The Transactional Marriage That Imploded novel Chapter 96

Milo instantly deflated. "Are you seriously never going to give me a chance?"

Bianca nodded plainly. "Never. You belong to a world I have no business being in. I married a billionaire once and ended up battered and bruised. I have zero interest in repeating the experience."

Milo picked up the serving tongs and placed a tender piece of fish on her plate. "I've told you a hundred times, not all men are like your nightmare of a soon-to-be ex-husband. Fine. I'll invite a few friends to tag along so we can all go together."

"Can I bring Mia Vaughn?" Bianca asked.

Xanthe was bringing her parents to town for a visit, so she likely wouldn't have time to join them.

Milo waved his hand dismissively. "She won't come. She probably already has plans for the holidays." Plus, Mia was incredibly sharp at reading a room. She would never willingly act as a third wheel.

Bianca sighed, defeated. "Then I'm not going either."

Milo threw his hands up. "You're the most stubborn woman I've ever met! If I were you, I'd go out, have fun, and flaunt every second of it just to make Mathis's blood boil."

"I told you," Bianca said seriously, "not every man is as deeply flawed as he is."

As luck would have it, the moment they walked out of the restaurant, they ran face-to-face with the very people they had been avoiding.

The sight of Mathis and Cynthia made Bianca's stomach physically churn. She had to swallow hard to suppress the immediate wave of nausea.

Mathis watched Bianca standing intimately beside Milo. Unlike last night, he didn't lose his temper. His dark gaze rested on her for a mere fraction of a second before sweeping past her entirely.

His expression was a mask of sheer indifference, as if he were looking at a complete stranger.

Cynthia was absolutely ecstatic. No matter what pathetic little stunts Bianca pulled, she clearly couldn't capture a shred of Mathis's attention.

To him, she was nothing but thin air.

Milo leaned against the doorframe, a mocking grin on his face. "Your taste really is slipping, Mr. Jagger. Your girlfriend is painfully basic. Just overwhelmingly mediocre. You should take notes from me—I managed to find a woman who is top-tier inside and out."

Bianca happily looped her arm through his. If Mathis wanted to pretend they didn't know each other, then he had no right to dictate her actions.

Without sparing a second glance at the seething couple behind them, they strolled away into the night.

Cynthia meticulously watched Mathis's face, looking for any sign of jealousy. His handsome features remained locked in stone.

She was relieved by his apathy, but a deep, ugly resentment festered in her chest. Why did Bianca get to parade around with a young, gorgeous billionaire heir? She wanted to completely destroy whatever was blossoming between them.

"Mathis," Cynthia said softly, "give me Milo's contact info. I need to make sure he knows exactly what kind of manipulative woman Bianca really is."

Without missing a beat, Mathis replied, "Alright."

Cynthia practically glowed with triumph. Whatever she asked for, Mathis delivered.

*What makes you think you can compete with me, Bianca?*