Chapter 51 Owned by Her
Terrence paused, just for a heartbeat. "You want me to take over all the assets?"
"Yes." Bianca lifted her chin, meeting his eyes. "Not for you personally—more like putting them under the care of a family office, or a fund you trust. I believe in your judgment… and your ability. Can we do that?"
His gaze sharpened, emotions flickering just beneath the surface.
Then he bent and pressed a kiss to her forehead, the gesture warm and deliberate. "Alright. I'll have Barry bring in the best management team and asset advisors."
For the first time that day, Bianca's smile was unguarded, light and genuine.
Later that afternoon, Terrence went to Hugo for a follow-up appointment, with Bianca by his side.
The results were encouraging. The activity in his optic nerve had improved significantly. Hugo laid out a more aggressive treatment plan for the next stage and spoke with optimism—if progress continued, Terrence might regain enough vision to handle basic daily tasks within a few months.
Leaving the hospital, Bianca's mood was buoyant.
Terrence suggested they dine out, choosing an exclusive restaurant he had kept to himself.
The atmosphere was intimate, polished, with warm lighting and quiet corners. They had barely settled in when a voice, rich with amusement, broke in.
"Well, well… I thought I recognized you from a distance. Mr. Anderson, dining with his lady—what a rare sight."
Bianca looked up to see a man in a pink shirt carrying a wine glass, flanked by two companions with the same air of affluence.
Terrence's expression didn't change.
Calvin Wood—one of the standouts of his generation, and one of the few men Terrence could call a friend.
Without hesitation, Calvin slid into the empty chair beside them, grinning as he gave Bianca a once-over. "So this is Ms. Rodriguez. I've heard plenty, but seeing you in person… I get it now. No wonder you managed to capture Terrence."
He turned to Terrence, mock reproach in his tone. "Not very sporting of you, Terrence. Getting married without telling us, depriving us of a chance to celebrate."
Then, with a playful wink at Bianca, he added, "Ms. Rodriguez, I heard you made quite the move today—bringing back several loads of treasures from the Rodriguez family estate? Impressive. And if Terrence ever treats you badly, just tell me. I'll… well, I'll make sure he hears about it."
Bianca was surprised Calvin knew the details, but she answered with poise. "Mr. Wood, you exaggerate. I only retrieved some of my mother's belongings."
"Belongings? Word is there were genuine antique paintings among them." Calvin shot Terrence a mischievous look. "Terrence, looks like you'll be living off Ms. Rodriguez from now on. Didn't think I'd see the day you'd be kept by a woman."
Terrence continued cutting his steak, unhurried. He placed a perfectly sliced piece onto Bianca's plate before finally meeting Calvin's eyes.
"My wife wants to take care of me. That's my good fortune."
Calvin blinked, then burst out laughing along with his companions. "You're unbelievable—you even say it like you mean it."
Bianca hadn't expected Terrence to respond so openly. Her cheeks warmed, but her heart felt deliciously sweet.
After the laughter faded, Calvin and his friends left them to their meal.
By the time they returned to Crystal Gardens, night had deepened.
In the car, Bianca leaned against Terrence's shoulder, idly toying with the second button of his shirt. His left hand rested at her waist, fingers tracing lazy circles over the curve of her side.
"What are you thinking?" he asked, voice low.
Bianca lifted her head, her gaze following the sharp line of his jaw in the dim light. Her fingertips slid slowly down over his Adam's apple. "I was thinking… about what Calvin said. About you living off a woman."
Her hand paused at his collarbone, drawing gentle patterns.
Terrence's throat moved, his grip at her waist tightening. "And?"
"So I was wondering…" She leaned in, her breath warm against his ear. "Mr. Anderson, with that face and that body, if you wanted to live off women, I'm sure there'd be a line around the block."
Before she could finish, the world tilted.
Terrence's arm locked around her, pulling her onto his lap, straddling his thighs.
Bianca gasped softly, steadying herself with her hands on his shoulders.
"And you?" His palm supported her lower back, the other hand tilting her chin up. "Do you want to keep me?"
The air in the car thickened, slow and heavy.
She could feel the tension in his muscles, the heat at the points where their bodies met.
Her cheeks flushed, but she met his blurred gaze head-on. Her fingers slid from his collarbone to his chest, pressing lightly through the fabric.
"I do." Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. "But Mr. Anderson, you're far too precious. I'd have to give you the very best… so I'd need to work hard to afford you."
Terrence's low chuckle brushed her ear. "And how would you afford me?"
Bianca leaned forward until her lips hovered over his. "By doing anything you want."
His breath deepened. His hand closed around the back of her neck, pulling her into a kiss.
It was deeper than usual, laced with restrained hunger.
Bianca yielded, parting her lips, her fingers sliding into his thick black hair.
The car slowed to a stop, the driver's voice breaking in politely. "Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Anderson, we've arrived."
They pulled apart reluctantly.
Bianca's breathing was uneven, her lips flushed, her eyes shimmering.
Terrence's own breath was rough. His thumb brushed over her slightly swollen lower lip.
"Let's go home," he said, his voice husky.
In their bedroom, after washing up, Bianca prepared Terrence's eye drops as she always did.
She had just picked up the small bottle when his arms came around her from behind.
"Terrence, the drops first…" she murmured, feeling his warm mouth at her neck.
"Later." His arms tightened around her waist, his palm resting flat against her stomach. The heat burned through the thin silk of her nightdress.
Bianca shivered, setting the bottle down. She turned to face him, acutely aware of the change in his body.
Terrence lowered his head and kissed her.
He guided her backward until her knees hit the edge of the bed. They fell together into the soft bedding, his arm cushioning her head.
"Bianca." Her name was a breath between kisses, his fingers already undoing the first button of her nightdress.
Her breathing quickened. She caught his hand. "The drops… we haven't done them yet…"
He froze, drawing in a long breath. "Where are they?"
Bianca laughed, reaching for the bottle at the head of the bed. "Here."
She administered the drops, then he pulled her back into his arms. This time his movements were slow, deliberate. His mouth traced a path from her forehead down…