I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 464

+25 BONUS

Annie slid into the passenger seat. “I’m sorry, my son didn’t want to hang up, so I got held up.” Kate started the car, her smile gentle. “Kids are always attached to their moms. I get it. It’s too bad that I’ll never get to cling to mine again.”

Annie buckled her seatbelt. “What happened to your mom?”

“She passed away a few months ago. She jumped to her death,” Kate replied softly.

Traffic in Draventh was brutal at this hour. Fortunately, Kate had booked the restaurant for 6:30 pm. So, they still had time.

Stopped at a red light, Kate’s eyes clouded with sorrow. “It’s my fault. I wasn’t a good daughter. I failed her.

Annie’s response was flat. “I see.”

Kate’s lips twitched slightly. She was stunned for a moment. Wasn’t Annie supposed to ask for details?

After a pause, she continued, “But it’s okay. I believe the misunderstandings between Rhea and me will eventually be cleared. My mom wouldn’t blame her.”

Annie glanced forward and replied indifferently, “Yeah. Just by looking at you, I can tell that your mother must have been a wise and understanding woman.

Kate was taken aback, surprised that Annie didn’t seem curious about what had happened.

Annie was naturally curious, but she wouldn’t ask. She wanted to keep this scheming woman guessing.

Since Annie didn’t ask, Kate tried another approach. “Ms. Levy, now that you’re back in Dalea, you probably can’t see your friends as often, right?”

“Yeah, they’re all abroad, but we keep in touch every day, sharing our lives,” Annie replied.

Kate smiled. “I really envy friendships like that. Thinking about how Rhea and I ended up, I just…”

She trailed off, leaving only the soft music playing in the car.

Kate tightened her grip on the wheel, wondering why Annie wouldn’t follow up. Without her, it felt like Kate was putting on a one–woman show.

Annie stared straight ahead.

Finally, out of kindness, she followed Kate’s train of thought and asked, “You what?”

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Chapter 464

+25 BONUS

Kate breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied, “Actually, there are many misunderstandings between Rhea and me, and I usually can’t get a single word in with her, so…

Only after she had blurted out most of her words did Kate realize what Annie had actually asked. She was simply asking about the feelings Kate hadn’t finished sharing. She wasn’t curious about what had happened at all.

Annie was looking at her with an odd expression.

The air in the car grew awkward.

Kate’s chest tightened. “Sorry, I misspoke. I guess it’s just that I found you approachable. I can’t help but want to chat with you sometimes.”

Her expression softened, tinged with a hint of loneliness. “I usually don’t have much going on and am mostly on my own. Now that I’ve met you, I’m really happy. I hope we can spend more time together.”

Annie smiled politely in response.

She didn’t have much going on? Wasn’t she busy scheming and plotting the whole time?

Annie had been irritating Kate the entire way. When they reached the restaurant entrance, she suddenly said, “You know, Ms. Ravelle…”

Upon hearing that, Kate assumed that she was about to complain about Rhea. She quickly parked the car, stepped closer, and looped her arm around Annie’s.

She pretended not to hear clearly. “Ms. Levy, what did you say?” She was waiting for Annie to let it

all out.

“Ms. Ravelle’s so young,” Annie continued.

Kate pressed her lips. “Yeah.”

“I heard she’s divorced…”

Kate’s lips curved slightly. “Yes.”

“She married beneath her and became a stepmother…”

Kate’s smile deepened. “What a pity.”

“Then she met her current fiance right after the divorce. It’s like…”

Kate’s grin widened fully. “Everyone’s different. My mom always told me to respect myself and

others and never treat anyone as a backup. Ms. Levy, don’t be too upset. Rhea-”

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