Edward bitter truth

“Bianca,” Noah said, inching closer. “Can you tell me what happened between you and Theo last night? You know, you shouldn't talk about our company matters with the Harringtons.

You know our history with them.”

Bianca fumbled as she replied, “It was on my way to my room when he stopped me.”

Noah nodded. “What did you talk about?”

Bianca kept her head down. “He only wanted to make sure he could smoke in the garden. And talked about Rebecca, really.”

Noah's eyes lit up. “That man is so strange. He probably was expecting us to announce his marriage to her.

This is good. Still, you shouldn't have interacted with him. What if you leaked some details about our business in the process?” Noah scolded.

“I'm sorry, Father,” Bianca replied.

“Fine. Fine. There's absolutely no point in scolding you. I'm sorry about how Rebecca accused you, but she's just looking out for us.

Theo is someone who can easily ruin us,” Noah said.

Then Bianca remembered that she needed to meet Theo.

She said, “Dad, I have to meet someone for our next project. I'm leaving.”

“Okay, Bianca,” Noah agreed. “Promise me that you will help your sister sail through company processes easily. She has already been through a lot.”

“I promise.”

Bianca rolled her eyes, frustration bubbling up.

Bianca excitedly drove the car to the restaurant that Theo had mentioned in a message. She entered the restaurant, drawn in, and scanned through it, awestruck by its grandeur.

“Good morning. I have a reservation under the name Theo Harrington,” she asked the restaurant manager at the entrance.

The restaurant manager checked his book of reservations and said, “Please follow me, miss.”

After a moment, she came in front of a private room where Felix stood waiting for her.

“Welcome, Miss Bianca North. Mr. Theo is expecting you,” Felix greeted her.

“Good morning. It's nice to meet you,” Bianca said, offering a handshake.

Felix shook her hand happily. “Please enter this door. He is waiting for you.”

Felix knocked on the door and opened it for Bianca. The door closed behind her, and she felt her heart skip a beat.

“I wasn't expecting you to show up, but now that you did, please have a seat,” Theo said, sitting at his desk, watching her every move.

“I don't make false promises in business. I show up when I say I will,” Bianca responded without thinking.

Theo raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before amusement settled in.

His next question stunned her.

“Did you inform Mr. North about our meeting?”

Bianca sat down, carefully considering her words.

“I am not working with my father. He would never let me meet you, whether in private or public. He'd call me a traitor to the family for even striking a deal with a Harrington.”

“Does your father hate you?” Theo asked bluntly.

Bianca hesitated before answering. “I don't think he hates me. He is just more protective of Rebecca than me.”

“It's a parent's job to love and protect all their children equally, no matter what. It's a shame you were born a Jew's daughter,” Theo remarked.

“Tell me something. I know you have conquered the world, but how the hell did you end up so powerless in your own family business? Whatever you're hiding — it's because you're a Jew's daughter, right? High society is quite competitive.”

Theo interrupted.

“Yes,” Bianca admitted. “Someone must have been really jealous of your success.”

“Anyway, let's get to the point. Now, let's say I believe this marriage is all your planning and your father isn't involved. Why would someone like me, who's lived in hiding, want to marry someone like you in the spotlight?”

“Truthfully, I never pictured someone as grand as you to come across when I was thinking about an escape plan.

I thought we'd be a good match considering our family status and the rivalry our families hold.

I've considered two things about you. First, you're private, so I wouldn't need to mingle much. And second, given your status, you can control my family,” Bianca explained.

Theo raised an eyebrow.

“I like to keep to myself, but there are parties I must attend. Am I to show up without my wife? It would be boring if you hide all the time.”

“You misunderstand, Theo. I never hide because I want to. My priorities have been business meetings rather than socializing with the fishwives of friction.

I'd love to go out, attend parties, and dance. I have a lot of experience and confidence to mingle with the who's who of town,” Bianca said earnestly.

Theo hummed thoughtfully.

“A week ago, I wouldn't have entertained this conversation, but now I'm in the mood to play games.”

He placed a piece of paper on the table.

“What is this?” Bianca asked as she looked at the paper with the Harrington Corporation logo in the corner.

“A contract marriage needs to have rules and conditions, right?” Theo pushed the paper and a pen toward her.

Bianca's eyes widened. “Isn't this a little too easy? I expected you to grill me more.”

“What are you waiting for?” Theo asked.

When she hesitated, she said, “Sorry.”

Bianca reached for the paper, but Theo grabbed her face, noticing faint redness around her cheeks that was caused by the door hitting her face.

“What happened to your face?”

“It's nothing.”

Bianca turned away.

“It's something. If you're to be my wife, name the person and I'll have them punished,” Theo said firmly.

“It was an accident, Theo,” Bianca insisted.

“See to it that you don't have any more accidents before we're married,” Theo said, deciding to drop the topic for now.

“No love shall be the first condition. It won't be a problem on my end,” Bianca spoke first.

“I hope you stay like this until the end.”

Theo replied, “You're not my type.”

“Of course, there is a type,” Theo mused. “I was quite in demand back then. I've seen rich and handsome men lurking around me.”

“What should the second condition be?” Bianca asked.

“My second condition — speak of this to no one besides my secretary, Felix. He'll be a shield for you in dangerous times.”

“I must ask that I can keep working in North Corporation till I can,” Bianca said.

“That's your business. Do as you wish,” Theo said.

Bianca continued with the next condition.

“Third, we must sleep in the same room.”

He paused and looked at Bianca’s face.

“Why are you surprised? Did you think I wouldn't sleep with my husband?” she asked.

He rolled his eyes. “I don't think that's necessary.”

“Everyone does it — young or old,” Bianca said brazenly.

“How young?” Theo asked.

Misunderstanding, Bianca smirked. “Sleeping, Theo. I was referring to just sleeping.”

“But if you wish for something more—”

“No. We will sleep in separate bedrooms,” Theo said quickly, embarrassed.

Bianca nodded. “Fine.”

“Is there anything else?”

“No. We've covered the basics. Anything else can be handled with communication.”

“Sign it,” Theo said.