The Transactional Marriage That Imploded novel Chapter 139

As far as Bianca was concerned, being the most beautiful woman in a relationship gave you zero leverage. Mathis had despised her from day one, hadn't he?

Maybe their personalities were just fundamentally incompatible.

A toxic relationship was just a toxic relationship.

It had nothing to do with looks or what someone brought to the table.

"Ms. Baldwin, every time I talk to you, I feel like I can conquer the world."

There was a reason Mona loved being Bianca's assistant.

Despite her stunning looks, Bianca never acted like her beauty made her better than anyone else.

She was constantly encouraging her team and never lost her temper over a simple mistake.

Her favorite catchphrase was always, "Just don't do it again."

"Thanks for the pep talk, Ms. Baldwin!" Mona beamed. "I'll keep doing my best!"

"I know you will."

Bianca stared out the window. Even though it was October, Austin City was still vibrant and in full bloom.

Resting a hand on her stomach, she silently whispered to her baby, *This city is going to be our new home.*

Mathis's villa was located in an incredibly exclusive neighborhood. Complete with lush gardens and a massive pool, it even came fully staffed with a dedicated maintenance crew.

Bianca let out a cynical laugh. So he did know that maintaining a house like this required hired help.

The medical team he promised had also arrived and set up. With Mabel by her side, the massive house finally felt a little less lonely.

To her surprise, Mathis had even converted one of the rooms into a climate-controlled music studio. A priceless, antique Zither sat gracefully on a mahogany desk, while a cabinet nearby was stocked with an array of custom-blended incense.

Feeling unusually relaxed, Bianca lit a stick of incense, sat down, and began to play.

She started with "Sorrow of the Consorts." Though her fingers were a bit rusty, her flawless memory guided her through the notes.

Before she knew it, she had been playing for half an hour. For her, playing the Zither was entirely a private affair; she never played to impress anyone or reveal her inner thoughts.

Besides, the delicate strings couldn't be heard from more than ten feet away.

"I've never regretted saving your life. But a woman as incredible as Bianca? Not everyone is lucky enough to meet someone like her."

Mathis downed three straight shots before finally speaking. "We've known each other for over twenty years, and you still chose her."

Staring into the amber reflection of his drink, Simon felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness.

"She's never going to choose me. I just hate seeing her miserable, and it's obvious you couldn't care less."

A bitter laugh tore from Mathis's throat. "Simon, I never knew you were such a hopeless romantic."

Simon met Mathis's icy glare head-on. "And what about you? Aren't you completely devoted to Cynthia?

"You've never once treated Bianca like this. She stayed by your side through the darkest three years of your life, and you repaid her by using her dying grandmother as leverage.

"Are you even the same guy I grew up with, Mathis?"

Lately, Mathis had become a total stranger to him.

Mathis didn't say another word. He finished off the bottle, threw some cash on the bar, and walked out into the night.