I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 501

Kate Pearson (Translation): “Sorry, everyone. Did I grab the wrong room key? It looks like I’m the only one on a different floor.”

Gisselle Bowman (Team Leader): “Everyone in the same group is on the same floor. Did you take the wrong one?”

Kate Pearson (Translation): “I don’t think so, Ms. Bowman. I saw everyone else head off.”

Gisselle Bowman (Team Leader): “No one checked on you?”

In no time, the colleagues who read the group chat messages began to think that Kate was being ostracized.

Fiona Snow (Translation): “This is straight–up isolation! Even if only one member of our team is on the trip, isn’t this taking things too far?”

Aubrey Kaplan (Translation): “What’s the deal here? Don’t they want their employees to get along? There’s no need to target someone like this, is there? She’s in a foreign country. What if something happens to her? Who’s going to be responsible for that?”

Kate Pearson (Translation): “It’s fine. I’ll just stay on my own floor.”

The implied resignation in her words made her seem beyond pitiful. The group chat erupted, with over 30 messages arriving within just a few minutes. They either subtly or directly accused their colleagues on the trip of isolating Kate, or they tried to comfort her.

Soon, a new message popped up.

Gloria Phelps (Secretarial Department): “Ms. Ravelle gave her room to Kate because she mentioned feeling unwell on the plane. This is also in accordance with Mr. Frost’s instructions to ensure that Ms. Ravelle looks out for Kate. Does anyone have any other concerns?”

Gloria was Rhea’s secretary.

Lauren Thayer (Translation): “People need to get checked if they have a persecution complex. Don’t scare our business partners away! And honestly, is there anything about a certain someone that would make us want to isolate them?

“Are we jealous of their nonstop lies, or maybe their stellar record of being so useless since starting the job that they couldn’t even translate an invitation properly? Talk about confidence–or just narcissism!”

Aubrey Kaplan (Translation): “Who do you think you’re talking about?”

Lauren Thayer (Translation): “Whoever’s picking a fight. Did I name you? I’m starting to think that you’re related to a certain someone, with the way you’re defending them!”

Back at the company, Aubrey nearly threw her phone in a rage. “What’s wrong with that woman? She’s unhinged!”

Her other colleagues tried to calm her down. “Relax, relax. You know she’s crazy. So, why poke the bear?”

Lauren Thayer (Translation): “That’s where you’re wrong! She’s not a curse, but a walking jinx. She jinxed her mom, her friends, and now, her colleagues. I strongly suggest hiring a priest or something to exorcise the bad vibes.”

Back at the hotel, Kate lost it when she read the message. She stormed downstairs to Lauren’s room and pounded on the door while shrieking like a banshee. “Get the hell out here, Lauren!”

The door flew open, and Kate screamed, “Lauren, do you want to die or-”

Her words cut off mid–sentence as she froze. Inside the room, a row of faces stared back at her. On the couch, from left to right, sat Rhea, George, Eden, and… Damian. Their eyes were all on her.

Eden and Damian, in particular, looked shocked and incredulous.

Damian began to question Sawyer’s judgment. He couldn’t believe that this was the supposedly refined, elegant heiress of the Pearson family–the model of all of Draventh’s heiresses. Something felt… off.

Kate’s blood ran cold. She was done for.

Lauren smirked, her eyes glinting with malicious mischief. “Oops. It looks like you knocked on the wrong door.”