I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

At this thought, Carter stepped forward. From six feet away, he called out, “Rhea.”

Every head in the room turned.

Carter’s gaze met George’s calm, smiling eyes. In that instant, a sharp sense of wariness and hostility only men understood surged in his chest.

Louie was the first to speak. “Mr. Jamison, what a coincidence.“–

It was hardly a coincidence. Every time Jamison Group set its sights on a project, Louie always found a way to get

involved.

Still, Carter wondered why Rhea was with Louie. Suddenly, he remembered her saying something about starting a job.

Did she join Scott Group?

That thought sent a wave of anger crashing over him. He stormed up and grabbed Rhea’s arm, pulling her aside.

A man behind George whispered, “Mr. Snider, should I…”

George simply shook his head.

By the side entrance of the venue, Carter’s gaze was cold and sharp as he demanded, “You really went back to work? And of all places, you picked Louie’s company just to spite me?”

He hadn’t expected Rhea to completely ignore him.

But the woman in front of him now didn’t look like a housewife. Her gaze was fierce, and her makeup was striking in a way Carter had never seen before. It was refined yet bold.

Rhea raised a brow. “Why do you always think everything I do is to spite you?”

Just then, Lauren stepped in. “If it’s not to spite him, then why are you doing this? Rhea, you should think about Carter. Scott Group has always been Jamison Group’s biggest rival, and now you’re-”

Rhea shot her a pointed look and interrupted coldly, “Are you the one who wants to talk to me, or is it the two of you?”

She never bothered to go head–to–head with Lauren. She didn’t think it was worth it, and it served no purpose.

Carter fell silent. After a beat, he said, “Lauren, give us a moment.”

Lauren was surprised. She hadn’t expected Carter to listen to Rhea.

But she swallowed her frustration and said, “Okay.”

Once Lauren had walked away, Carter started, “Work isn’t a game. Do you even have the qualifications for the job? What’s the point of working now, anyway?”

It wasn’t like he ever made her feel like she was short on money.

Her going back to work was one thing, but what bothered him most was that she had actually joined forces with

his rival.

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Chapter 36

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It was no wonder Louie had acted smug that day at the hospital.

Rhea had embarrassed him.

“Oh, having a job is important.” Rhea smiled. “In this world, the first thing people ask you is what you do. That tells them how much respect you deserve and how much they can rely on you. For years, I didn’t have a job, so people just assumed I was nothing more than a babysitter.”

Her words quietly struck a nerve in Carter. But what he noticed even more was how much Rhea had changed.

The way she spoke and carried herself felt different, like she had become a completely new person. This version of her was unfamiliar, yet oddly captivating.

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