much pressure there was. So if he leaned in toward Lauren just now, it could only mean one thing—that deep down, he wanted to.

He still had feelings for Lauren. That much was clear now.

That realization nearly took Rhea's breath away.

She had been caring for the kids alone while they said that they would be back soon. Yet here they were, flirting with each other and enjoying a lively gathering like nothing else mattered.

Carter's friends had seen Rhea before, but not often.

Most people assumed that she was the one who had gotten lucky. After all, she landed a ready-made pair of twins without having any title or notable background.

To them, she was just an unemployed woman from an ordinary family—a housewife at best. She was nothing more than a pretty face with a touch of grace.

Otherwise, how could she have possibly caught the eye of Carter, once Colburn's most eligible bachelor? But technically, she was Carter's wife, which made what he and Lauren were doing a little hard to justify.

Peter grinned. "Rhea! You're back! Weren't you at the hospital?"

Rhea smiled faintly. Her eyes trailed over to Carter and Lauren as she said, "Yeah, I was."

So what were they doing?

The moment she said that, the guests grew even more uneasy.

Arielle was furious. "Dad, you said you were just meeting your friends for a bit and that you'd be back soon."

Adrian also huffed and said, "You don't even care about me anymore! I almost died from that allergy, and you're here partying with the person who caused it. I don't like you anymore!"

Everyone exchanged awkward glances. They hadn't known about that.

The children's words hit Carter like a punch to the gut. He had originally planned to return to the hospital, which was why he changed his dinner plans to a gathering at home. That way, he could head back later with the kids' clean clothes.

However, his friends wouldn't let him leave, and Peter had also called Lauren back, which only ended up delaying everything.

Rhea looked around the room and remarked, "You're Carter's friends. I'm happy to welcome you into our home. But I ask that you show some basic decency. Ms. Thayer is our guest. Please show her the respect she deserves."

Everyone could hear what she really meant. She was calling them out for their lack of decency and shame.

Yet, no one dared to say a single word.

Suddenly, Rhea turned to Lauren and asked, "Ms. Thayer, did you forget that Carter is married?"

No one ever expected it.

Rhea, known for her gentle nature and for always responding with a smile, regardless of what was said, was suddenly confrontational in front of everyone.

Yes, confrontational.

Peter, who had known Carter and Lauren since they were kids, saw Lauren as the delicate one who needed protection.

To him, Rhea was the bully, the one playing innocent after getting the better end of the deal.

Lauren didn't know how to react. "I'm sorry. I didn't—"

Carter stepped in. "Rhea, that's too harsh."

"I'm being too harsh?" Rhea's eyes were red with unshed tears. "I was at the hospital with the kids, while you both are here, about to kiss in front of everyone. Ever heard of decency?"

Carter snapped, "That's enough!"

The room fell deathly quiet.

Rhea stood frozen, stunned by his tone.

She was faced with Carter's furious expression. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the curious stares of everyone watching. And in her ears, the children's voices calling her "Mom" echoed.

But in her mind, all she could see was their wedding day, when Carter took her hand and said, "I do."

What had six years of pouring her heart and soul into this family gotten her?

It earned her nothing but Carter calling her "stepmother" and everyone else mocking her with thinly veiled disdain.

She had tried to fill so many roles but forgot to see Carter's feelings for her through the one identity that truly mattered—simply Rhea.

Something deep inside her broke. It had been six years. She thought that it might now be time to step out of the roles of stepmother and Mrs. Jamison and finally start being Rhea again.

Tears welled in her eyes, but Rhea smiled and nodded. "Alright, then. Carry on."

Carter felt like someone had clenched his heart in a fist. He instinctively reached out to grab her, but she dodged him, leaving his hand awkwardly hanging in the air.

Arielle rushed to block her way. "Mom, where are you going? Take me and Adrian with you!"

Carter, finally snapping out of it, picked Adrian up and grabbed Arielle's hand. "I'll stay with you."

Lauren stepped forward, too, trying to soothe them. "I'm here too."

Their effortless harmony made it painfully clear to Rhea that this family would remain whole even without her.

They were the true family of four, while she was merely an extra.

In the living room, Aiden Wilkinson, Carter's only friend who hadn't joined the rowdy chant, hurried to his feet. "Rhea, I'm sorry. Peter had too much to drink. He wasn't thinking. Please don't take it to heart."

Peter opened his mouth to argue, but Aiden shot him a look, silently warning him not to make things worse.

"We'll see ourselves out," Aiden said, dragging Peter toward the door. The others took the hint and quietly followed.

Once they were in the car, Peter finally snapped. "What's wrong with you? Why didn't you side with Lauren? And why did you apologize to Rhea? She just swooped in and got lucky. Does someone like that even deserve respect?"

Aiden told the driver to start the car, then said coldly, "If you ever act like that again, we're done being friends."

Peter was confused. "What are you—"

Aiden cut him off, saying, "I don't care how you feel about Rhea. Like her or not, she's Carter's legal wife. What the hell is Lauren doing living in their house? And you even yelled for them to kiss? Are you out of your mind?"

Peter didn't think he had done anything wrong. "Come on. A nobody like her marrying Carter is already hitting the jackpot! She even got two amazing kids for free. Taking care of them is the least she should do. What right does she have to get upset and throw a fit?"

"It's because she raised the kids as if they were her own! If it were your sister, do you think she could've done it?" Aiden asked.

Peter scoffed. "If my sister ever dared to be a stepmother, I'd beat the hell…"

He stopped himself mid-sentence.

…

Back at the Jamison residence, Rhea was just about to leave. But as she reached the foyer, her eyes landed on a phone left behind on the shoe rack, clearly forgotten by someone.

The screen was still lit, displaying a photo. It was a group shot, and Carter looked like he was in high school.

The first thing that caught her eye was the shirt he was wearing in the photo. It matched Lauren's outfit exactly. It looked like a couple's matching set.

Carter still kept that shirt. It no longer fit him, but he made sure that it was always freshly pressed and hung neatly in the closet. No one was allowed to touch it.

Rhea had always known the shirt was important to him. She had even guessed that it might have been a gift from his mother.

But she never imagined that it was part of a couple's set with Lauren. The realization hit her like a punch to the chest.

Tears finally spilled from Rhea's eyes as if a dam had broken. She felt like her heart had been torn open. The pain was so sharp that she couldn't speak. She turned and walked out the door.

Carter saw her leave. He then turned to Lauren and said, "You should rest first."

"Mom!" Arielle and Adrian were already rushing after Rhea.

She hadn't made it far before Arielle caught up and tugged on her hand. Rhea looked down, her tears still clinging to her cheeks. "I'm going to my friend's place tonight. Be good at home, okay?"

"No!" Adrian shouted instantly.

Arielle, who was very protective of Rhea, said, "If anyone should leave, it's her. You're our mom! You're the one who belongs here."

Rhea froze. She thought that Arielle was right. She was the one who belonged here, but Carter kept making her feel like she didn't.

He had followed them outside. When he heard Arielle's words, he realized just how much the kids rejected Lauren and how much they liked Rhea.

Images of Rhea staying up through the night to care for the children flashed through his mind.

Everyone had seen how much she had given.

"Rhea," he called softly.

She didn't look up. But the sound of his voice suddenly brought her back to that morning years ago when they first met at the prep class.

Rhea's tears flowed even harder as she asked, "Do you still love her?"

Carter didn't answer, and she laughed bitterly in response.

"You're my wife. That's what matters. We're married," he said.

Her eyes widened. "So that's all I am to you? Just a wife on paper? You…"

Rhea had been raised like a princess, and now, she was falling apart. She realized that she truly lost her voice when she was drowning in helplessness.

At that moment, Rhea wanted so badly to ask Carter if he had married her just so she could help raise his kids.

The realization hit her as if she were waking from a dream. She had been wrong—wrong for not listening to her family back then, for revolving her life around Carter and his children after the wedding, and for giving up her career and losing herself, only to be seen as someone whose only job was to take care of the kids.

Every step she had taken had been a mistake.

She once thought that her parents were chains holding her back, so she broke free of them for him. But reality hit her hard. It turned out that they were her dignity, her lifeline.

Tears burst from her eyes like a snapped string of pearls.

Carter frowned. "Rhea…"

He had never seen her cry like this. Not once in their six years of marriage.

His chest tightened, and he suddenly wanted to hold her.

But just then, Lauren's voice rang out. "Rhea, wait! Please let me explain! Ah!"

Lauren, who was supposed to be resting upstairs, had come down in a hurry and missed a step.

Her cry made Carter whip around. "Lauren!"

She looked like she had twisted her ankle badly. A sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead from the pain. "I can't move. It hurts…"

Without hesitation, Carter swept her into his arms and rushed her to the car before speeding off to the hospital.

The engine's roar echoed in the air.

Rhea, standing there, felt her chest go numb from the pain.

All the hope she had clung to and every bit of comfort she had tried to convince herself of were completely shattered.

…

Late that night, with only the maids around, Rhea had no choice but to stay and get the two exhausted children to bed.

She sat beside Arielle's bed and gently stroked her hand. Whenever Arielle stood up for her, Rhea felt that all these years of effort hadn't been for nothing. But now, she also understood how deeply a child could tie her down.

Just then, the door creaked open. Carter was back.

Rhea looked at him but didn't say a single word.

Carter asked, "Are they asleep?"

"Yeah." She stood and walked out of the kids' room. With her body turned slightly away from him, she said, "We need to talk."

Carter pressed his lips together, silent.

In the master bedroom, Rhea took a seat and bluntly said, "Let's get a divorce."