Chapter 15 Her Initiative
Ever since Bianca had been brought back from the Rodriguez Mansion by Terrence, the promise he had once made—to provide financial support to the Rodriguez Group—had remained nothing more than words. Not a single tangible result had materialized.
On paper, the two families were cooperating. In reality, every project that came through seemed to bypass the Rodriguez family's interests entirely.
Glenn was growing restless.
In the middle of the night, Bianca was pulled from sleep by the shrill, insistent ring of her phone. She groaned, dragging it toward her, irritation already prickling under her skin. The caller ID flashed Glenn's name. Her lips tightened.
Still, she answered.
"Bianca, have you been too busy lately? Why do you take so long to pick up when I call?" His voice came sharp, almost accusatory, before she had the chance to speak.
Bianca's mouth curved into a cold, mocking smile. She could already guess what Glenn wanted—and it wasn't to ask how she was doing.
"If you're not calling to check whether I'm fine in the Anderson household, but to scold me, then unless this is something truly important, you can hang up right now."
Glenn caught himself, realizing his tone had been too harsh. His voice softened, though the urgency still bled through. "Come now, you know Mr. Anderson will take good care of you. I only wanted to ask… You remember how you said Mr. Anderson would help the Rodriguez family? It's been so long, and nothing's happened. Could you speak to him again? Maybe get some of our projects pushed forward?"
There it was—the only kind of love Glenn ever seemed to offer: the kind wrapped in self-interest.
"With all that time you're spending worrying, maybe you should focus on improving your employees' competence," she replied coolly.
Glenn's patience thinned. This wasn't why he had called—to be lectured by his daughter. She had once been soft-spoken and compliant in the Rodriguez household. Now she was bristling like a wildcat, harder to control with every passing day.
But he couldn't ignore the way Terrence had stepped in for her before. It made Glenn hesitate, calculating.
"Bianca, I'm still your father, and the Rodriguez family is your family. When the family is in trouble, you can't just stand by. You don't work in the company, so you don't see my position. I may look like I'm in charge, but plenty of people are waiting for me to retire. If I did, who would be there to give you outside support? I was thinking that once you marry Mr. Anderson, you'd have someone powerful to stand behind you."
It was hard to tell whether Glenn was trying to sound sincere or simply manipulative.
"Then call Mr. Anderson yourself and ask him what's going on."
She ended the call without another word.
Glenn stared at the darkened phone screen, his jaw tightening. With a growl, he hurled the phone onto the sofa.
"Ungrateful girl. Doesn't lift a finger for her own family. How did I end up with such a selfish daughter?"
Thea appeared, carrying a cup of tea. She settled beside him, her hand smoothing over his back. "Bianca's grown up. Her wings are strong now—too strong for her own good."
She tilted her head, her voice dripping with feigned sympathy. "She doesn't respect me, of course—what stepdaughter ever does? But you're her father. And with the family facing such difficulties, she refuses to help, even hangs up on you. That's not just selfish—it's downright rude."
Her words fanned Glenn's irritation into something sharper.
"And speaking of family… Your mother's birthday is coming up. She's Bianca's grandmother. Surely she has to attend the celebration."
Glenn's expression shifted, cooling into calculation. He exchanged a glance with Thea, and something passed between them.
"Blair," he said, turning toward his other daughter. "In a few days it'll be your grandmother's birthday. We're hosting a party for her. Take a gown to Bianca. Make sure she attends, and make sure she looks presentable."
Blair had been searching for a way to get close to Terrence. This was perfect—an excuse to show up at his home and, hopefully, catch his attention.
She agreed at once.
By the weekend, Terrence had no early meetings. Bianca carried a tray into the living room, the aroma of freshly baked pastries curling through the air.
"This dessert is sweet but light," she said, setting it before him. "I made it myself, and even improved the recipe. Try it."
Before he could respond, a shadow fell over them. Robert stepped inside. "Mr. Anderson, Ms. Rodriguez. Someone from the Rodriguez family is here to deliver something. I believe it's your sister."
Blair.
Bianca's appetite vanished. She could already imagine the kind of trouble Blair had come to stir.
Moments later, Blair's sharp voice rang from the doorway. "Bianca, I came to see you!"
She swept into the room, a box cradled in her arms. Spotting Terrence, she adjusted her posture, adopting the demure elegance of a society lady. "Mr. Anderson, I didn't realize you'd be here."
Terrence offered a polite nod, his gaze sliding to the box in her hands.
"Bianca," Blair began, "Grandmother's birthday party is coming up. Father asked me to bring you a gown so you can look beautiful for the event."
She flipped open the box, revealing the dress inside. The garish color and outdated design made Bianca's stomach turn. It looked more suited to a cheap nightclub than a formal celebration. She didn't need to guess—Thea had chosen it.
Even Terrence's brow furrowed at the sight.
Blair dropped onto the sofa beside Terrence, her arm brushing his in a way that was anything but accidental.
Bianca's hand tightened around the tray. She set it down with deliberate care, then crossed the room. Without hesitation, she grabbed Blair's arm, yanking her to her feet, and snatched the gown from her grasp.
She sat down beside Terrence, closer than Blair had been, the dress crumpling under her rough inspection.
Blair rubbed the spot where Bianca had gripped her, pain flashing in her eyes. "What's wrong with you? Why are you so angry? And stop mangling that dress—if you ruin it, how will you attend the party?"
Bianca arched a brow, her voice dripping with casual venom. "Sorry, but even if we're family, I can't stand other women sitting next to my fiancé. I get jealous."
Blair's face twisted, her eyes wide with outrage. Terrence, however, seemed amused. Her possessiveness pleased him, and even the ugly dress looked a little more tolerable in that moment.
"I'm your sister," Blair snapped. "It's bad enough you behave like this at home, but you're about to marry Mr. Anderson. How do you think the rest of the Anderson family will see you with that kind of attitude?"
The sight of Blair brought back memories Bianca wished she could forget—memories of her past life, of how Blair and Samuel had treated her. The old resentment surged, hot and sharp.
She nearly lost her temper entirely. But then her gaze flicked to Terrence. He was watching her closely.
A flicker of worry crossed her mind. Would he think she was the kind of woman who never let anything go…?