The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 20

The bodyguard strode in first, carrying two vintage leather suitcases. Moments later, Crystal Thomson appeared, catching everyone’s attention.

She wore an elegant European-style dress, her long lashes framing bright eyes, with a delicate nose and a pointed chin—every inch the picture of grace.

Crystal had just returned from abroad, hoping to surprise her family. She hadn’t told anyone she was coming back, wanting to see the joy on their faces. Yet as she stepped into the room, everyone fell silent, their expressions more stunned than delighted. The surprise she’d imagined simply wasn’t there.

For a moment, Crystal stood awkwardly in the doorway.

It was George who finally broke the silence, his face breaking into a warm smile. “Crystal! What are you doing home today?”

Crystal answered with her usual sweet smile. “It’s my nephews’ birthday—I wanted to be here for them. And I thought I’d surprise everyone.”

Crystal was the adopted daughter of the Thomson family.

Years ago, Mrs. Thomson was devastated after losing her youngest daughter. To comfort his wife, George went to an orphanage and adopted a little girl—Crystal.

Crystal remembered it all clearly; she’d been old enough to understand what was happening when she was adopted.

Still, over the years, George and Mrs. Thomson had always treated her with genuine kindness. She’d come to see them as her real parents.

Sunny, beaming with happiness, chimed in, “What a wonderful surprise, Crystal! Come, have a seat. But really, it’s been four years—why did you stay away so long? Why not come home once in a while?”

With everyone watching her, Crystal pushed aside her disappointment and smiled brightly. “Mom, Dad, please don’t be upset. I’ve just been so busy these past few years. I finally found some free time. And I know you found your biological daughter…”

She glanced toward Rebecca and spoke graciously, “Now that you’ve found her, I wanted to give you both time to reconnect and get to know each other.”

Her voice was gentle, caring, and filled with warmth.

Sunny, however, didn’t seem pleased by her explanation. There was a note of reproach in her voice. “Oh, sweetheart, you can come home whenever you want. Rebecca is my daughter by blood, but that doesn’t mean we need time to build a bond. Family is family.”

They were practically strangers; Rebecca knew almost nothing about her.

But from here on out, they’d be living as family. Rebecca hoped they could get along peacefully.

“Let’s sit down and eat,” Rebecca said, gesturing for Crystal to join them.

A simple, courteous invitation, but to Crystal, it sounded like a subtle assertion of authority.

Was Rebecca reminding her who was the real daughter and who was just the guest?

Crystal offered a soft, obliging smile and sat beside Rebecca, then greeted her four brothers one by one.

Of the four, Matthew was the gentlest and most easygoing. Warm and refined, he treated everyone with kindness—a true gentleman in every sense.