Chapter 111 Fooling Terrence
"You might be right. But why the sudden suspicion about his fiancée?" Terrence's tone was casual, almost like small talk.
Bianca's chest tightened.
The matter with the sleep-inducing essential oil could be brushed aside, but the fiancée... that was different. She didn't even know Donny's fiancée, so how could she possibly know what kind of person she was?
"Terrence, you really are hopeless."
She swung herself onto his lap, her knees bracketing his thighs, hands resting lightly on his shoulders. Her eyes softened, a sly smile playing at her lips, hinting at secrets.
It was a calculated move—using intimacy as a distraction.
"Someone who can give a gift like that... what kind of person do you think they are?" She tapped his chest gently, her tone playful. "I was only guessing. And only because he's your friend. Otherwise, I wouldn't care."
Terrence leaned back, the sofa creaking under his weight, one hand settling lazily at her waist, fingers idly stroking. "Fair point."
Relief started to settle in, but then his gaze sharpened, locking onto her face. "You sound so certain... like you already know exactly what's coming."
His words hit straight at the truth she was trying to bury. Bianca's fingers curled into the fabric over his chest, her expression unchanged, her voice steady. "I don't. You're overthinking."
"I think something's off, but I won't jump to conclusions," he said, his hand sliding upward, palm pressing against her breast, squeezing casually. "You know, if I tell him, he'll dig into it. And if it turns out exactly as you said... well, that would make you almost prophetic."
The panic clawing at her heart was stronger than any physical sensation. Her mind scattered, the earlier flirtation evaporating entirely.
She couldn't let Terrence know she had lived this life before. And she definitely couldn't let him know how it ended the last time.
If he knew she had once loved Samuel with everything she had...
A sudden shiver ran through her. Her grip on his shoulders tightened.
Her nails pressed into muscle, enough to cause a sting, but Terrence's expression didn't shift at all, as if her force meant nothing to him.
Faced with that unreadable calm, Bianca instinctively retreated, lowering her face to his chest, arms circling his waist.
"Doesn't that just mean I'm clever?"
"Very clever," he agreed.
His hand rested at the small of her back. He already had his answer, but he didn't press further.
Seeing him seemingly convinced, Bianca's lips curved in a small, triumphant smile. She brushed her cheek against his jaw, her amusement unhidden.
"Terrence."
Her voice was soft, her body leaning into him.
He wrapped an arm around her, a low chuckle rumbling from his chest, his palm warm against the back of her head.
The next day.
Blair stepped into Bianca's path, her brows lifted in challenge.
"You don't actually have any proof, do you?"
Bianca glanced at her, puzzled.
Behind her, Jasmine tugged lightly at the hem of her jacket. "Bianca... it's Monday."
The reminder clicked into place. No wonder Blair looked so smug.
Bianca's lips curved into a cold smile.
Not submitting evidence didn't mean she lacked it. She simply wanted to gather more. One academic scandal alone wasn't enough to ruin Blair completely.
"You know very well whether I have proof," Bianca said, her voice cool.
Blair's glare was sharp. "You think I'm afraid of you? I'll drag us both down if I have to."
Bianca's smile carried nothing but disdain.
Blair's foot stamped against the floor, frustration boiling over. Then her expression shifted, her mouth curling upward.
"Bianca," she said, arms crossing over her chest, brows arched, "you think you're the only one with evidence? I have photos of you with other men. Imagine what people would say... imagine what Terrence would think."
"Blair!" Jasmine's eyes were bright with anger. "You're going too far!"
Jasmine, usually gentle, almost never spoke against anyone. The defiance caught Blair off guard, sparking both shock and rage.
Someone she considered beneath her was daring to fight back?
"Jasmine, did you just raise your voice at me?" Blair's face flushed, her hands planting on her hips as she stepped forward, raising one hand high.
A slender but strong hand caught her wrist, twisting it back. The crack of a slap rang out, sharp against her cheek.
"That's for forgetting your place. I'm still your sister, and you dare lift a hand to me? Who gave you that kind of courage?"
Blair's palm flew to her face, already swelling.
"You hit me again? I'll make you pay for this, Bianca!"
She lunged toward her.
"And that's for refusing to learn," Bianca said, delivering another slap, deliberately landing on the same spot.
The pain was blinding, forcing tears to the corners of Blair's eyes. She glared at Bianca through the redness, her expression twisted.
Her voice came out low and jagged. "I'll never forgive you! You ruined me, forced me to marry that old man, and now you want to destroy my reputation too. You're a vicious woman!"
Her rage stripped away any trace of reason.
Bianca stepped forward.
She had never understood why Blair hated her so deeply, even in the last life, when she had been driven to the brink.
"Blair, you and Thea were the ones who forced yourselves into my life. I didn't complain. I even thought about getting along with you. Why couldn't you leave me alone?"
Her gaze dropped, her tone calm—no sadness, no anger—just the weight of waiting for an answer.
Beside her, Jasmine trembled, finally summoning the courage to speak.
"Blair, I tried to get along with you too. I endured your bullying. But you kept pushing, even encouraging others to isolate me. I just want to know why. I've already given you so much leeway."
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
How could anyone pour so much malice onto someone without cause?
Blair laughed suddenly, lifting a hand to point at Bianca, her laughter sharp enough to sting.
"Are you stupid? The Rodriguez family has only two heirs—you and me. Why would I ever get along with you? I want Father to hate you so everything will be mine. And then you got lucky enough to get engaged to Terrence. I can't stand it. Why isn't it me?"