Chapter 23 The Kiss of Claim
Bianca's expression turned to ice, her gaze a razor-sharp blade slicing through the room. She spoke with a calmness that carried more weight than a shout.
"My people are not yours to judge."
Terrence's voice followed, low and edged with steel. "Bianca is my fiancée, the future mistress of the Anderson family. Are you questioning my judgment, James? Or do you believe you have the authority to set the rules for the Anderson family yourself?"
He tilted his head slightly, the movement deliberate, predatory. "It seems I have been too lenient. Perhaps you need a reminder of what happens to those who defy the head of the Anderson family."
The weight of his presence pressed down on James like a physical force. It was as if the air itself had thickened. Color drained from James's face, beads of sweat forming at his temples. His mouth opened, but no sound escaped.
Around them, guests who had been watching with thinly veiled disdain now shifted uneasily, their gazes darting anywhere but toward Terrence. No one dared meet his eyes.
"I…" James's throat tightened, his breath shallow under the suffocating pressure Terrence exuded.
His voice cracked when he forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "My apologies, Ms. Rodriguez. My earlier words were… inappropriate. I hope you won't take them to heart."
Bianca didn't spare him a glance. Her eyes swept the crowd, noting every flicker of fear, every sudden interest in champagne glasses and ceiling fixtures.
James, left standing awkwardly, muttered something about needing to speak with other guests and slipped away.
"Mr. Terrence Anderson!"
A cluster of business associates approached, their faces bright with forced warmth, the kind that came from knowing exactly who held the power in the room. "This must be Ms. Rodriguez. Your taste remains impeccable, Mr. Terrence Anderson. She is stunning and matches you perfectly."
Terrence gave a cool nod, his arm sliding naturally around Bianca's waist—a gesture that carried an unmistakable claim. The possessiveness was clear in the subtle tightening of his hold, in the way his fingers rested just enough to remind anyone watching that she was his.
The man speaking hesitated, as if weighing his next words. Bianca caught the hesitation and decided to ease the moment. "Terrence, why don't you speak with them for a while? I'll see what's at the buffet."
Terrence's tone softened slightly as he looked at her. "Go ahead."
"Alright." Bianca's reply was gentle, but her eyes held a quiet confidence. She turned toward the food.
She wandered among the lavish spread, the scent of roasted meats and sugared pastries mingling in the air. Her fingers reached for a delicate piece of dessert when a shadow fell across her.
"Bianca, you're here too!"
Samuel's eyes lit with a mix of surprise and something more dangerous. His tone dripped with unwelcome familiarity as he stepped closer, reaching for her hand.
"You look incredible tonight. Did you dress like this for me?"
Bianca stepped back, her gaze hardening with open disgust. "Samuel, you're mistaken. I didn't come here for you. I'm here as Terrence's fiancée, attending this banquet in that capacity—not for you."
She turned to leave, but Samuel's hand shot out, gripping her wrist. His desperation was palpable, his fingers tense. "Bianca, you're angry with me, aren't you? I don't believe you can just walk away from all we had. And I refuse to think you left me for Terrence's wealth."
His voice was loud enough to draw attention. Conversations faltered, heads turned. The music seemed to fade into the background as whispers began—rumors they had heard now playing out before their eyes.
Bianca tore her wrist free, her gaze sweeping over the onlookers, her voice cold and precise. "Are you deaf, or just pretending not to hear me? I have never had any kind of relationship with you."
"Listen carefully, Samuel. I am engaged to Terrence. Today, I am here representing him as his fiancée. He is your elder, and when I marry him, I will be your elder as well. Do not touch me again."
Her words rang clear, slicing through the murmurs. Samuel's jaw tightened, unwilling to let go. The more unattainable she became, the more agitated he grew. Once, she had treated him like someone precious. Now, her absence gnawed at him like a wound that refused to heal.
"You're lying. You weren't like this when we were together. We were happy—deeply in love. I don't believe you could walk away from that. If Terrence can give you something, I can give you the same."
He wanted to paint her as a gold-digger, to drag her reputation through the mud. He believed the gossip would force her to retreat.
But Bianca's calm expression didn't falter. "Samuel, do you remember when I rejected you—clearly and in front of Terrence? If you insist on clinging to this fantasy, I don't mind repeating myself in his presence."
The smarter guests could already see the truth. Between Samuel and Terrence, there was no contest.
Humiliation flushed Samuel's face. He stepped forward, reaching for her again. "We should talk outside. Come with me."
This time, Bianca didn't give him the chance. Her palm cracked across his cheek, the sound sharp in the hush that had fallen. "Have you had enough?"
Samuel's head snapped to the side, heat flooding his skin. His eyes widened in disbelief. "You slapped me?"
Pride and temper snapped. He had never been struck by a woman before, and now rage drowned out any sense of decorum. His hand lifted, ready to strike back.
But the blow never landed. Samuel froze, his wrist caught in an iron grip.
"Uncle…" His voice trembled as he looked into Terrence's eyes.
Terrence released him with a flick, as though brushing off something foul, then drew Bianca firmly into his arms. His head dipped toward her. "Are you alright?"
Bianca shook her head lightly. "I'm fine."
The commotion drew Blair to the scene. Her eyes flicked between Terrence and Bianca, and something calculating slid into her expression. "Bianca, why would you hit Samuel? You used to care for him so much. Maybe there's a misunderstanding? If you're going to part ways, shouldn't it be done with dignity?"
Her tone was sweet, but the words were a blade, designed to expose Bianca's past in front of everyone.
Some in the crowd, uncertain before, now leaned toward Samuel's side. Blair's voice carried, feeding the fire. "Bianca, you should apologize to Samuel. Don't make this worse."
Bianca's gaze cooled further. Blair had waited until the slap was over to appear, and now her mouth ran unchecked. In Bianca's mind, it deserved to be nailed shut.
"Terrence," Blair continued, "I've said before your taste in women is questionable. You shouldn't marry someone who's had… ambiguous relationships with other men."
James, seizing the moment, stepped in. "Today she's pulling and pushing with another man. Imagine if she cheated after marrying you—what a disgrace that would be."
James's smile was thin, his eyes bright with petty satisfaction. He couldn't match Terrence in power, but he could enjoy any moment that tarnished him.
The room held its breath, waiting for Terrence's reaction.
Bianca didn't wait. Rising on her toes, she placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed him—deliberate, possessive. Her arms looped around his neck, her gaze sweeping the room before settling on the troublemakers.
"Get a good look. From start to finish, my man has only ever been Terrence."
The declaration hung in the air, bold and unshaken. The crowd stared, stunned, their attention locked on Terrence, waiting to see what he would do next.