I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52

The maids quickly got to work.

Carter added, “Put the bedroom back the way it was, too.”

The maids had no time to attend to the guests. Devan brought them upstairs and packed Lauren’s few possessions into a bag without a trace of pity. 1

Even the freshly changed bedsheets were stripped and replaced.

Lauren bit her lip so hard that it almost bled.

Devan came downstairs with the bag in hand. “Mr. Jamison, where should I put these? Or Ms. Thayer, would you prefer to take them with you?”

If Rhea hadn’t brought in the real geomancers from Draventh’s Aethermark Sanctuary, they probably would have all been branded as energetically incompatible with Carter and thrown out. 2

“I–I’ll just leave them here. I’ll drop by to visit the children anyway,” Lauren said.

Elliot, always the blunt one, spoke up. “Mr. Jamison, a home shouldn’t have two women in charge. Family harmony takes conscious effort to maintain.”

That finally grounded Carter’s thoughts. “Understood. Thank you for your guidance. Please, everyone, enjoy the meal.”

As dinner began, his gaze kept drifting toward Rhea, who was chatting with the geomancers. She seemed to be really close to them.

Geomancers from Aethermark Sanctuary were considered top–tier in elite circles. They were far out of reach for most people. So, how did Rhea manage to bring in so many at once?

And more intriguingly, all the people she knew seemed to be from Draventh.

Two hours later, Rhea saw the geomancers off at the gate.

Before leaving, Elliot paused and cast a glance at Lauren, who stood at the back of the crowd.

He was a straightforward man. “Ms. Ravelle, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Please, go ahead,” Rhea replied.

“I believe I’ve seen that woman before,” Elliot said thoughtfully. “It was probably at the home of an older, wealthy man.”

“In Colburn?”

“No.” Elliot squinted, trying to recall. “I think it was about two years ago in a wealthy neighborhood overseas.”

Rhea’s gaze flickered subtly. “Thank you for the heads–up, Mr. Rowland.”

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Chapter 52

+25 BONUS

After they left, she turned and saw Carter standing right there. He asked, “How do you know geomancers from Draventh’s Aethermark Sanctuary?”

Lauren joined in. “It’s not easy to get in touch with them–only the very rich or powerful can. Rhea, so you actually know many powerful people? Then maybe you could introduce some of them to Carter. It could really help his business.”

On the surface, she seemed to be praising Rhea.

But in truth, it was a veiled jab. She was implying that there was no way Rhea could know so many powerful people unless she had met them through improper means.

Rhea smiled faintly. “I spent time at Aethermark Sanctuary when I was young. After going there often enough, I naturally got to know the people.

“Anyway, Mr. Rowland did mention something before he left. He said that he’d seen you before, Ms. Thayer. It was two years ago in a wealthy neighborhood overseas. Does that ring a bell?”

Lauren’s pupils contracted at those words.

Carter immediately asked, “Did you go overseas for your treatment?”

Panic shot through Lauren like lightning, though her expression remained calm. “Maybe he mistook me for someone else. I mean, I do have a pretty average face.”

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