The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 23

Crystal hesitated, still wanting to talk about work, but Michael, sitting nearby, tilted his head and eyed her empty hands with open curiosity.

“So, where’s that gift you promised for your nephews?” he asked with a teasing grin.

Crystal bit her lip, swallowing back her unfinished words. She forced a smile. “Of course! I did bring gifts. They’re in my suitcase.”

At the mention of presents, the four boys instantly perked up, eagerly waiting as Crystal popped open her suitcase and began laying out the gifts one by one on the table.

But as she placed four identical boxes side by side, everyone’s expressions froze.

Building blocks? The kind you’d find in any dollar store?

George pointed at the blocks, frowning in disbelief. “This is what you brought all the way from abroad for their birthday?”

Crystal looked puzzled. “Dad, what’s wrong?”

Michael picked up a block, glanced at his phone, and smirked as he pulled up videos of toddlers playing with similar toys. “Are you serious with these? Kids half their age play with these things.”

Crystal pressed down her growing frustration, her voice trembling with wounded pride. “I… I spent a long time choosing these. I thought they’d be just right for the boys. Is there something wrong with that?”

Ethan folded his arms and sighed. “Aunt Crystal, we’re four now. We’re not little kids anymore.”

With that, he fished out a certificate from his pocket, presenting it to her. Across the top, in bold letters, it read: “National Robotics Competition—First Place.”

The message was clear: basic blocks were beneath them.

As the room fell awkwardly silent, Evan flashed a charming, toothy grin. “I stopped playing with baby toys like that when I was two,” he said, brandishing a certificate of his own: “International Puzzle Championship—Winner.”

Crystal’s face went pale, then flushed red with humiliation. Weren’t four-year-olds supposed to love building blocks? Were these kids even real children?

No way, she thought, her eyes narrowing as she snatched up one of the certificates. The text meant nothing to her, but she sneered inwardly. Obviously, these little brats had faked the documents to make her look bad.

George, sensing the tension, stepped in. He shot Michael a warning glare. “Alright, enough. Crystal meant well. She’s been away for years—of course she doesn’t know her nephews that well. She brought these gifts all the way home out of kindness, so you’ll take them and say thank you.”

Crystal waited, watching as the plate emptied. Surely her turn was next.

But Matthew picked up the last piece for himself, tucking in with obvious enjoyment.

Crystal’s hand froze, her bowl suspended in mid-air. Her eyes stung, and her fingers trembled so badly the cutlery rattled against the bowl.

Matthew, you’ve changed!

Oblivious, Matthew continued eating, not sparing her another glance.

A creeping sense of dread took root in Crystal’s chest. After four years away, did she really have no place left in this family? Even Matthew, who used to dote on her, now saved his warmth for Rebecca.

Of course, she thought bitterly. She wasn’t really his daughter, after all.

Her grip tightened around her utensils, fingernails digging so hard into the wooden handles that tiny cracks began to form in the grain.