I Quit Being a Stepmother

Rhea Ravelle, heiress of a powerful and influential family, goes against her family's wishes and cuts ties with them.

She chooses to marry Carter Jamison, a man with a failing career and two children born out of wedlock.

For six years, she raises his children as if they were her own and helps Carter rebuild his crumbling business.

Under her care, the kids grow into kind, well-mannered little stars, and Carter's company finally makes it big and goes public.

But right at the celebration marking his entry into high society, the biological mother of his two children suddenly shows up.

And Carter, who is usually so calm, completely loses it. He begs the woman to stay, making Rhea the laughingstock of the entire city.

That night, he doesn't come home. Instead, he takes the children and runs straight back to his old flame, playing house as a happy family.

Soon after, Carter files for divorce. "Thanks for everything, Rhea. But the kids need their birth mother."

The children's mother also says, "Thank you for taking care of them all these years. But a stepmother will never compare to a birth mother."

So blood beats love?

If that's how it is, then she's done playing stepmother.

However, the children reject their birth mother flat-out, and they don't want Carter either.

They declare, "Rhea is our only mom! If you're getting divorced, then we're going wherever she goes!"

It was 8:00 pm in Colburn.

Jamison Group's celebration party was in full swing. Laughter echoed across the venue as glasses clinked and compliments flew freely.

At the center of the crowd stood Carter Jamison, the man of the hour. Once from a fallen family, he had clawed his way back up. He had rebuilt the crumbling Jamison Group from the ground up and taken it public again. The achievement was enough to earn endless praise.

"Congratulations, Mr. Jamison. You're truly young and accomplished. I look forward to working with you."

"Mr. Jamison, not only is your career thriving, but your family life seems just as perfect. My wife always says a good partner at home makes all the difference. You're a lucky man."

Of course they were envious. Carter's wife had taken on the role of stepmother at such a young age and raised his two children as if they were her own. What man wouldn't admire that?

As soon as his wife was mentioned, Carter, who had been basking in the spotlight, glanced around the room.

Across the crowd, his wife, Rhea Ravelle, stood poised and elegant in a sleek black evening dress.

She was the one who had planned every detail of that night's party a month in advance. Even in the midst of her busy schedule, she hadn't once neglected the kids.

Now that the children were growing up strong and his career was finally steady, Carter had to admit that none of it would have happened without Rhea.

Just then, Rhea approached with the twins in tow and gently