The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 147

Dylan was just about to dig into his takeout when his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen—Mrs. Austin was calling.

He frowned, hesitating for a moment before finally answering.

As soon as the call connected, Mrs. Austin’s voice rang out, brisk and insistent. “Dylan, did you get my message? I’ve already reserved a table, and I sent you the restaurant’s address. Come over now—we’re waiting to have dinner together.”

Dylan’s brow creased in annoyance. Instinctively, he started to refuse. “Mom, I’m still caught up at work. I might not—”

She cut him off, her voice rising sharply. “Work, work, it’s always work with you! You don’t even have time to eat with your own mother?”

Trying to keep his patience, Dylan replied, “Mom, I have an important project going on right now. I really can’t get away.”

But Mrs. Austin refused to back down. “You won’t drop dead if you take a day off! I don’t care—you’re coming tonight. If you don’t, I swear I’ll just drop dead right here!”

Dylan’s expression hardened. “Mom, can you please stop being so unreasonable?”

There was a pause on the other end. When she spoke again, her voice quivered with emotion. “Dylan, I just want to spend some time with you. It’s been ages since we had a proper meal together. Ever since you got back from overseas, you’ve been working constantly. I really miss you…”

Her words, tinged with tears, made Dylan feel even more irritable. He remembered how she’d been through a scare just a few days ago and was still recovering. Her nerves probably hadn’t settled yet.

“Fine, I’ll come right now,” he relented at last.

A smile broke through Mrs. Austin’s tears. “Good, that’s my boy. I’ll be waiting.”

After hanging up, Dylan set his takeout aside, grabbed his jacket, and hurried out of the office.

Meanwhile, in the restaurant’s private dining suite, soft lights cast a gentle glow over the elegantly set table.

Mrs. Austin ended the call, her face now beaming with satisfaction. She reached out and took Garcia’s hand, her expression apologetic. “Garcia, last time you came to the house, you didn’t get to meet Dylan, and you even had a bit of a scare. That was my fault.”

Garcia forced a small smile. “Please, Ma’am, don’t blame yourself. It wasn’t something you could control.”

In truth, Garcia still felt uneasy about what had happened last time. The experience had been far from pleasant. But she was well aware of the Austin family’s power and wealth, and Mrs. Austin’s warmth was hard to resist. No matter how nervous she was, she couldn’t help but want to hold on to Dylan’s coattails.

The news sent the children into a chorus of cheers.

“That’s awesome! Mommy, you’re the best!”

“We get to feast tonight!”

“Mommy, I’ll get your food for you!”

With that, the four kids eagerly grabbed their plates and dashed off toward the buffet.

This was an upscale buffet restaurant. Beyond the VIP suites, the main hall was open for diners to help themselves, with a dazzling array of dishes on offer.

Noah, ever the responsible one, walked calmly through the food stations, carefully selecting a little bit of each dish. He reminded his brothers, “Only take what you can finish. Remember, we shouldn’t waste food.” He never forgot what Mommy always taught them—appreciate every meal.

Ethan, on the other hand, was like a bunny on a sugar rush, bouncing from one food station to the next. His eyes sparkled as he piled his plate high with everything he liked, soon building a small mountain of treats.