Chapter 499: Do Friends Hold Hands?

Bianca, on the other hand, wasn’t fully present. Her mind kept going back to the promise she made to Blake.

She knew Dave would be angry if he found out. She kept thinking about how to ask him to wait for her—just six months.

As they walked by the lake, Dave stopped and looked at the water. “The lake looks so clear today. Want to go for a boat ride?” he asked.

Lost in her thoughts, Bianca didn’t catch what he said. She looked up, a little spaced out. “Hmm? What was that?”

Dave gave her a concerned look. “Bianc, you seem off today. Did something happen?”

Her chest tightened. A wave of panic rushed through her.

“No, it’s just…” she started, then shifted her excuse. “The court hearing is tomorrow. I guess I’m just a bit anxious.”

“Court hearing?” Dave stopped for a second, then nodded slowly. His voice turned gentle. “Oh right. Is it about your ex-partners?”

Bianca gave a small nod. “Yeah.”

Dave reached over and gently ruffled her hair, trying to comfort her. “Don’t stress. Reece is with you. It’ll all be okay.”

“You knew?” Bianca looked up at him, surprised.

Dave gave a small smile. He had always kept an eye on things quietly. The day she asked Reece for help, he had already called Reece himself and made sure all her legal fees were covered.

He never thought it was something he needed to tell her.

Even now, as Bianca looked at him with questions in her eyes, he only smiled.

She could tell he and Reece got along well, so she didn’t ask anything more.

“I trust him, but something still feels off. I don’t know why,” Bianca said gently.

“You’ve been really tense these days,” Dave said gently. “Your case isn’t that tough. If Reece can’t handle it, he should probably stop being a lawyer.”

Bianca looked down and stayed quiet.

“By the way.” Dave’s eyes suddenly turned serious. “I saw on the news that Blake ended his contract.”

Hearing Blake’s name, Bianca quickly looked up, startled like a scared bird.

“Yeah. He did.”

“That’s what’s really on your mind, isn’t it?” Dave asked. His expression remained calm. The sunlight made him look calm and almost unreal, like someone out of a dream.

As always, Dave noticed the things she tried to hide. Bianca knew she couldn’t pretend anymore.

Bianca took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. “Can you wait for me for six months?”

Dave raised an eyebrow. “Wait for you? Are you going somewhere?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m staying here. But I made a promise to Blake. While he’s overseas, I said I’d focus on work and not get into a relationship.”

Dave’s brows pulled together. He looked puzzled.

“What does that even mean?”

Bianca took a moment to gather her courage. Then she told Dave about Blake’s trip abroad to treat his leg and the promise she had made.

“It’s just six months. After that, I won’t owe him anything anymore.”

Dave’s face shifted. His expression turned cold.

“Are… are you mad?” Bianca bit her lower lip, feeling nervous as she studied Dave’s face.

After a short pause, the softness came back to Dave’s eyes.

Dave looked at her quietly, a small smile on his lips. “I’ll always wait for you. But I do wonder what he’s really thinking. What does he want?”

Bianca felt a wave of relief. He wasn’t mad. She let out a soft sigh.

She didn’t understand Blake’s reasons either. What could really change in six months? Even if he got better, she knew she couldn’t be with him.

“I don’t get it either. But he saved me twice. I owe him that much,” Bianca said with a sigh. “As for what he wants… I guess we’ll find out when he’s back.”

“No matter what he’s planning, I won’t let him take you from me,” Dave said softly.

His words made Bianca’s heart flutter.

Suddenly, Bianca let out a small laugh.

“We really are star-crossed lovers.”

Dave reached for her hand again. She tried to pull back, but he held on.

“Didn’t we just agree to keep our distance? Why are you still…” she began.

“We may not be together for the next six months,” Dave said with a smile, “but we can still be friends.”

“Do friends hold hands?” Bianca asked in a soft voice.

Dave lightly flicked her forehead, grinning.

“They do now.”

****

Since it wasn’t a big case and Reece was supervising it, only Bianca showed up in court.

Most people believed she would win.

At first, everything went well. But then, the other lawyer claimed there was another contract signed during that time.

The courtroom broke into whispers.

“Another contract? That’s not true!” Bianca blurted out.

The judge slammed his gavel. “Quiet!”

Bianca stayed quiet. She glanced at Reece, trying to tell him the claim was false and asking him to speak up.

But Reece stayed calm. He kept looking through his papers and didn’t react to Bianca’s worried glance.

The other side claimed they had the sole right to cancel their deal with Emerald Artists Agency whenever they wanted.

That one line could change everything.

“Defense lawyer, your response?” the judge asked.

Reece stood up and spoke to the judge. “Yes, this extra contract is part of the agreement.”

Bianca froze. She leaned closer to him and whispered sharply, “Reece Barton, what are you saying?”

But Reece ignored her. He handed all the original contract papers from her to the court officer.

After checking, the court confirmed the extra contract was real.

“Still, I have to speak up for my client’s rights,” Reece said. “Let me explain…”

“That contract is fake!”

Before Reece could say more, Bianca stood up and slammed the table. Her eyes were red with anger as she stared at him.

“We never agreed to any extra contract!”

“Silence!” the judge said, banging his gavel.

In court, proof mattered most. But Bianca’s words didn’t carry enough weight.

In the end, Bianca lost the case.

Even though Reece tried to defend her, the smaller payment didn’t make her feel any better.

Outside the courtroom, Bianca stepped in front of him. She looked shocked like she couldn’t believe the man she once trusted could betray her like this.

“Why would you do this to me?” she said sharply.

Reece looked into her eyes and said gently. “I’m sorry. But the evidence is clear. There’s nothing I can do to change the result.”

“Funny!” Bianca sneered. “Evidence? We both know there were no extra terms in that contract! You added them, didn’t you?”