The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 27

She asked herself honestly: in all these years since returning to the Thomson family, they had never treated her poorly. Grandpa was right. She was a Thomson by blood, and it was her duty to help secure the family’s future through this marriage alliance, to ensure the Thomsons remained strong for generations.

Maybe, she thought, this was simply her way of repaying the Thomsons for raising her...

Still, a sense of bitterness and disappointment lingered in her chest. Grandpa’s words left her heart cold.

The man who had always doted on her, who’d been her anchor and comfort, was now asking her to trade her happiness for the family’s ambitions.

Among old-money families, marriage had always been the final bargaining chip.

She was silent for a moment, disappointment flickering in her eyes. “Grandpa, I’ll think about it seriously,” she managed.

With that, Rebecca turned and left the room. The old man sat in his wheelchair, watching her figure retreat with a complicated look. He let out a soft sigh.

“One day, you’ll understand...” he murmured, his voice suddenly weary and frail.

He guided his wheelchair to the window, where a vibrant pot of orchids sat on the sill—his pride and joy, nurtured by his own hands.

He picked up the watering can, tending to the flowers with gentle care, watching the droplets roll down the white petals.

“Don’t blame me, little one.” His gaze softened as he looked at the blossoms. “Someday, you’ll thank me for this...”

But the words had barely left his lips before a violent cough seized his chest. He clamped a trembling hand over his mouth, but it was too late.

A splash of blood spattered onto the pristine white petals, staining them red.

His face turned ghostly pale. Hand shaking, he hurriedly wiped the blood from the flowers with his sleeve, panic flashing in his eyes before he forced it away.

“Must be the stress getting to me lately...” he muttered, trying to steady himself.

Meanwhile, Rebecca walked out of her grandfather’s study with heavy steps, the weight in her heart as burdensome as a stone.

Everyone in this family had been so good to her these past years. She’d grown deeply attached to the house and everyone in it.

How could she bear to leave, when they’d all treated her with such warmth?

But she was immediately cut off by a chorus of protests from her brothers.

“No way! Grandpa doesn’t get the final say. How can one Grandpa outvote the rest of us? There’s, what, twelve of us?” Matthew was the first to object, arms crossed in defiance.

“Twelve to one—Grandpa loses!” Samuel chimed in, half-joking but dead serious.

Sunny wiped at her own eyes, voice thick with concern. “Rebecca, are you sure about this? If you don’t want to get married, I’ll fight tooth and nail to stop it. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

“Yeah, Becky, don’t be afraid of Grandpa. Worst comes to worst, we all get grounded together, and that’s that,” William added, grinning at her in solidarity.

Crystal, glancing at the fiery crowd, quickly joined in. “She’s right, sis—you can’t just accept Grandpa’s arrangement. Don’t go to the Austins...”

George, seeing how united they all were, was clearly touched. “Rebecca, don’t worry. I’ll go talk to your grandfather. There’s no way we’re letting you be married off.”

He started toward the study, but Rebecca called him back.

“Dad, don’t go. I’ll do it. I’ll marry.”