The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 286

After a moment’s thought, Rebecca spoke up. “If you don’t want me telling anyone else, then you need to cut off all contact with those people. That’s what Grandfather wants too.”

The only way to keep bigger trouble at bay was for Crystal to sever ties with her unsavory crowd completely.

Crystal’s face twisted in distress at Rebecca’s words.

Suddenly, she seemed to think of something and grabbed Rebecca’s hand. “Rebecca, why don’t you help me pay off my debt? If you cover the money I owe, I can walk away from all of them for good.”

Rebecca let out a short, incredulous laugh. “You want me to pay off your debt?”

Did Crystal even hear herself?

The request was so absurd it seemed almost comical.

But Crystal pressed on. “We might not be real sisters, but we’re family, aren’t we? I spent over a decade standing in for you, being Mom and Dad’s daughter. Even if I didn’t do anything amazing, I still suffered for it. Grandfather’s always been biased, so it’s no surprise he won’t help, but you should, shouldn’t you? Besides, Mom and Dad left you plenty of money. You could pay off my debt without even blinking.”

Rebecca couldn’t help but laugh. “You got yourself into this mess, and now you expect me to bail you out? Crystal, you know as well as I do that Grandfather set down the family rule years ago: if any of the Thomsons gets into trouble, they have to deal with it themselves. No one—no matter who they are—gets a free pass. You know that better than anyone.”

Crystal clenched her teeth in frustration, her hands balling into fists.

She thought Rebecca was heartless, that she didn’t care at all about their so-called sisterly bond.

“How can you be so cold, Rebecca? I’m begging you, and you still won’t help. I’m your sister!”

Rebecca’s eyes hardened, her voice turning icy. “We were never really sisters. Maybe, at first, I thought of you that way. But after finding out what you’ve done, I just can’t see you as family anymore.”

... … …

The next morning, as soon as Rebecca walked into the office, she overheard people chatting about a new hire who’d just joined the admin department.

Linda had left recently, leaving an empty spot; now, someone had finally come to fill it.

Rebecca barely reacted to the news. Staff turnover was routine in a company this size.

When she reached the admin department, she spotted Garcia Yates greeting everyone with a bright smile.

“Hi, everyone. My name’s Garcia. Just call me Garcia from now on.”