The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 58

After the embrace, Isabella looked at Rebecca’s face and sighed. “It’s such a shame, Rebecca. If your face hadn’t been hurt, I bet Dylan would’ve fallen head over heels for you.”

Rebecca’s brow knit ever so slightly, a thoughtful look flickering in her eyes. “My face… I think it might’ve been Crystal’s doing.”

“What?” Isabella’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“You’re saying Crystal is the reason for what happened to your face?” Isabella pressed.

Rebecca nodded. “Someone tampered with my blush. Noah told me it was probably Crystal—because she’s in love with Dylan.”

Isabella swallowed hard, stunned. “So what if she likes Dylan? Why would she go after your face?”

Rebecca let out a soft, wry laugh. “Because Crystal didn’t want me to see him.”

Isabella’s expression grew worried. “God, I can’t believe your adopted sister could be so cruel. You’d better be careful around her from now on.”

Rebecca nodded gently. “I will.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Crystal sat on the floor of her room, surrounded by broken bits of glass and shattered trinkets. Her eyes were swollen and red, tear stains streaking her cheeks.

She snatched up a decorative box and hurled it at the wall with a crash.

“Why? Why did I do all this, only for Rebecca to end up marrying Dylan?” Her voice was ragged, brimming with bitterness and rage.

The sight of Rebecca walking in with a marriage certificate had nearly driven her mad.

She thought back to everything she’d done to win Dylan over—the plans to study abroad, the countless ways she’d tried to get close to him, desperate to catch his attention.

But in the end, none of it mattered. She got nothing.

Rebecca hadn’t lifted a finger. Just by being a Thomson, she’d married Dylan.

The pain in Crystal’s chest felt as if someone were tearing her heart apart, leaving her gasping for air.

“Rebecca, what makes you think you deserve him?” she screamed, tears streaming down her face. “I hate you. I hate all of you!”

Rebecca frowned, bewildered by the explanation.

George produced a box of new blush. “Rebecca, this is your actual blush. Sue tried to steal it, so she swapped it out for a cheap knockoff.”

“And there’s video, too—she went into your room while cleaning and made the switch. There’s no denying it, Sue. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Sue burst into tears. “I swear, I never meant for any of this to happen! Please, Miss Rebecca, forgive me just this once. I didn’t know the replacement was so cheap it’d cause a reaction. If I’d known, I never would’ve done it.”

George’s face darkened with anger. “If you’re willing to steal, what else are you capable of?”

Sue dropped her head to the floor, trembling. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Thomson, I’m so sorry…”

Just then, Crystal stepped forward, pointing an accusatory finger at Sue, her voice dripping with venom. “People like you—sneaking around and stealing—should be thrown out of this house!”

Sue remained on her knees, her terror and shame plain for all to see. She opened her mouth to protest, but the words died on her lips.

Rebecca glanced up at Crystal, a hint of suspicion coloring her gaze.