Chapter 490 The Secret in the Refrigerator
"Wait, I don't have any clean clothes?"
Brandon was halfway through his shower when Bianca's friendly reminder hit him like a ton of bricks.
He had been so focused on getting a quick, refreshing shower and grabbing something to eat that he hadn't spared a thought for clean clothes. But a lack of fresh clothes was hardly a problem for the charming Brandon.
After about twenty minutes in the bathroom, Brandon emerged.
He had a white towel loosely wrapped around his waist, hanging precariously below his lean hips. His upper body was bare, with wet hair clinging to his forehead. Droplets of water trickled down his chest, following the contours of his abs.
His nearly perfect physique had not an ounce of extra fat. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he looked in a certain direction, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "Bianca, you're right. I don't have any clothes to wear. What should I do?"
Bianca turned around, greeted by the sight of Brandon fresh out of the shower, steam still swirling around him. His skin had a faint flush from the heat, making him look even more enticing.
The towel barely covered his essentials, hanging at an angle that seemed ready to fall at any moment. Brandon, ever the tease, took slow, deliberate steps toward her, the towel shifting with each movement, drawing her eyes and testing her composure.
Bianca crossed her arms casually. "Brandon, are you trying to seduce me just for a meal? Isn't that a bit cheap?"
Brandon reached out, placing one arm on the antique shelf behind Bianca, creating a small, semi-enclosed space between them. He leaned in slightly, his breath warm on her face. "Bianca, are you saying you feel nothing when you look at me?"
Bianca gave him a once-over. "Brandon, your workout results are impressive, but I'm not interested in your body. Also, you got my floor wet. Clean it up."
Brandon clenched his fists, his face inches from hers, his breath hot against her skin. "Bianca, a man like me isn't something just any woman gets to see. Don't you want to give it a try?"
Bianca scoffed. "Brandon, you're overthinking it. I'm not interested in your body, your skills, or anything else."
With that, Bianca slipped out from under his arm like a snake, leaving Brandon fuming.
He looked up at the ceiling and roared, "Bianca, are you even a woman? How can you not be interested in a man like me? Are you frigid or something?"
Bianca tied her hair back with a rubber band, preparing to take a shower. She glanced at Brandon, who had turned away in frustration. "I'm not frigid, but I don't like taking the bus."
Brandon was silent for a moment before he finally understood. "Bianca, are you insulting me?"
"Why would I? Brandon, with all the women you go through, one a day for a month without repeats, isn't that more like a bus? Or have you upgraded to a train?"
"Damn it! It's called charm!"
"Bang!" Bianca slammed the bathroom door shut. "If you want to eat, cook for yourself."
Brandon, still frustrated, looked at himself in the mirror, admiring his physique and face. No matter how he looked at it, he was the kind of man women would commit crimes for. How could Bianca not react?
Was his charm failing? Or was Bianca just that dense?
Bianca leaned against the bathroom door, taking a deep breath to clear her mind from the visual onslaught of Brandon's perfect body. The image of his well-defined abs and the water droplets tracing their way down his muscles lingered in her mind.
She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to let herself dwell on the scene.
No, she couldn't get entangled with Brandon.
Who was Brandon, and who was she?
With a sigh, Bianca washed her face, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Young, beautiful, with all the features a woman her age should have, but behind that face lay a troubled past.
Brandon rummaged through the fridge for food and was surprised to find several bottles of medication behind a row of drinks. The labels indicated they were for treating depression.
He picked up a bottle, reading the label in disbelief, then glanced toward the bathroom door. Bianca was taking medication for depression?
Could she really be depressed? She seemed so invincible, like a superhero. It should be the people around her who were depressed.
But those bottles weren't just for show.
Brandon put the bottle back, his heart pounding. Was there something about Bianca he didn't know?
When Bianca came out of the bathroom, she smelled the aroma of toast. On the dining table were two simple, even crude, meals: toast with tomato sauce and salad, each with a fried egg and a glass of milk.
"Brandon, you can cook?"
Brandon shrugged. "Of course. I know everything from astronomy to geography. Cooking is nothing. You'll be begging to marry me after this meal!"
Bianca, still drying her hair, walked over skeptically. "You didn't poison the food, did you?"
"Funny you should ask. I was thinking about it. Got any poison I can borrow?"
"With a mouth as poisonous as yours, do you really need any?"
Bianca looked at the meal, genuinely surprised that a playboy like Brandon could cook. She couldn't help but see him in a new light.
"Brandon, your mouth is even more poisonous. I concede."
"Enough talk. Eat, then we go to the factory."
Bianca took a bite of the toast. It was perfectly crispy, with a bit of tomato sauce that made it surprisingly delicious.
Brandon looked at his body. "Bianca, you want me to go to the factory like this? Are you asking me to seduce the female workers?"
"Why not? You're good at it. It's your specialty."
"Damn it!"
Meanwhile, at a suburban villa, another dinner was taking place.
Brooklyn was reading a newspaper while eating. She looked up at Sebastian. "What's this about? Megan called off the engagement because of Simon's injury? Exposing her true colors?"
The article was prominent, with a photo of Simon bedridden. The accompanying text painted Megan as a heartless woman, the words as sharp as knives.
Sebastian glanced at the photo, chewing his food nonchalantly. "Didn't expect Dario to act so quickly."
Brooklyn was puzzled. "You mean you ordered this?"
Sebastian's eyes twinkled with a smile. "You're sharp, my dear. Look at who owns the paper."
Brooklyn checked the logo in the corner. It was MBK, a major paper MBK had acquired. Clearly, MBK was running an exclusive on Megan.
"Megan really called off the engagement? I hadn't heard anything. Did the reporters get it wrong?"
"Dear, entertainment news is full of half-truths. Today it is one thing, and tomorrow is another. But Megan calling off the engagement? She might have considered it before, but now, she won't."
Brooklyn's eyes met Sebastian's, understanding dawning. "You're using public pressure to force Megan's hand? Sebastian, that's ruthless, pushing her to the edge."
Sebastian raised his wine glass, meeting her gaze. "Mrs. Kingsley, compared to Megan, I'm being quite gentle. I didn't have her dragged here to apologize to you. She should be grateful."
Brooklyn's lips curved into a smile, the wine's aroma filling the room. "Mr. Kingsley, you're a master of manipulation. I admire that."
"Just using leverage, Mrs. Kingsley. You're too kind."
At the Turner Manor, the night was deep, and the living room was silent.
Karen held Megan's shoulders as they sat on the couch, both silent. Megan's fingers dug into her clothes, and her nails left deep marks in her palms.
Lawrence paced the room, his eyes blazing with anger. He sighed and looked at his daughter. "What are you going to do? The papers and media won't let this go. This is MBK's magazine. I can't get them to delete it, and it's all over the internet. It's a mess."
Megan's eyes were bloodshot. "Sebastian, it's always Sebastian. He's ruthless!"
Karen held her hand, trying to comfort her. "Megan, don't be rash. Simon is crippled. He might never walk again. You're so young. You can't marry a disabled man. I won't allow it!"
Megan wiped her tears, a cold smile on her lips. "Mom, I've been to prison. Marrying Simon is nothing. Besides, with the Turner Group's current state, can we survive another scandal? I can't make any more mistakes."
"But Megan, your future..."
Megan's smile was bitter, her eyes hollow. "Mom, the only man I've ever loved is Sebastian. Marrying anyone else makes no difference. Disabled or not, it's just an empty shell. Simon's shell is just broken now."
Lawrence's face darkened. "You mean you'll go through with the engagement?"
"Yes, I will. The Turner Group needs the Scott family to win this fight. I've lost in love, but I won't lose in life. I'll make Sebastian regret it."
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