I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 483

Chapter 483

Kate thought that Sawyer was a careful, thoughtful person.

Then again, she had never formally met Damian before. Maybe he just wanted to take this chance to put a face to her name and decide how best to support her.

So Kate brushed back her damp hair, stepped forward, and said with gentle warmth, “Hi, Mr. Frost. I’m Kate Pearson.”

She didn’t look down. Instead, she stared straight at Damian. She had to make sure that he recognized her.

However, Lauren’s thinking was simple and straightforward. When she heard Damian ask who Kate was, she assumed he didn’t know her, though she had no idea why he was even looking for Kate.

Lauren went all in. Frowning, she asked, “You’re the boss of Solaris Ventures?”

Eden said, “You’re not an employee here. Please leave.‘

Lauren scoffed. “Your company culture isn’t that impressive, huh? Sure, you value freedom, but that doesn’t mean letting just anyone work here. If you’re the boss, I guess your judgment could use some work.”

Since coming to Dalea, Damian had never been insulted like this. Yet, he didn’t get angry. He wore a sly smile and said, “Come on in to my office.”

He was talking to Rhea, Kate, Lauren, and Carter–the four tangled up in all this drama.

In the CEO’s office, Damian didn’t sit behind his desk and question them like they were his

subordinates.

The five of them sat on the couches in the reception area.

Damian looked at them, his gaze clearly asking why they had wasted over ten minutes in the office first thing this morning.

Rhea stayed silent at first, looking at Kate.

After a pause, she said, “Ms. Pearson seems to have a lot to say. Recently, she’s been sharing various things about me with everyone at the company. So… let her talk.”

Kate froze.

Talk? About what?

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Chapter 483

+25 BONUS

Damian’s gaze landed on her.

Kate clenched her hands and parted her lips. “Mr. Frost, I’m worried about Ms. Ravelle’s-”

Before she could finish, Lauren exploded, cutting her off. “Why do you always worry about things that aren’t your business?”

Her tone was icy, dripping with sarcasm.

Even Carter frowned.

He had long suspected that Lauren wasn’t entirely innocent, but this was the first time he had seen her go after someone so deliberately and without holding back.

“You’ve already fallen out with Rhea, and you’re still over here running your mouth. Do you have nothing else to say? Is that why you gossip about your old friend to win over new colleagues? You just tricked me, and now you’re trying to wash your hands clean. You want to act all pure and innocent, like the whole world’s jealous of you and out to slander and harm you—is that it?”

Lauren suddenly stood and pointed at Kate, who was behind Carter. “What do you have that makes people envy or harm you? Yes, I have nothing–no home, no family backing, and no powerful in- laws! So I relied on you. I would take the blame and face the consequences to work with you, but what did you do?

“Now you want to turn on me? No way! Compared to her, you’re not as pretty, not as well–liked, and your family isn’t as influential. But you’re far more ruthless than she is!”

Lauren jabbed at Rhea while talking to Kate.

Rhea raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. She had never imagined that Lauren–the same person who once hurt her–could also praise and support her.

She found it fascinating.

Looking at Kate’s pale face, Rhea thought to herself that there was always someone to bring another down. She didn’t want to deal with these losers. But at that moment, she was willing to give Lauren a

hand.

“Lauren.”

Upon hearing Rhea call her, Lauren turned, surprised.

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