Chapter 75 Back to School
The moment Glenn saw Bianca step through the doorway, his expression shifted instantly.
"Bianca, you're finally here. Come, have a seat."
His smile was warm, almost paternal.
Bianca's lips curved into a cold smirk. She knew better. Glenn's sudden concern was never genuine—it was the kind of kindness that came wrapped around a hidden blade.
From the very beginning, there had never been a trace of fatherly affection in him… only the intent to use her.
This unexpected warmth was nothing but a prelude to another scheme.
She didn't rush to speak. Instead, she settled onto the sofa, crossing one leg over the other, her gaze fixed on him, waiting for whatever came next.
Glenn didn't falter. The smile stayed in place, practiced and perfectly composed.
"Bianca, you haven't been home in such a long time. Why don't you join us for dinner tonight?"
"Just say what you're here to say. Don't waste my time with small talk." Her tone was flat, stripped of any pretense.
Leaning back into the sofa, she watched his face shift from pale to flushed, like a storm brewing behind his eyes.
Eventually, Glenn forced another smile, though it was thinner now.
"Bianca, I know you still think of me as your father. I admit I wasn't the best parent in the past, but I promise I'll make it up to you."
His voice carried a convincing sincerity that might have fooled anyone else. But Bianca had already seen through him. She was more curious about one thing—where did he get the idea she still felt anything for him at all?
Tilting her head slightly, she asked, "And what makes you think I still care?"
"You sent me the evidence of Thea transferring assets. Doesn't that prove you still see me as your father?" Glenn replied without hesitation.
Bianca let out a short, sharp laugh.
She had only wanted to watch them tear each other apart. The fact that Glenn had misread her intentions was almost amusing.
But she couldn't let him cling to that illusion. If he truly believed she felt any shred of affection toward him, it would only encourage him.
"You're overthinking it. I just can't stand her. This has nothing to do with you."
Glenn had tried more than once to use her to connect with the Anderson Group. Their relationship had already fractured beyond repair, and she had no reason to keep up the facade.
Naturally, her words carried no courtesy.
To Glenn, however, Bianca was still his daughter. To defy him was, in his mind, an act of disrespect.
"Bianca, watch your tone. Is this how you speak to your elders?" His brows lowered, his voice taking on the weight of authority. "And Thea may have her faults, but she's still your stepmother. You're in the wrong here."
Bianca almost laughed again, but this time it came out colder.
She had never met anyone who could play the victim while holding onto every advantage.
Her expression hardened as she picked up her bag. "If you have nothing else to say, I'm leaving. School starts soon, and I won't be coming to the Rodriguez Group as often."
"Wait!"
The urgency in his voice stopped her at the door.
"Bianca, I admit I've made mistakes. But from now on, I won't let Thea or her daughter deceive me again. The Rodriguez Group will have only one heir—you."
He stood now, his gaze locked on hers, the promise heavy and deliberate.
It was an extravagant picture he was painting. Bianca didn't believe a word of it, but something in his tone hinted at a deeper motive.
So that was it… even the title of heir was just another bargaining chip.
"Oh? So you brought me here today to sign a transfer contract for your shares?" She arched a brow and stepped closer to his desk.
Picking up a black pen from the table, she looked at him with feigned anticipation. "Where's the contract?"
His face darkened instantly, clouds gathering in his expression. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm not dead yet."
His change in tone was as sharp as a slap. Bianca dropped the pen onto the desk with a flick of her wrist.
"So this was all just empty promises… selling me a dream to reel me in."
"The Rodriguez Group carries half your mother's life's work. You'll inherit it eventually. Can't you wait?" Glenn's lips pressed into a thin line. "If the Rodriguez Group thrives, it benefits you too. Think carefully, Bianca… help us connect with the Anderson Group."
It was clear he hadn't changed at all. Still chasing the same alliance, blind to the rot festering inside his own company.
"First, my answer hasn't changed. Until the parasites are gone, the Rodriguez Group will never get close to the Anderson Group."
"Second, if you truly want to hand the company to me, show me something real. I'm not a child anymore—I won't follow your orders blindly."
She didn't give him a chance to reply. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she headed for the door.
Behind her, something crashed to the floor—papers, perhaps, or a pen holder—followed by his furious voice.
"Bianca, you'll regret this! When you make a mistake with the Anderson family, don't come running back to the Rodriguez Group for help! Do you really think they'll respect someone from such a small background?"
Her steps didn't falter. His words rolled off her like water.
Whether the Anderson family respected her was irrelevant. It wasn't Terrence's power or wealth she wanted.
She wanted Terrence himself. Even if he wasn't the head of the Anderson family, she would still choose him.
Glenn's warning didn't anger her—it only made her pity him.
A man consumed by greed and ambition, to whom love and loyalty were nothing but tools… truly pathetic.
That morning marked the start of the school term. Bianca slipped into her uniform and turned in a slow circle before Terrence.
The tailored cut hugged her curves, the skirt flaring in a perfect arc as she spun.
Her hands clasped behind her back, chin tipped up, eyes bright as she looked at him. "Terrence, do I look good in this?"
His arm slid around her waist, his gaze darkening. "You look beautiful."
His throat worked as he studied her, the simple uniform making her skin seem even more luminous. Her eyes caught the light, alive and untouchable, stirring a fierce possessiveness in him.
He didn't want anyone else to see her like this.
"You look good… but the uniform doesn't." His brow furrowed. "Do you have to wear this to school?"
Bianca glanced down at herself, then back at him. A sudden spark lit in her eyes.
"Terrence… you're jealous." Her tone was certain.
Those clear eyes seemed to see straight through him.