The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 370

Crystal struggled to her feet, her face twisted in anger as she shouted, “Rebecca, what the hell are you doing? How dare you order your people to throw me out!”

Rebecca looked her over with icy detachment. “Thieves aren’t welcome here. Who knows if you’ll try to steal something from Willowbrook Manor and sell it, or maybe you’ll cozy up to one of my staff and start spreading rumors for your own amusement. Let’s be clear: stay away from Willowbrook from now on. If my people so much as see you near the property again, you’ll be tossed out just like today.”

Conspiring with the staff?

Crystal’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You knew?”

No wonder Ann refused to say a word when Crystal called her earlier, hanging up immediately and even blocking her number. Desperate to figure out what was going on, Crystal had come all the way to Willowbrook to find Ann herself.

Damn it. The informant she’d worked so hard to bribe was snatched away by Rebecca. Now how was she supposed to get news about Rebecca and Dylan?

Rebecca didn’t bother answering her question; her voice remained cold. “Why are you here?”

Crystal remembered the secret she’d uncovered earlier that day and let out a mocking laugh. “Did you know Mrs. Austin’s found a woman to have Dylan’s child? Did you?”

Rebecca narrowed her eyes slightly, but didn’t seem particularly concerned.

She’d always known Mrs. Austin was restless and scheming. This sort of thing wasn’t exactly surprising—and Mrs. Austin had even hinted as much before. Had she really gone through with it?

Crystal, sensing an advantage, smirked triumphantly. “From the look on your face, I guess you had no idea. Oh dear, it seems Mrs. Austin isn’t happy with you at all, does she?” She let out a brittle, mean-spirited laugh. “Rebecca, so what if you married Dylan? He leaves you to rot in this mansion, barely bothers to come home, and now he’s got another woman out there having his baby. Isn’t that just perfect? Ha!”

Her laughter was sharp and cruel, every word meant to cut. Crystal’s only purpose in telling Rebecca was to see her panic—to see her break.

But Rebecca didn’t give her the satisfaction.

At the thought, jealousy twisted Crystal’s features.

With that, Crystal spun on her heel and stormed off.

Upstairs, Ethan stood at the second-floor balcony, quietly watching Crystal in the distance.

He’d seen the fury on her face and knew she’d just had it out with his mom.

A flash of anger crossed Ethan’s eyes. He could never stand to see anyone bully his mother.