I Quit Being a Stepmother (Cypress Gem) novel Chapter 612

Sylvia and Jackson arrived at 10:00 am the following day. When they arrived, Jackson sized up Kate, who stood there like a wooden statue.

"Look, you're about to have another fellow psycho," he remarked.

His ability to sense mental instability was razor-sharp. When he said that someone had a mental illness, he was rarely wrong.

"Here you go, missy. Take care of this tortoise for me," he said, handing the tortoise he'd brought to Kate.

Her face was devoid of emotion, and she radiated a menacing chill. She'd spent the whole night coming to terms with her new reality. But when it came to inner resilience, even Sawyer had to concede.

Kate suppressed her seething hatred and withdrew the icy glare she'd cast at Sylvia. She grabbed the tortoise, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and casually set it down.

"Sorry, but I don't know how to take care of beasts," she curtly said.

Sylvia shot back, "Are you sure you don't? How do you manage to take care of yourself, then?"

Jackson suppressed a laugh. He inwardly gave Sylvia a thumbs-up. After choosing to embrace her madness and let her mental illness run wild, she was getting better and better.

Kate's chest ached with rage. She had probably been so angered by the events of the days past that she'd developed some kind of heart condition. Every time her emotions flared, she felt like needles were stabbing her heart.

Sylvia took a seat. "I don't like that outfit you're wearing. Go change into something plain."

Her tone was as natural as a master commanding a servant. It was clear that Kate's status couldn't get any lower.

Before, it was Kate who had looked down on Sylvia and treated her with contempt. Now, the tables had completely turned.

Kate gritted her teeth. "I don't have anything plainer."

"Then you can go without clothes." Sylvia smiled. "Strip."

Kate was utterly humiliated.

"Is it necessary to treat a fellow woman like this?" Kate asked, genuinely baffled.

Sylvia burst out laughing. "You really are shameless, aren't you?"

"Take it slow," Sharon suggested. "Carter's single now, too. Have you ever thought about getting back with him and…"

Unbeknownst to her, Carter, whom Sharon had also invited to dinner, was standing right behind her.

Sharon blinked in awkwardness. "Lauren, you…"

"What?"

Lauren followed her gaze and turned around, meeting Carter's cold eyes.

Two heavy envelopes suddenly flew out and landed in front of Lauren, nearly hitting her in the face.