Black Rose in the Abyss Chapter 20

The winter wind in New York carried a damp chill, but it couldn't blow away the festivity and metaphorical gunpowder smoke hanging over the pier.

The launching ceremony for the pier reconstruction project led by City Hall was packed with dignitaries.

Bianca appeared in a black coat. As a key investor, she attracted countless eyes the moment she entered.

Two years of settling had made her aura even more introverted and powerful.

Her gaze swept the room and collided with a deep stare from the VIP section. The nameplate in front of him read Lorenzo Valenti in flowing script.

He had changed into a formal dark suit today. His fingertips still played unhurriedly with that lighter.

Across the crowd, he looked at Bianca from a distance, then turned his head slightly to whisper to the butler beside him, "It seems my stupid nephew hasn't succeeded yet."

Bianca had excellent hearing. This complaint drilled into her ears word for word.

She didn't stop walking. She walked straight past. As she brushed shoulders with Lorenzo, her red lips parted, her voice cool:

"Mr. Valenti's family discipline is strict. He doesn't dare come bother me. Doesn't that suit your wishes?"

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow, a flash of genuine surprise in his eyes. He chuckled low, his voice rich. "Miss Bianca is quite protective of him. You clearly don't like him yourself, yet you won't let others say a word against him."

Bianca paused, turning her head to look at him, her eyes calm and ripple-less. "How I treat my people is my business. Outsiders gossiping is not allowed."

Just then, a staff member came to respectfully guide Bianca to her seat. This short but hidden confrontation came to an abrupt end.

Lorenzo watched her back, his fingers pausing on the lighter, the emotion in his eyes indiscernible.

The ceremony proceeded step by step, with speeches from various representatives.

Bianca sat offstage, her mind not entirely at peace.

She hadn't expected to see the Sterling couple again on such an occasion, nor Mia trailing behind them.

The Sterlings were political consultants for the project.

During the intermission, Mia found Bianca, who was getting fresh air alone on the lounge terrace.

"Miss Bianca."

Bianca didn't turn around.

Mia took a deep breath and mustered her courage.

"There are some words that have been stifling me for two years. If I don't say them, I'm afraid I'll go crazy."

"About the baby's name... I lied to you. The name 'Hope' was something I secretly saw in Dante's phone notes. He wrote it down a long time ago. He never said he wanted to use it for my child."

"He and I... we were never together. That child was left from... that night in the alley."

"The doctor said my constitution is special. If I aborted it, I could never get pregnant again. That's why Dante said to give birth to it, that he would take responsibility, treating it as his own."

"Every time he heard even a little news about you, he would run to New York regardless of everything. Every time he went back, he was beaten half to death by Mr. Lorenzo."

"In his phone, there's only one photo of you two together. It's blurry, but he treats it like a treasure..."

Mia rambled on a lot, incoherently, but she peeled open the deepest misunderstandings between the two one by one, spreading them out in the sunlight.

Bianca listened quietly, her fingertips curling unconsciously. Her mood was indescribably complex.

Did she hate? It seemed to have faded.

Did she resent? It seemed to have dispersed too.

All that was left was a vast blankness, a confusion of not knowing where to place herself.

At this moment, the Sterling couple also walked over.

Mrs. Sterling's eyes turned red the moment she saw Bianca. Mr. Sterling was also full of shame.

"Bianca," Mrs. Sterling's voice choked. "We were confused before. We mistreated you. We're sorry..."

Mr. Sterling handed over a document, his tone heavy. "This is a transfer agreement for ninety percent of our assets. It's already notarized."

"We know this can't make up for anything. It's just a token of our feelings. We hope that in the future, you can live a little easier."

They said no more. Taking the ashen-faced Mia, they quietly left the venue.

After the ceremony ended, the noise dissipated.

Bianca didn't go home immediately. Like a ghost, she walked to that old neighborhood in Brooklyn again.

Christmas was approaching. The streets were filled with festive atmosphere. Neon lights flashed, voices boiled, but it only highlighted her loneliness.

"Miss Bianca?" Mrs. Baker from the deli spotted her sharply and poked her head out enthusiastically. "It's Christmas Eve. Why are you wandering the streets alone? Come in quickly! Auntie will treat you to a hot sandwich!"

Bianca was stunned. Only then did she realize it was the end of the year.

She smiled, didn't refuse, and walked into the small shop full of the smell of life.

Soon, a steaming Reuben sandwich was placed in front of Bianca. The aroma was strong, blurring her vision.

She took a bite.

"Is it good?" A low, familiar voice, carrying a trace of imperceptible nervousness, sounded from the opposite side.

Bianca looked up.

Dante was sitting across from her, unbeknownst to her.

He was wearing a simple black sweater. His face was still a bit pale, but his gaze was focused, looking deeply at her.

"I learned from Mrs. Baker for a month."

He added, his tone carrying a clumsy honesty.

Bianca looked at him and suddenly remembered years ago, when he enthusiastically cooked but ended up making a mess of the kitchen, creating food that was hard to swallow.

He seemed to be able to learn anything, except for cooking, where he had zero talent.

Thinking about it, she suddenly laughed.

As she laughed, tears rolled down without warning, dripping onto the plate in front of her.

Dante panicked instantly, flustered. "Is it that bad? Bad enough to make you cry."

Bianca lowered her head and quickly wiped away the tear tracks with her fingertip.

"It's delicious."