The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 6

For weeks, Rebecca had been searching for her birth parents, but every lead ended in disappointment.

All she knew was that, years ago, three women gave birth at the same small-town clinic. Then, a fire broke out, and in the chaos, the identities of the newborns became hopelessly mixed up.

Rebecca was taken home by Jane and raised as the cherished daughter of the Foster family. Katherine, meanwhile, was taken in by a farmer’s wife from the countryside—but Rebecca wasn’t that woman’s biological child.

As for the third mother, every record of her had been wiped clean by the hospital. Rebecca couldn’t shake the feeling that this mystery woman might be her real mother.

Still, Rebecca told herself that if she never found the truth, she would be fine. After all, she was more than capable of taking care of herself.

“Ian, where do you want to go?” Ian asked, his tone gentle.

Even though he knew the Fosters would be furious, Ian couldn’t bring himself to send Rebecca off to fend for herself in the countryside. He’d rather risk losing his job than see her suffer.

To Ian, Mr. and Mrs. Foster had gone too far this time. Sure, Rebecca wasn’t their biological daughter, but who throws out the child they’ve raised for nineteen years? Even a family dog would be loved after all that time—how could they treat a person this way?

Rebecca lowered her gaze, thinking quietly for a moment.

“Ian, just do as I asked and take me where I need to go. The rest is none of your concern.”

Ian immediately understood. He gave her a reassuring smile. “I understand, Miss. I’ll tell them just as you said.”

Before getting out of the car, Rebecca reached into her bag and pulled out a gold bracelet. “Ian, I want you to have this.”

The bracelet gleamed in the sunlight, and Ian was so startled he nearly lost control of the steering wheel.

“Miss, what are you doing?” His voice shook with disbelief.

Rebecca smiled softly. “It’s mine. It has nothing to do with the Fosters. Please, just take it.”

They had only just graduated high school and were about to start university together. Now, the Fosters had abandoned Rebecca at the worst possible time.

Rebecca’s brows knit together as she answered quietly, “I’m thinking of dropping out for now—so I can have the baby.”

Isabella’s eyes went wide. “Are you crazy? You’re in the prime of your life, and you want to have a stranger’s baby?”

Rebecca pressed her lips into a thin line. “This is my child. Nobody else’s.”

She could still hear the doctor’s warning: “Your uterine lining is thin, Miss. If you have a miscarriage this time, you may never have children again… And quadruplets are so rare. Maybe this is fate, or a blessing in disguise.”

Rebecca hesitated, thinking of the four lives growing inside her.

Isabella sighed in exasperation, but her admiration was clear. “Well, if you go through with this, I’ll salute you. You’re braver than anyone I know.”