The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 225

Upstairs, Emily stared at Crystal’s wardrobe, overflowing with designer clothes and luxury handbags, and felt a wave of envy wash over her.

Her gaze darted hungrily from one item to the next, desire and jealousy flickering in her eyes. When she spotted a beautiful dress, her heart nearly stopped—how wonderful would it be to own something like that?

Unable to resist, she reached out, fingers itching to touch the soft fabric.

But just as Emily’s anticipation peaked, Crystal pulled out a dated, out-of-fashion dress and handed it to her instead.

A flicker of disappointment flashed across Emily’s face, but she quickly schooled her features into a pleasant smile. She knew better than to show any dissatisfaction—her current situation left her relying on Crystal’s generosity.

Forcing a cheerful tone, she said, “Crystal, you’re so lucky, having all these gorgeous clothes and bags. Honestly, you were born to be a princess—who wouldn’t be jealous?”

Her words dripped with flattery and admiration.

Crystal basked in the praise, her posture straightening, chin tilted slightly upward, a proud expression settling on her face. “Of course I am. I’m the daughter of the Thomson family. These things are exactly what I deserve.”

Her tone was thick with privilege.

Emily watched her, a twinge of discomfort twisting inside, but she kept up the compliments. “You’re absolutely right, Crystal. Not only do you have all these amazing things, you’re stunning, too. Even if Rebecca came back, there’s no way she could compare. You’ve grown up in the Thomson family—your place is set.”

Crystal preened, even more delighted, and began showing off her possessions.

“Look at this bag—it’s a limited edition, there are only a handful in the world. And this necklace? Worth a small fortune,” she bragged, pulling out one luxury item after another.

Emily nodded along, all the while calculating how she might snag a few benefits for herself. She knew Crystal loved being complimented and fawned over.

Ethan grinned. “We came to hang out with you, Auntie!”

Crystal rolled her eyes. “Don’t make a mess. Go play somewhere else.”

But the four children refused to budge. Aiden piped up, “Uncle Michael bought me a new game console. I wanted to play it with you guys.”

Crystal snapped, “Kids shouldn’t be playing video games. Off you go!”

Emily smiled diplomatically. “It’s fine, let them stay.”

She was eager to get on the good side of these children—after all, Crystal wasn’t exactly dependable. If Crystal couldn’t help her in the future, it wouldn’t hurt to have a few more allies around.