Chapter 8 I Believe You
Terrence said nothing, his silence heavy with expectation, waiting for Bianca to offer an explanation.
Blair's accusation was like a poisoned needle, sharp enough for everyone to feel the chill radiating from Terrence. His presence shifted, the air turning colder, more dangerous.
The initial shock in Bianca's chest quickly gave way to a surge of pure, unrestrained anger. Her gaze locked on Blair, a sharp, humorless smile tugging at her lips.
"An affair? Blair, your storytelling skills are getting worse."
She released Terrence's arm, not retreating but straightening her spine. Each step she took was deliberate, leading her toward a shadowed corner near the staircase.
Without a word, she reached behind a decorative vase, fingers finding the tiny gap she knew was there, and retrieved a button-sized micro camera.
Holding it up, she turned back toward the room. "This camera has been here for quite a while. Every word you've said has been recorded."
She walked directly to Terrence, her voice steady. "From the moment I was tricked into coming home, to being locked in my room, to their attempt to force me into contacting Samuel… it's all here. If you don't believe me, Mr. Anderson, you can check it right now."
Glenn and Thea's expressions darkened instantly. None of them had expected Bianca to plant surveillance in her own home. Blair's face twisted with unease.
Terrence didn't take the camera immediately. He lifted his chin slightly, the black lenses of his sunglasses sweeping over the Rodriguez family, pausing on their unsettled faces before returning to Bianca.
In the silence, he finally extended his hand. The camera rested in his palm for only a second before his fingers closed around it. A sharp crack echoed in the room as the fragile device shattered in his grip.
His voice was low, carrying clearly through the stillness. "I believe you."
Bianca stared at him, at the broken pieces at his feet. A rush of warmth and something painfully bittersweet rose in her chest, stinging her eyes. He hadn't even needed to check—he had simply chosen to trust her.
Terrence turned away from the others, his attention fixed on her. "Let's go."
Blinking rapidly, Bianca forced her emotions down, stepping quickly to his side and taking his arm again—this time with a firmer grip.
"I'm taking her with me. Bianca is my fiancée. I trust there's no objection?"
Without waiting for an answer, Terrence led her out, leaving the Rodriguez family frozen in place, their faces tight with barely contained frustration.
In the car, Bianca kept glancing at him from the corner of her eye. Her fingers were clasped tightly together. "I'm sorry. I do want my mother's belongings back, but I never intended to use them as a bargaining chip."
The warm glow from the overhead light fell across her hair, making her look even smaller beside him.
"It's fine. Just a business arrangement."
His possessions were not easy to take.
Bianca's head tilted slightly, studying him. He still wore his sunglasses, his profile cut in sharp lines, but she could sense that his words weren't dismissive.
Was he… comforting her?
When they returned to Crystal Gardens, Bianca felt drained. "I'll rest in my room. Thank you for today."
Terrence watched her walk upstairs, silent.
She opened the door to her guest room, flicking on the light—and froze. The space had been disturbed. Closet doors hung ajar, drawers weren't fully closed, and items on her vanity had been shifted from their original places.
Crossing the room quickly, she checked everything. Thankfully, her valuables and important documents were with her, but the violation of her private space left her cold with anger.
She headed downstairs, finding Robert giving instructions to the staff. "Mr. Green, who cleaned my room today?"
Robert turned, wearing his usual polite smile. "Ms. Rodriguez, the maid assigned to the second floor. Is something wrong?"
"My room was searched." Her voice was icy. "Without permission. Is that the rule here at Crystal Gardens?"
Nearby servants exchanged glances but stayed silent.
Bianca let out a short, humorless laugh. Did they think she was still the Bianca who would swallow every insult?
"There are cameras in the hallways and common areas. Let's check the footage and see who decided to play thief."
Her gaze swept over the staff, catching the faint smirks. "And I'll check if anything is missing. If it is, the cost will be repaid in full. That's fair, isn't it?"
One young maid paled, glancing toward Robert.
Robert's expression tightened. "Ms. Rodriguez, perhaps you're overthinking—"
"Mr. Green, instead of covering for someone, why not find out the truth? Or is it that you're afraid the culprit is connected to you?"
Her eyes locked onto his, unyielding.
The nervous maid broke under the pressure. "It wasn't me… but I saw Mira go into Ms. Rodriguez's room this afternoon."
Mira?
"Why bring her into this? What does this have to do with Mira?" Robert's voice carried a note of irritation.
Bianca's brow arched as she turned to him. "Mr. Green, is Mira related to you?"
"Mira is my niece," Robert said, his tone tinged with pride. "She's upright and would never rummage through your things."
"Niece?" Bianca gave a short laugh, brushing past him toward the guest wing.
She remembered the staff mentioning that Mira stayed in the last room at the end of the hall. As she reached the door, she raised her hand to knock—only for it to open from the inside.
A young woman with flawless makeup stepped out, her smile sweet until her eyes landed on Bianca. The sweetness vanished, replaced by open hostility.
"You're Mira?" Bianca's voice was cool. "This afternoon, did you enter my room without permission and go through my things?"
Mira rolled her eyes. "I did. So what? I was checking to make sure nothing… unsavory had been brought in. Perfectly reasonable. Who are you to question me?"
Bianca studied her, amused by the arrogance. In her previous life, she'd had little interaction with Terrence's household staff. She hadn't realized Robert's niece could be this brazen.
"Checking?" Bianca's lips curved into a cold smile. Her gaze bore down on Mira with quiet authority. "You're just the housekeeper's niece. Even if you were his daughter, this is the Anderson family's home."
"And I…" She let the words hang for a moment, her eyes sweeping over Mira's paling face and Robert's darkening one. "I am Terrence's fiancée, brought here by him personally. The rightful future mistress of this house."
She continued, "My room is off-limits to outsiders. Understand? If it happens again, you can leave."
She turned away without another glance at Mira's twisted expression.
Mira stood frozen, feeling the weight of the servants' sidelong glances. Heat burned across her face, humiliation sinking deep.
Her eyes followed Bianca's retreating figure, dark with venom.
Her hand trembled as she reached into her pocket, fingers closing around a small bottle. Her nails dug into the plastic, nearly piercing it.
'Bianca… you'll regret this,' she thought.