I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 486

Chapter 486

Carter lowered his gaze.

Men weren’t much different, really. He was proof of that.

But he had seen enough now to regret everything. He wanted to pursue Rhea again. The chances were slim, but he still wanted to give it a try.

He had been wallowing for so long. It was time to stand back up.

Carter finally spoke. “Kate, drop the act. Stop trying to paint yourself as the innocent one. If one person calls you out, perhaps that’s a sign of bias. But if three people call you out, can you still call it that?”

Outside, the employees had stopped working. Every ear was turned toward the voices drifting out of the office.

Indeed, Rhea might have a bias against Kate, but what about Rhea’s enemy?

Through the shocking exchanges that morning, they had learned that the unhinged woman was Lauren, the one who had wrecked Rhea’s marriage.

If even she was condemning Kate, then…

Lauren seized the moment to strike. “Don’t start with that nonsense about us being jealous of you. What do you even have that’s worth envying? That title of refined heiress you were so proud of has already been dragged through the dirt, and your whole personality is nothing but an act.

“If anything, I’d say you should be jealous of me. At least I have two kids. You? You’ve got nothing!”

Kate turned to look at Rhea.

Rhea’s makeup was flawless, and her expression showed not the slightest hint of being disturbed. She kept her head lowered as she typed out a message. A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on her lips.

She was probably texting George.

That thought alone made Kate’s chest tighten with ugly jealousy. Her voice dropped to a hiss. “Rhea, what do you want from me?”

Rhea finally looked up. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? What do you want from me?”

After all, Kate had started all of this. And now she had the nerve to ask her what she wanted?

Rhea slowly set her phone aside and rose to her feet. “You really do keep surprising me.”

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Chapter 486

+25 BONUS

Kate felt that the way Rhea looked at her was full of disdain, mockery, and even disgust. She clenched her fists. “Fine. I’ll resign. Is that good enough?”

Rhea turned to head back toward her office. “Go to the finance department and collect your pay for the past few days.”

She didn’t say a single word to make her stay, not even a perfunctory attempt to defend her. Kate hadn’t expected Rhea to stop pretending altogether.

But how could she leave?

She needed this job. Any job would do, yes, but at Solaris Ventures, she had connections. With Sawyer and Damian backing her, she could rise quickly, maybe even land a cushy title. Work would be easy after that.

Once she married Sawyer, she wouldn’t have to work at all.

But Kate knew that Connor’s matchmaking wasn’t guaranteed, and he had even threatened to find someone else to replace her.

So she had to maintain the outward image of being resilient, hardworking, and determined to live her life well.

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