Chapter 65 The Wood Family's Illegitimate Child
"Your friend… is he upset?" Bianca asked, her voice casual but her eyes narrowing just enough to betray curiosity.
She couldn't shake the feeling that the voice she'd heard over the phone was familiar—like a tune she'd once heard and half-forgotten, yet could hum without thinking.
"It was just a joke. Don't read too much into it. He's not the type to hold grudges," Terrence replied.
Bianca's gaze sharpened. "That voice… I swear I've heard it before. Have I met him?"
There was a pause on the other end. A pause too deliberate to be accidental.
Terrence misunderstood her tone. He straightened in his chair, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I'll introduce you next time. I should have arranged that sooner."
Bianca blinked at the sudden formality, then let out a soft laugh. "I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought the voice sounded familiar, that's all."
"Even so… you should meet the people I trust." Terrence hesitated, then added, "That was Calvin Wood. You've met him before."
The name pulled up an image in her mind instantly—fiery red hair that caught the light like a flare. Calvin's personality matched his hair: bold, unrestrained, the kind of man who walked into a room and made it his own. But he had the skill to back up his swagger.
And yet… in another life, Calvin's story had ended badly.
It had been sudden, like a switch flipped overnight. One day he was respected, the next he was the subject of whispered gossip and open scorn. Then came the car accident—legs shattered, his temper curdling into something dark and violent. He burned bridges, smashed boundaries, and tore through every shred of decency he had left. At first, people pitied him. But when the truth came out, pity turned to disgust.
By the time he fell completely, the Wood family's long-absent illegitimate son had returned, his reputation growing brighter by the day, slowly taking Calvin's place.
She hadn't known Calvin well—just a few encounters. Back then, her heart had belonged entirely to Samuel. Other men were shadows in the background. By the time she heard about the Wood family scandal, the damage was done. There was nothing she could change.
But lately… something about the Wood family didn't add up. Calvin didn't match the rumors. The truth was tangled, and she suspected that illegitimate son was at the center of it.
If she could warn Calvin, maybe his fate could be rewritten.
"Terrence… how close are you to Calvin?" she asked, weighing her words.
If they were close, she didn't want to risk breaking that bond. If they were casual friends, she'd consider whether Calvin was worth saving. If they were enemies… she'd stay silent. Sometimes silence was the kindest thing.
"Calvin's been my friend since we were kids," Terrence said. "He's unpredictable, but loyal. He looks reckless, but he's disciplined. If I'm not around and you need something, you can go to him."
Terrence's circle was small. Anyone who stayed in it had earned their place.
Bianca's decision crystallized. She knew Calvin would be in a car accident, but not when or where. Her suspicion about the Wood family's illegitimate son was just that—a suspicion, built on fragments of gossip. But Calvin was sharp. A hint from her would be enough to make him dig deeper.
"What's his family like? Any siblings?" she asked.
There was another pause before Terrence answered. "Two older sisters. Both married." His tone shifted, a note of wariness creeping in. "Why the sudden interest? Don't tell me you like him."
The jealousy in his voice was almost palpable. Bianca laughed softly. "Impossible. I've only met him a few times. My heart's too full of you to fit anyone else."
Her words softened him instantly. "He's disciplined, yes… but far from perfect."
Before he could start listing flaws, Bianca cut in. "No brothers at all?"
She remembered the day the Wood family's illegitimate son returned—an event that had sent ripples through the city. That was when the perfect façade of the Wood marriage shattered, becoming a cautionary tale whispered in social circles. Even Samuel had mentioned it more than once.
She was sure the son had come back earlier than the public announcement suggested. Which meant… he was already here.
"How do you know that?" Terrence's voice sharpened with surprise. This wasn't public knowledge. Only Calvin's closest friends knew. The Rodriguez family certainly didn't, and he'd never mentioned it to Bianca.
"I have my channels," she said lightly, a hint of pride threading her tone.
She glanced at the date on her phone, deciding to hold the information back for now. She'd tell Calvin when the timing was right.
The call ended. Evening settled in, and Terrence came home from work.
"I took care of what you asked. Someone reliable will come by to inventory everything," he said, shrugging off his coat and tossing it onto the sofa. He handed her a folder. "Look this over. If it's fine, sign it."
Bianca sat cross-legged on the sofa, taking the folder. She flipped through the pages—and froze. Her eyes widened, and she snapped it shut.
"You're giving away the Anderson family's century-old business?"
Terrence chuckled, reaching over to pinch her cheek. "You handed me all your assets to keep safe. I'm showing you the same trust."
"No." Bianca pushed his hand away, her tone sharp. "This is like trading a diamond for a glass bead. My assets aren't worth much compared to this. If I sign, everything you've built will be mine, and my things don't come close to your family's empire."
Terrence sat beside her, his dark grey trousers creasing as he crossed his legs, a flash of black socks showing beneath. "I don't care."
Her heartbeat slammed against her ribs, each thud echoing in her ears. She clutched the fabric over her chest, her gaze locking on his. "Aren't you afraid I'll sign and then divorce you, leaving you with nothing?"
"You won't."
His eyes were pools of ink, reflecting nothing but her. The weight of his gaze was a promise, an anchor, and a confession all at once.
Her pulse quickened, emotions surging past the point of control. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him—deep, unhurried, and burning.
His hand, broad and calloused, slid from her waist upward, fingers tracing the curve of her body with a tenderness that made her shiver from the inside out.