The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 479

Lionel knew he had no way out. Desperation written all over his face, he started to beg. “Mr. Austin, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have kidnapped her—please, just let me go!”

Dylan slammed his fist into Lionel’s face. “You bastard!”

Blood splattered from Lionel’s mouth, and two teeth clattered to the floor. His face was an unrecognizable mess, swelling fast and streaked with blood.

Dylan hurried to Rebecca, concern in his voice. “Are you alright?”

Rebecca shook her head, then twisted her wrists hard and slipped free of the ropes. She stood up, brushing the dust off her sleeves. “I’m fine. Thank you for coming for me.”

Dylan knew his men would arrive any second. The priority now was to get her out.

He took Rebecca by the wrist. “Let’s get you out of here.”

But Rebecca pulled back. “Wait.”

Dylan paused, confused, watching her as she turned and walked over to Lionel.

Lionel, still dazed from the blow, barely registered her approach before she grabbed his arm and twisted—hard. There was a sickening crack.

His scream echoed through the abandoned room, raw and desperate.

Rebecca didn’t stop. With swift, clinical movements, she manipulated his joints, each motion sending Lionel writhing in agony. It felt like every bone in his body was being taken apart and forced back together.

“Please… Have mercy…”

Lionel’s howls filled the air as he rolled on the filthy floor, convinced this pain would kill him. But it didn’t. It just kept on, relentless—a torment worse than death.

Rebecca kept this up for five long minutes.

Dylan watched the entire scene, unable to hide his surprise. He’d never imagined his seemingly gentle, unassuming assistant could be so ruthless—or so skilled.

She was impressive at her job, sure, but this… This was a whole new side of her.

An awkward silence settled between them.

Then Dylan’s phone rang.

He answered, listening intently as his expression grew grimmer by the second.

When he hung up, Rebecca asked quietly, “Is something wrong?”

Dylan’s jaw tightened. “We got the whole story. Justin knew about everything—Lionel’s embezzlement, and the plan to kidnap you. He didn’t stop it. He wanted Lionel gone, and saw an opportunity to use me as his weapon.”

Rebecca stared at him in disbelief. “But you already agreed to work with him against Lionel. Why would he let this happen?”

Dylan let out a cold laugh. “Because Justin wants the Olson Group all to himself. Lionel might be the illegitimate son, but the old man dotes on him—he’s always been Justin’s biggest rival. Even as CEO, Justin’s position isn’t safe. One word from the old man, and he could be out. So he wants Lionel out of the picture for good.”

He continued, voice hard. “If Justin did it himself, he’d risk getting caught and losing everything. So he let me do his dirty work—and let Lionel come after you, thinking you were the one I cared about most. Lionel didn’t have the means to steal from the company without Justin turning a blind eye. This whole thing was set up from the start.”