The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 321

Crystal was quickly losing her patience. She spun on the security guard and snapped, “Get out of my way! Don’t you dare block me!”

The guard froze, thrown off by her outburst. Sure, it was his job to keep an eye on things, but this was Crystal Thomson—the Thomson family’s own heiress. If he really crossed her, working here could become a nightmare.

Seeing the guard wisely step aside, Crystal smirked and clutched the porcelain vase tighter to her chest, ready to make a run for it.

But before she could take a step, a group of kids suddenly stepped in and blocked her path.

Ethan piped up, deliberately raising his voice. “Whoa, what’s all the noise? Are you guys fighting or something?”

Startled by Ethan’s voice, Crystal’s heart skipped a beat. Guilt flashed across her face. In a panic, she hugged the vase even closer, as if that could somehow hide her intentions.

Ethan sauntered up, his little legs moving at a measured pace. He looked up at her, innocent eyes wide, and asked, “What are you doing, Auntie Crystal?”

Her gaze darted nervously, but she forced herself to sound calm. “Me? I’m not doing anything.”

Ethan’s eyes sparkled with mischief. He pointed at the vase tucked under her arm. “That’s a beautiful vase, Auntie. Where are you taking it?”

Crystal’s face darkened. Annoyed, she snapped, “Where I take it is none of your business. You’re just a kid—why are you meddling? Move aside!” She reached out, intending to shove Ethan out of her way.

But Ethan stood his ground, hands on his hips, stubborn as ever. “That belongs to Great-Grandpa. You can’t take it!”

Crystal’s expression grew even more sour. She glared at Ethan and hissed, “Move, or you’ll be sorry!”

She knew that if she didn’t put the vase down, these little brats would never let her get away with it. But the thought of giving up now made her blood boil.

They always ruined everything for her.

As Crystal hesitated, George and Rebecca arrived, having heard the commotion.

“Crystal, what’s that you’re holding?” George called out, confusion in his voice.

The sound of his voice startled Crystal so badly that her hands shook. The priceless vase slipped from her grasp and crashed to the floor with a deafening smash, shattering into a hundred glittering pieces.

George’s eyes widened in horror as he stared at the broken porcelain scattered on the floor, his expression full of heartbreak.