The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 81

Crystal’s delicate features twisted with anger.

“That’s a lie! I didn’t steal anything—what gives you the right to search me?” she snapped through gritted teeth, spinning on her heel to leave.

But Ethan quickly blocked her path, arms outstretched, his cherubic face stubborn and unyielding. “No way. You can’t go. I have to check your pockets!”

Crystal stared at this stubborn little brat, her temper flaring hotter by the second.

“Move!” she shouted.

Ethan stood his ground, refusing to budge.

Frustration boiling over, Crystal shoved Ethan, meaning only to make him get out of her way. She hadn’t expected his small frame to be so fragile. He lost his balance and toppled backward, landing hard on the floor.

“Waaah!” Ethan howled, pain stinging his backside. His cries echoed through the whole house, loud enough to wake the dead.

Crystal froze, stunned. She hadn’t meant for this to happen. Her mind went blank except for one panicked thought: I’m in so much trouble now.

She instinctively turned to flee, but had barely taken two steps when a voice thundered from behind her.

“Stop right there!”

Crystal’s feet locked in place. Slowly, she turned and found herself facing another little kid.

Noah strode toward her, his face a mix of confusion and seriousness, his young voice carrying an air of authority far beyond his years. “Why would you push someone down and then try to run away?”

As he spoke, Noah was already at Ethan’s side.

Face burning, Crystal pointed at Ethan and blurted, “It’s Noah—he’s being unreasonable and tried to search me for no reason!”

Noah glanced at Ethan, puzzled. Noah? Who’s Noah?

Ethan immediately piped up, “That’s right! She snuck into Mom’s room and tried to take her things! Last time she stole from Mom, it made her break out in hives—this time, we can’t let her get away with it.”

He whimpered, clutching his sore bottom for effect.

Mrs. Thomson’s heart broke at the sight. She scooped Ethan into her arms, gently rubbing his back to soothe him.

George’s gaze landed on Crystal, a flicker of doubt in his deep eyes. He stepped forward, his voice cold. “Is this true?”

Crystal bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. She knew she had no standing here, no one would listen to her—but she truly hadn’t taken anything.

“I didn’t. I just got lost, I didn’t steal anything,” she said, her voice trembling but firm.

Noah shot back, “Out of all the rooms to get lost in, you just happened to wander into Mom’s?”

The staff murmured among themselves, suspicion thick in the air. “Yeah, hard to believe that was an accident…”