The Transactional Marriage That Imploded novel Chapter 153

"No," Bianca answered bluntly.

Milo hadn't expected such a direct shutdown. "Then why buy me the painting?"

"I'm not heartless. I remember how good you've been to me. I can't force myself to love you, so I'll just make it up to you in other ways."

She didn't love him, but it was rare to meet someone who treated her so genuinely. She wasn't about to take advantage of that.

Milo sighed. "I just showed up in your life too late."

Still, he wasn't discouraged. At the very least, they were comfortable around each other.

She hadn't finalized her divorce, and she was still mourning her baby. He could wait for her to heal.

Her heart needed to be repaired piece by piece. The damage Mathis had inflicted was just too profound.

Once her body had fully recovered, Bianca returned to work.

Inside Stellaride Computing, no one dared to ask what she had been through. Mia Vaughn and the rest of the team were practically dying of curiosity, but they suppressed their inner gossips.

After all, they were there to make a living, and as long as Bianca could lead them to profitability, nothing else mattered.

Snooping into the boss's private life was bad for business.

Diving back into work helped numb the lingering ache in her chest.

At home, Mabel forcibly packed away all the toys and baby clothes Bianca had prepared. "Bianca, don't look at these and break your own heart anymore. I know you're suffering, but finding a way to be happy every day from now on is what truly matters."

Bianca nodded. She was only in her twenties, yet she had already endured the loss of her parents, her husband's betrayal, and a devastating miscarriage. It felt as if her life was nothing but a series of tragedies.

"Don't worry, Grandma. I won't let myself sink. I won't give my enemies the satisfaction."

Even if she had to drag herself through the mud, she would keep moving forward.

During her three years of marriage, when Mathis had essentially kept her caged at home, she had never abandoned her passion.

Looking back, she was immensely grateful she hadn't. Otherwise, she would just be a helpless pet at his mercy.

Forced to stand by and watch him parade his love for another woman.

The holidays approached quickly. Bianca canceled the company's annual end-of-year dinner.

Her cut was $75 million—roughly $60 million after taxes.

Mathis's sudden generosity was incredibly jarring.

But calculating those numbers did improve her mood slightly.

Money really could cure a lot of things.

On second thought, if he was giving her this much, he was definitely giving Cynthia even more.

The idea of Cynthia achieving absolute financial freedom made Bianca's world feel a little darker.

Taking her down was only going to get harder.

Bianca didn't understand the luxury business and wasn't on SDK's board of directors.

SDK was a blue-blood brand, a highly coveted resource for A-list celebrities.

The gala was packed with famous faces. Politely put, they were there as esteemed guests; practically speaking, they were just high-end salespeople tasked with entertaining the VIPs.