I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 138

“Ms. Thayer, there’s no female guest seating outside,” Liora said.

Lauren gritted her teeth and halted mid–step. She forced a smile and turned around, pretending nothing was wrong. “I do need to thank Rhea for her help yesterday.”

A cold edge crept into Liora’s expression. “Ms. Thayer, is that all you’re thanking Rhea for?”

When dealing with someone of vastly different social standing, Liora never wasted time beating around the bush.

Strength, if not used to assert dominance over those she despised, would make all the efforts of her ancestors meaningless.

Lauren hadn’t expected Liora to be so blunt and completely lacking any tact.

“I don’t quite understand what you’re talking about, Mrs. Marsh. I rarely interact with Ms. Ravelle.” Lauren feigned ignorance.

Was she playing dumb?

Since that was the case, Liora would play it her way. She suddenly changed the subject. “I’ve always heard that the southern tri–state area places great importance on family reputation. Since you know Mr. Jamison, you must be from Colburn, right?”

Lauren pressed her lips together. “…Yes.”

Liora nodded slowly. “Then I have a question. Imagine this–a woman abandons her poor fiance and young kids, leaving the children to be raised carefully by a stepmother. But when the man strikes it rich, she suddenly reappears, hoping to reap the rewards. Is that kind of thing… common where you come from?”

Kylie, who was still young, gasped after hearing that. “Are there really such shameless women?”

Lauren’s face went deathly pale.

Just then, Carolyn and Kate arrived.

Smiling, Carolyn asked, “What’s everyone talking about?”

Kylie greeted them, “Ms. Pearson, Ms. Valencia, we were just wondering where this lady came from.”

When Lauren saw them, her expression fell further. She couldn’t stay here.

As they chatted, Lauren tried to slip away.

“Lauren?” Carolyn called out.

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Chapter 138

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Upon hearing that, everyone was surprised.

The woman who had questioned Lauren’s identity earlier was stunned. “She really is Lauren Thayer? The one who abandoned her bankrupt fiance and the newborn twins?”

Carolyn crossed her arms and scrutinized Lauren, sneering. “That’s not all. She left back then but reappeared once Mr. Jamison became successful. She hangs around his house all day, completely ignoring Mrs. Jamison’s feelings.”

She turned to Lauren and asked, “Did you beg Mr. Jamison to bring you here?”

Carolyn didn’t spare Lauren any niceties, and she certainly didn’t speak with the same sense of propriety as Liora. Not that Lauren herself cared about propriety anyway.

“That really is a huge betrayal of Mrs. Jamison, who raised her kids.”

“Exactly! Mrs. Jamison is so innocent!”

“Such a shameless woman. I really don’t get why men love this type of woman!”

“She knows how to act cute. Unlike us, who need to be gracious and composed, she doesn’t need any

of that. All she has to do is charm.”

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