The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 347

Crystal shot Ethan a glare. “Exactly! It’s not like we’re desperate to eat with you anyway. Come on, Emily, let’s go somewhere else.”

The two of them turned and walked away, their retreat looking a little awkward.

Emily, even more reluctant, glanced back at Samuel. Her eyes betrayed a sadness she couldn’t quite hide.

Ethan, on the other hand, clapped his hands with delight. “Fantastic! Grumpy Auntie’s gone! Now we can actually enjoy our meal!”

Crystal overheard this and nearly choked with anger. The last bit of appetite vanished; she led Emily straight out of BILI Cafe without looking back.

Joyce couldn’t help but chuckle at Ethan’s antics. “You’re such a clever boy,” she praised. “Thanks for saving Aunt Joyce some money.”

Ethan lifted his chin, brimming with pride. “Of course! I have to look out for you, Aunt Joyce. I’d never let those mean aunties mooch off us. If they want a free lunch, they can dream on!”

Joyce burst out laughing. As the giggles died down, her gaze drifted to Rebecca. Several times she seemed about to ask something, but always bit her tongue.

It wasn’t until she excused herself to the restroom and found herself alone with Rebecca that she finally spoke up. “Raina, who are you really?”

Rebecca glanced over at Samuel and the four kids at their table, then answered quietly, “Joyce, I never meant to hide the truth from you. You’ve probably guessed by now—I’m Rebecca. That’s Samuel. Samuel Thomson.”

Even though she’d suspected, Joyce was still taken aback. “You’re the real heiress of the Thomson family? Rebecca?”

It was Rebecca’s identity that truly shocked her, more than Samuel’s. The illustrious Ms. Thomson, disguised and working as a secretary at the Frost Group—Joyce could hardly believe it.

A few years ago, the Thomson family had finally found their long-lost daughter. It wasn’t exactly a secret among the upper crust, but the real heiress was rarely seen in public. Even Joyce had no idea what she actually looked like.

Now everything made sense.

Given how close they were, Joyce didn’t bother hiding her father’s intentions—she laid it all out for Rebecca.

As for Dylan, he clearly had no interest in the adopted Thomson daughter. So if there was an arranged marriage, it had to be Rebecca.

Joyce went on, “Plus, you mentioned you’re married, so I guessed your husband must be Dylan. And I’m guessing… he doesn’t know your real identity, does he?”

Joyce had hit the nail on the head.

Rebecca could only nod, a little awkwardly, and quietly said, “Thank you for keeping this to yourself.”

Not only her true identity, but also her secret marriage with Dylan—the fewer people who knew, the better. After all, once the contract expired, they were meant to go their separate ways.