Chapter 12
Not long after Aliana left, a courier arrived carrying a food package that had been ordered.
Nadia, who was still standing near the office door, received the package with a puzzled look. She knew Andrian was extremely particular when it came to food, and he never ordered anything without giving direct instructions.
Nadia eyed the food package uncertainly before handing it to Viktor, who was inside Andrian’s office.
“Mr. Viktor, I’m not sure what to do with this,” Nadia said nervously.
Viktor frowned, staring at the package in confusion. He glanced uncertainly toward Andrian, aware that his boss was in a bad mood after the conversation with Aliana.
“Sir… What should we do with this?” Viktor asked while sniffing the package. He recognized the familiar aroma. “This seems to be your favorite food. Should we throw it away?”
Andrian turned his face away, offering no reply.
Viktor was about to return the food package to Nadia when suddenly Andrian spoke.
“What’s our schedule after this?” he asked in a flat tone.
Viktor quickly responded, “We have a board meeting in thirty minutes, Sir.”
m
=
Andrian nodded slowly, then his eyes shifted to the package in Viktor’s hands. After a few moments of silence, he asked, “Is that really from the restaurant I usually order from?”
T
Viktor nodded quickly. “Yes, Sir. The courier who delivered it is also the one who usually brings your meals.”
Andrian turned his face away again, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he spoke softly, “Bring the food here.”
Viktor and Nadia exchanged glances, hardly believing what they had just heard.
“Sorry, Sir?” Viktor asked hesitantly. “You want me to bring this to you?”
Andrian shot him a sharp look, and Viktor immediately understood there was no need to repeat the question. Without another word, Viktor walked over and placed the food on Andrian’s desk.
Andrian looked at the package with a blank expression. After a moment, he unwrapped it. The familiar aroma filled the room, and Andrian couldn’t hide his surprise when he saw that everything Aliana had ordered matched his tastes exactly.
Without saying a word, Andrian picked up his chopsticks and began eating.
Viktor and Nadia exchanged glances again, their expressions filled with disbelief. They hadn’t expected Andrian–the perfectionist who was so selective about food–to eat it without hesitation or complaint.
Wordlessly, Viktor gestured for Nadia to leave the office. The two quietly stepped out, giving Andrian the time and space to enjoy his first meal of the day.
Outside, Nadia let out a long breath, still trying to process what had just happened.
“I still can’t believe it.” she murmured, almost to herself. “Mr. Andrian actually ate the food.”
Viktor glanced at Nadia with a faint smile. “I guess Miss Aliana has her own way of getting Mr. Andrian to… surrender, at least for now,” he said softly, a playful tone in his voice, but also a hint of admiration.
Nadia nodded in agreement, though her mind was still filled with questions. How could someone who had only just entered Andrian’s life understand his preferences so well?
They said nothing more, returning to their desks and allowing all speculations about the relationship between Andrian and Aliana to settle quietly in their thoughts
At the Velor family mansion, Bianca Lorraine sat sullenly on her luxurious sofa
1/3
3:45 PM P
Chapter 12
Her beautiful face was laced with anger, even though she tried hard to appear calm. In front of her stood a man in a neat black suit–her loyal assistant, Derek Vaughn–who had just finished delivering a report.
“So, Aliana managed to meet Andrian?” Bianca asked, her voice cold and laced with intimidation.
Derek nodded, a little uneasy at the flicker of fury in Bianca’s eyes. “Yes, Miss. I heard from Mr. Andrian’s secretary that Miss Aliana waited for several hours in his office. At first, Mr. Andrian didn’t want to see her, but in the end… they talked.”
Hearing that, Bianca gripped the armrest of the sofa tightly. “Impossible,” she muttered under her breath, more to herself than to Derek.
Bianca knew Andrian’s nature better than anyone. He was not a man who could be easily approached–not even by women who tried desperately to catch his attention. If he didn’t want to see someone, he would make them wait until they grew tired and left. It had happened to many women, including Alicia, who had been arranged to marry Andrian but was still treated like a stranger.
Bianca stood up from the sofa, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Derek.
“How could Aliana get a meeting with Andrian? What did she do that made him talk to her?”
110
being
shaken by Aliana’s
Derek could only shake his head. “I don’t know, Miss. But it seems Miss Aliana didn’t give up, even after waiting for so long.”
Bianca’s anger grew. She felt threatened, as if the position she had always held without challenge was now presence.
“She’s truly bold,” Bianca hissed.
Bianca remembered the red envelope containing photos of Alicia that she had left in Aliana’s room. She had been the one who sent it as a threat. The envelope was a clear message—a warning that Aliana should stay away. With those photos, Bianca hoped Aliana would understand that she could suffer the same fate as Alicia if she dared interfere in her life with Andrian.
But now Bianca realized the threat wasn’t enough. Aliana had shown no fear, no hesitation. Instead, the woman had moved closer to Andrian–and had even managed to capture his attention.
Bianca clenched her fists, her perfectly manicured nails nearly digging into her palms.
“So, she wants to play games with me?” Bianca hissed dangerously. “Looks like she’s not smart enough to understand my warning.”
Derek remained silent, too afraid to speak when Bianca’s fury involved Andrian.
བ ཐ
Bianca turned toward her vanity, staring at her reflection in the large mirror.
“Fine,” she said, taking a deep breath. “If a threat isn’t enough, I’ll give her a warning in person.”
With determination, Bianca began applying makeup. She reached for her best foundation and lipstick, making sure every angle of her face looked flawless. Then she opened the grand wardrobe behind her and chose one of the most luxurious dresses Andrian had ever bought for her. It was deep red, elegantly cut, sensual and perfectly highlighting her curves.
After selecting the dress, Bianca opened a large jewelry box beside her. Her hands carefully picked out a diamond necklace Andrian had once given her as a birthday gift. She put it on with a satisfied smile, feeling it was undeniable proof of her special relationship with Andrian—something Aliana would never have.
“She may be his wife,” Bianca whispered, staring at herself in the mirror. “But I’ll show her who Andrian truly desires. She’s only a wife on paper, while I’m the woman Andrian chose of his own will.”
THE
Bianca finished her preparations by slipping into a pair of heels matching her dress. After confirming she looked perfect, she turned and looked at Derek with full confidence.
“Let’s go.” she ordered. “I’m going to meet Aliana.”
Derek hesitated slightly, but he knew better than to argue
“Yes, Miss.” he replied respectfully, following his mistress out of the room.
Bianca walked gracefully toward the door. In her heart, she had already planned her next move. She would confront Aliana and give her
a clearer warning–a message that no matter what Aliana did, Andrian would always belong to her
A small smile curved on Bianca’s lips as she stepped out of the room, her eyes glinting with dangerous resolve,
2/3
