Chapter 70 Simpleton
"Need me to step in?" Terrence asked.
Bianca lifted her index finger to her lips, the gesture subtle and deliberate. "You just have to pretend you know nothing."
She tipped him a playful wink.
Terrence's low chuckle rumbled in his chest before his attention slid back to the financial report.
"Then I'll pretend you never came by today."
He wasn't worried about her. Bianca was quick, sharp, and ruthless when she needed to be. Where others might be crushed, she would never bow. And if she ever walked out of the Sharp Mansion humiliated, he'd make sure someone paid for it.
The crystal chandeliers cast golden shards of light across the vast banquet hall, turning every polished surface into a gleaming reflection. The air was alive with chatter, the clink of glasses, and the soft swell of music. Flowers perfumed the space, mingling with the heat of bodies and the glitter of evening gowns. The city's elite had gathered, each one dressed to impress.
Bianca stepped inside alone, her black mermaid gown hugging every curve, the sleek silhouette commanding attention. Heads turned at once. She held a champagne flute delicately between her fingers, a faint smile on her lips, her eyes sweeping past the curious stares without acknowledgment.
"Bianca, over here."
Thea had spotted her the moment she entered. Striding forward, she hooked an arm through Bianca's and drew her close.
"Come, let me introduce you to Odette." Thea's smile was warm, almost too warm, her usual impatience replaced by a calculated friendliness.
Odette extended her hand, eyes raking over Bianca from head to toe. The gown was too bold for her taste. If Bianca were to become her son's fiancée, she'd have to stop flaunting herself like this in public — it wasn't proper. Still, the figure was good, healthy enough to bear children. And with her status as Terrence's fiancée, she was at least socially acceptable.
Bianca's only response was a small nod. She made no move to take Odette's hand.
The pause was awkward, Odette's hand hanging in midair, neither withdrawn nor accepted. Her expression tightened, a shadow creeping across her face.
"Bianca, Mrs. Sharp is greeting you. You can't just pretend you didn't see her — that's so rude," Blair chimed in, her voice dripping with false concern and brimming with anticipation.
Bianca's gaze slid to her. "I don't know her. Don't introduce irrelevant people to me again."
"This is how you speak to your elders? Climb high enough and you forget where you came from," Odette said, arms folding across her chest, Her tone laced with open disdain.
She had planned to give Bianca some leeway — perhaps she might become her daughter-in-law. But now, she saw no reason to be generous. In fact, she saw an opportunity to put her in her place.
"And who exactly made you my elder?" Bianca's laugh was cold. Her eyes shifted to Thea. "Where's Dad?"
She scanned the room briefly. Glenn was nowhere to be seen.
Their clash had been so vicious that the idea of him walking into the Sharp family banquet was unthinkable.
At the mention of Glenn, Thea's smile faltered, her eyes darkening. "Bianca, you have the nerve to ask? If it weren't for those baseless accusations of yours, Glenn wouldn't have argued with me. He wouldn't have…"
She cut herself off abruptly, embarrassment flickering across her face.
"Why stop there? Don't tell me Dad hit you?" Bianca's tone carried feigned surprise. "No matter how far you push him, he shouldn't lay a hand on you… right?"
It was deliberate — bait to make Thea and Blair burn hotter with resentment, to push them toward reckless retaliation.
The effect was immediate. Both women's expressions hardened, jaws clenched tight. If looks could kill, Bianca would have been torn apart on the spot. But for now, they had no move to make.
"Mom! Mom!"
The voice came from across the room, young and overly eager. A man in his twenties emerged from the crowd, his smile wide and boyish in a way that didn't fit the setting.
"That's the Sharp family's hidden son, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Probably only let him out because it's Mrs. Sharp's birthday."
"His condition hasn't improved?"
"Fever when he was a kid. Damaged his brain. Hard to fix something like that."
The whispers carried easily to Bianca's ears. She looked up, watching Alaric Sharp approach. His grin was open, almost childlike, his steps light. The tailored suit he wore clashed with his demeanor, the contrast making him seem oddly out of place.
Odette shot a sharp glance at the gossipers before softening her gaze toward Alaric. "Come here, sweetheart."
He obeyed instantly, moving to her side. His dark eyes locked on Bianca, filled with an unguarded hope.
"Bianca, you've been staring at Mr. Sharp… do you like him?" Blair's voice rang out, pitched to carry.
Bianca turned her head slowly. "He's better-looking than you. Is there a problem with me noticing?"
Blair's face flushed with anger. "You're comparing me to some idiot—" She stopped short as Odette's expression cooled, biting back the rest. Her glare at Bianca was venomous.
"Well, Alaric is handsome. Anyone would look twice. If you like him, that's perfect — I was afraid you might dislike him," Thea said, clapping her hands lightly.
"Perfect? What's that supposed to mean?" Bianca's brow furrowed.
"Bianca, Mr. Sharp has always…" Blair began, but Thea's hand on her shoulder cut her off.
"Don't start. Bianca, Alaric likes you. Odette has hired countless tutors, but he's never taken to any of them. The moment he saw you, though, he lit up. I thought maybe you could teach him something — poetry, painting, etiquette… anything."
She glanced at Odette, giving the smallest signal.
Odette stepped forward, taking Bianca's hand. "Alaric has been such a worry for me. You can see his situation. Finding the right teacher is impossible. The day I saw your photo, he couldn't stop smiling. That's why I asked Thea to introduce you."
Bianca ignored the flimsy explanation, her eyes lifting to meet Alaric's.
Odette nudged him forward gently.
The push made him stumble, catching himself awkwardly before straightening. He looked at Bianca, throat working as he swallowed, nervous energy radiating through every movement.