The Transactional Marriage That Imploded novel Chapter 6

Once inside the car, Mathis raised the privacy partition and cast a sideways, appraising glance at Bianca.

Unaware of his stare, Bianca was looking down, replying to Cillian Calder's message: [I'm ready to start work anytime.]

Cillian replied instantly: [Tomorrow then. I've kept the position open just for you! I guarantee you'll love it.]

A genuine smile spread across Bianca's face as she typed back: [Thank you, Cillian!]

Watching her lower her head with such focused enthusiasm, Mathis felt an inexplicable urge to snatch the phone right out of her hands.

Suddenly, his own phone rang. It was a video call from Cynthia.

Mathis immediately declined it.

Bianca couldn't help but scoff. "We're getting a divorce anyway. I really don't care if you answer your love's call. After all, I've clearly been getting in the way of your happily ever after."

Mathis's lips parted slightly as he leaned closer to her, his signature cedarwood and musk scent washing over her. Annoyed, Bianca tried to shove him away, but Mathis effortlessly caught her slender wrists.

"If you really don't care, then what's with the dramatic runaway act and the divorce papers? Are you just trying to get my attention? Let me make this perfectly clear—what you're doing is completely pointless."

Bianca shifted her body closer to the window, speaking in a flat, emotionless tone. "I don't need your attention. We agreed I was just here as a lucky charm to save your life. Now that you're cured, I'm gracefully bowing out so you can be with your true love, and your son can finally take his rightful place in the family without people calling her a mistress and him a bastard. See how accommodating I am?"

She had no desire to fight Cynthia for him. Cynthia held all the cards, and Bianca had absolutely nothing. Her only goal was to finalize this divorce as quickly as possible. She had zero interest in watching their twisted romantic soap opera play out.

A dark, stormy fog clouded Mathis’s eyes as he spoke with a cold, terrifying detachment. "Bianca, I am the one who calls the shots in this marriage. When we divorce is entirely up to me, not you.

He then turned to Bianca. "Get out. I'll unblock your number, but you are never to mention the word divorce again."

Bianca didn't even bother arguing. She thought to herself, *Do you think you're some kind of ancient emperor? You think you can just refuse to divorce? The courts aren't owned by your family. I refuse to believe the law can't touch you.*

Mathis’s car sped off into the distance. This area was notoriously difficult for catching a ride, and the ride-hailing app showed over ninety people ahead of her in the queue. She cursed under her breath.

*He really is a dog. Forces me into his car just to abandon me on the side of the road.*

Just as she was trying to add a tip to expedite her ride, her mother-in-law, Evita, called. Her tone was as domineering and arrogant as ever, treating Bianca like the family's indentured servant.

"The day after tomorrow is Harriet's birthday banquet. Come over and get things ready!"