The Transactional Marriage That Imploded novel Chapter 109

"Mrs. Thorne, I don't need to report my private affairs to you," Mathis replied, his displeasure evident.

Harlowe was an expert at reading men's moods. Hearing Mathis's tone, she didn't dare press the issue.

Beatrice chimed in, "Mathis, what are your plans for the holidays? Will you be joining our family for the Fall Gala?"

Cynthia's heart leaped. She was desperately hoping to spend the holidays with him.

Taking his time, Mathis placed a piece of abalone into Lamont's bowl and said, "I apologize, but I have to work through the holidays. I won't have time to accompany Cynthia and Lamont. I'll have someone send gifts to the Quinn family."

Cynthia didn't fully grasp the demands of his schedule, but she still felt he was being incredibly thoughtful and perfectly polite.

After all, in the three years he had been married to Bianca, he had never once met her grandmother.

Yet he was willing to meet Cynthia's family, share meals with them, and handle all the pleasantries with care.

This was the stark difference between her and Bianca.

Her place in his heart was completely different. Bianca was actually rather pathetic when you thought about it.

Whenever Cynthia remembered that fact, the smug look of a victor graced her features.

The entire Quinn family was thrilled at the prospect of her impending marriage to Mathis.

In another private room across town, Bianca barely touched her dinner. Running into those two had thoroughly killed her appetite.

"You can't keep doing this," Milo said, his tone laced with concern. "You can't let them keep getting to you. Let me tell you, a cheating man is like a phone you dropped in a public toilet. No matter how much you scrub it, it's still disgusting."

Faced with Milo's profoundly unhinged attempt at comfort, Bianca's appetite completely flatlined.

She set her fork down and checked her messages, replying to Hector Goodwin.

He couldn't even imagine. If Bianca named a patent after his name and birthday, he would be over the moon.

Bianca offered a bitter smile. "When we first met, I fell for him. But looking back, love is the biggest joke in the world."

As she spoke, tears silently slid down her cheeks.

Milo stared at her, suddenly realizing just how deeply she had loved that man. And the brutal irony was that the very man she loved had twisted that affection into a knife to stab her with.

She had lost completely—her youth and her career both turning to ash.

Milo fell silent. After a long pause, he asked, "So what's your plan now?"

Bianca wiped her tears. "I'll take some time off and figure it out later."

Milo drove her home. As she was getting out of the car, he mentioned, "If you can't work in computing anymore, you can come work at my gaming company. With your skills, I'm sure you'd pick it up in a month."