Unmatched Wife: Not His To Claim Anymore novel Chapter 29

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Chapter 29

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Chapter 29

Chapter 29

BIANCA

“The catch,” Rivera said, leaning back in his chair with an expression that looked gentle despite his burly apperance, “is that you owe me. Not money, all i need from you is just your commitment to saving my son. You stay in BloodMoon City, you continue treating Louis until the curse is completely broken, and you use every bit of your abilities to make sure he survives.”

I studied his face, looking for deception in his eyes, that there was more to it than saving his son. But all I saw was a father desperate to save his child. I understood that desperation intimately, after all, I was a parent too.

Before Mia had stolen Theo from me.

“That’s it?” I asked carefully. “I heal Louis, and in exchange, you give me a new life?”

“That’s it.” Rivera’s phone suddenly rang, interrupting our conversation. He glanced at the screen, and his entire demeanor shifted.

“Excuse me, I need to take this.”

He answered, listened for a moment, then stood abruptly from the chair as he spoke. “He’s awake? How is he? His vitals?” A pause. “I’ll be there in five minutes.”

He ended the call and looked at me apologetically. “Louis is awake and asking for me. I need to go-‘

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“Of course you do.” I waved him off, not feeling angry one bit. “Your son is more important than anything else. Go. “j

“Thank you.” He pulled out his phone again, as he typed on the screen.

“I’m sending you my contact information. Text me tomorrow once you’ve had time to think about my offer.”

My phone buzzed with the incoming message. I saved his number, then met his eyes. “Thank you, Rivera. For everything. For believing in me when my own husband doesn’t.”

“Call me Lucian,” he said. “And Bianca? You’re worth more than he’ll ever realize. Don’t let his blindness define your value.”

Then he was gone, leaving me alone with cold soup, and signed divorce papers. I waited for Marcus who took the signed papers from me, with a sad look, but thankfully did not bring it up as he left to file it.

I discharged myself an hour later against medical advice, signing the forms that absolved the hospital of responsibility and went home. My head still pounded, and I was exhausted to my bones, but I needed to start packing.

The house was empty when I arrived. No Matthew. No Mia. No Theo.

For the first time in months, the silence felt like a gift instead of an abandonment.

I stood in the foyer and felt peace settle in me. There was no arguments waiting to ambush me.

Just peace. Blessed, perfect peace.

I climbed the stairs to our bedroom, which was my bedroom, technically, since Matthew had been sleeping in his office for months and pulled out my suitcases from the closet.

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Chapter 26

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I started packing my things one after the other, taking only what I’d brought into this marriage or what I’d bought with my own money. My medical textbooks. My mother’s journals.

Everything Matthew had given me, I left behind. I didn’t want anything from him.

On my way out, I grabbed the photo album from the bookshelf in the living room. The one I’d compiled during our first year of marriage, back when I’d still believed we could build something real. Pictures of us at pack gatherings, at Theo’s birth, at holidays and birthdays and all the moments I’d tried to convince myself we were a family.

I carried everything to the backyard, to the fire pit Matthew had installed but never used. The evening air was cool against my skin as I arranged kindling, struck a match, and watched the flames catch.

Then I started feeding it.

The photo album went first. I watched our smiling faces curl and blacken, watched Theo’s baby pictures turn to ash, watched four years of false hope disappear into smoke.

The jewelry followed. Diamond earrings. Pearl necklace. The bracelet he’d given me for our second anniversary with an inscription that read “Forever.” I dropped them into the flames one by one, watching expensive metal twist and gems crack from the heat.

The dresses came next, the silk and satin and designer labels that had never felt like mine. I fed them to the fire and felt lighter with each one that burned.

I was standing there, watching the flames dance and feeling more at peace than I had in months, when I heard tires screeching in the driveway.

The front door slammed open with enough force to shake the house.

“BIANCA!”

Matthew’s voice, raw with fury and something that might have been panic. Footsteps thundered through the house–living room, kitchen, office.

“BIANCA! Where the hell are you?”

I didn’t move. Didn’t call back. Just stood by the fire pit, watching the last of my past life turn to ash.

He found me in the backyard, and the sight of him made something cold settle in my stomach. His face was flushed, his eyes wild, his entire body radiating barely controlled rage.

“What the hell are you doing?” He grabbed my arm roughly, his grip hard enough to bruise. “First the hospital dramatics, now this? Are you trying to burn the house down? Is that your next manipulation? Start a fire and then call me for help so I’ll-”

“I’m burning my things.” My voice was calm, steady, completely at odds with the fury radiating from him.” Things you gave me. Things I don’t want anymore.”

He looked at the fire pit, at the smoldering remains of expensive gifts and carefully curated memories. Something in his expression shifted–confusion, maybe, or the first hints of realization.

“You’re insane,” he said, but it came out uncertain. “You need help. You need to go to the hospital-

“I just came from the hospital, Matthew. You know that. You were there.”

“Well, you’re going back.” His grip tightened, and he started pulling me toward the house. “Now. Get in the car.

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Chapter 29

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We’re leaving.”

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