The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 100

Rebecca arched an eyebrow, her tone light but carrying a warning. “Emma, you really do have a honeyed tongue,” she said. “But you really ought to fix that habit of yours—talking too much. I can’t stand chatterboxes. I used to have someone like that around me, you know. Want to guess what happened to her?”

Emma swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. “What… what happened to her?”

Rebecca smiled, but her words sent a chill down Emma’s spine. “I stitched her lips shut. Bit by bit. Or sometimes, I just cut out her tongue.”

All the color drained from Emma’s face. She trembled, stammering, “Y-yes, ma’am, of course, you’re right. I’ll change, I promise!”

With one last glance at Emma, Rebecca ushered her four little ones inside, leaving Emma frozen in place, panic etched across her features as she wiped the cold sweat from her brow.

What on earth has gotten into her today? Emma wondered. She usually seems so gentle and delicate. But today—she’s positively terrifying.

The more Emma thought about it, the harder it was to believe. She muttered under her breath, “No wonder those four little gremlins are such troublemakers—Rebecca’s the one teaching them! Like mother, like kids.”

Still shaken, Emma shook her head and kept mumbling to herself, unable to forget the threat.

Inside, Rebecca was all smiles, laughing and chatting with her four children—completely unconcerned with Emma’s distress.

When dinnertime rolled around, the aroma of food filled the dining room. Rebecca sat at the table, absently poking at her food. After just a couple of bites, she set her fork down and forced a weary smile at her kids. “Sweethearts, eat up. Mommy’s a bit tired tonight—I’m going to lie down for a while.”

The four children immediately replied in unison, “Okay, Mommy. Go get some rest.”

Aiden instantly nodded, his voice soft and earnest. “Okay!”

Noah’s eyes shone with resolve as he laid out the plan. “Ethan, you check Mommy’s room. See if you find anything unusual—her phone, maybe. Look for strange messages or calls.”

“Aiden, keep an eye on things around the house, especially the kitchen. Maybe something’s wrong with the food, and that’s why she didn’t want to eat.”

“Evan, you talk to the driver. Ask who Mommy met today, and if anything out of the ordinary happened.”

All three brothers chimed in, “Got it!”