Chapter 43 Crippling Samuel's Hand
The car was filled with a crisp, clean scent—exactly the same as Terrence's.
Bianca nestled against his side, deliberately leaning more of her weight toward him, her fingertips unconsciously tracing circles on the cuff of his suit jacket.
Her gaze casually swept to the back seat, where an exquisitely wrapped gift box lay quietly.
"What's that?" Bianca straightened up slightly, pointing curiously.
Terrence followed her line of sight and glanced over. "For you."
"Another gift?"
Delight sparkled in Bianca's eyes as she turned to look at him, a mischievous curve forming at the corner of her lips, her body almost half-pressed against his arm. "What made you think of giving me a gift today?"
She meant it as a joke, but saw Terrence's face behind his sunglasses turn slightly toward her. "For you, no reason needed."
Warmth flooded Bianca's heart as she leaned over and quickly kissed his cheek. "Thank you, honey."
She reached back to get the gift box—it felt heavy in her hands.
Carefully untying the ribbon and opening the lid, she found a dazzling diamond jewelry set resting on black velvet padding inside.
"This..." Bianca was somewhat surprised.
"Don't like it?" Terrence noticed her pause.
"No, it's beautiful."
Bianca quickly shook her head, her fingertips lightly brushing over the cool diamonds. "I'm just a bit surprised. The style of this set is very special." She picked up the necklace—the pendant was a teardrop-shaped main diamond surrounded by smaller stones, bold and eye-catching in design.
Terrence explained, "It suits you."
Bianca happened to be wearing a champagne-colored fitted dress today, which complemented the brilliant diamonds perfectly.
Her heart stirred as she held the necklace up to him, her tone playful. "Then, Mr. Anderson, could I trouble you to help me put it on? I want you to be the first to see me wear it."
Terrence nodded slightly and took the necklace.
Bianca cooperatively turned around, facing away from him, lifting her thick hair to reveal her slender, pale neck.
His cool fingertips inadvertently touched the skin at the back of her neck, sending a subtle shiver through her.
Bianca could feel his movements were somewhat clumsy—clearly he didn't do this sort of thing often—but he was still careful to avoid pulling her hair.
The moment the necklace clasp closed, his warm breath brushed past her ear, his low voice sounding: "Done."
Bianca let down her hair and turned around.
The necklace hung perfectly between her delicate collarbones, the diamonds' brilliance reflecting off her snow-white skin—truly beautiful.
She looked up at him, and though he wore sunglasses, she could feel his gaze resting on her.
"Does it look good?" she asked softly, her eyes carrying an unconscious hint of allure.
"Beautiful." His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice deeper than before.
Bianca's smile deepened as she took out a small velvet box from her handbag.
"Fair's fair—I prepared a gift for you too."
She opened the box to reveal a platinum tie clip with a clean, sharp design. The edges had subtle openwork carvings—understated yet refined, perfectly matching Terrence's temperament.
"The moment I saw it, I thought it should belong to you."
Bianca took out the tie clip and leaned toward him, her slender fingers deftly straightening his somewhat dull tie before carefully fastening the new clip.
During this process, they were extremely close, almost able to feel each other's body heat and breathing.
The sweet fragrance from Bianca's body wafted around Terrence's nose in wisps, like the most intangible provocation.
After fastening it, she didn't immediately pull back. Instead, at this intimate distance, she looked up at him. "Do you like it, honey?"
Terrence's hand at his side tightened slightly before finally lifting to wrap around her slender waist, pulling her closer into his embrace.
Through the thin lenses, his gaze locked onto her lips, so close, his voice husky: "Anything you give me, I like."
Before he finished speaking, he lowered his head and captured those tempting lips.
Bianca was momentarily stunned, then responded softly, her arms actively wrapping around his neck, allowing herself to sink into it.
The temperature in the car quietly rose, the intimate sounds particularly clear in the quiet space.
Not until Bianca felt slightly breathless and gently pushed against his chest did Terrence reluctantly release her, their foreheads touching, both breathing somewhat irregularly.
"Is this a reward?" Bianca's cheeks flushed, her breath slightly labored, teasing with a smile.
Terrence's thumb brushed over her slightly swollen lips, his eyes behind the sunglasses dark and deep: "It's interest."
Bianca clearly felt the muscles in his arm around her waist tense.
He was clearly aroused, yet trying hard to restrain himself.
Not only did Bianca not pull away, she tilted her face up and actively pressed her soft lips to his again, once, then again, with obvious teasing intent.
Her fingertips were no longer behaving either, slowly sliding down from his firm neck, suggestively exploring downward, finally stopping at the hem of his shirt, ambiguously caressing that taut waistline.
"Just interest?" Her voice carried an enticing allure. "Then when will you pay back the principal, Mr. Anderson?"
Terrence's body instantly stiffened like iron, his breathing suddenly heavy.
He abruptly tightened his arms, pressing her more tightly against himself, letting her clearly feel the changes in his body.
"Bianca," he almost gritted through his teeth, squeezing out her name from between them, his voice low and dangerous, carrying a heavy warning. "Don't tease me."
He gripped her hand that was causing trouble at his waist, with somewhat heavy force.
Bianca felt guilty for a moment, but quickly composed herself.
She tilted her head, her expression innocent yet mischievous. "I'm not."
His voice was hoarse beyond recognition. "Move again, and you'll face the consequences."
After dropping Bianca off at Crystal Gardens, the tenderness on Terrence's face instantly vanished, returning to his usual cold severity.
In the restaurant.
Samuel was pressed to his knees by two bodyguards, his hands bound behind his back, his face still showing traces of water and terror.
Seeing Terrence enter, he looked as if he'd seen the grim reaper, his body shaking like a leaf.
"Uncle, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong." Samuel had none of his usual composure.
"I was just possessed, I'll never dare to bother Bianca again. Please spare me this once, considering we're both part of the Anderson family."
Terrence walked up to Samuel, looking down at him from above, as if looking at an ant.
"Who put you up to this?"
Samuel froze, his eyes flickering. "No—no one put me up to it, it was my own..."
"You only get one chance." Terrence cut him off, with chilling pressure.
Samuel's whole body trembled.
Terrence raised his hand slightly. "Let him say as much as he knows."
Samuel was scared out of his wits, struggling and crying desperately: "Uncle, Mr. Anderson, I really don't know. He said if I just did what he told me and got the thing, someone would naturally help me and guarantee my safety. Everything else—I don't know anything else, I swear. The other party was very careful and never showed their face. Please believe me, I'll never dare again."
Terrence remained unmoved.
Terrence despised everyone who coveted Bianca, and even more so those rats hiding in the gutters, using such fools to test his limits.
Terrence didn't even look at Samuel again.
Terrence turned around. "Since these hands can't control themselves and won't listen to warnings, then cripple them."
"Yes, Mr. Anderson!" His trusted subordinate immediately obeyed, signaling with his eyes as two other bodyguards stepped forward expressionlessly to restrain Samuel.
Terrence turned, his slender fingers unconsciously brushing over the cufflinks beneath his suit sleeves.
These were chosen for him by Bianca not long ago. She said they suited him well.
He was not a merciful person.
Those past rumors about him were all true.
Eliminating threats completely and permanently—that was the principle he believed in.
But now...
Before his eyes appeared Bianca nestled in his arms, those clear, bright eyes filled with trust and dependence.