The Transactional Marriage That Imploded novel Chapter 2

2 /10

Bianca’s throat felt tight and scratchy. Forcing herself to bite the bullet, she dialed Mathis's number. His cold, distant voice came through the line. "What is it?"

"My mother is being buried today," Bianca said, her voice dropping low. "Can you come, just for a bit?"

Mathis hesitated for a few seconds before flatly refusing. "I can't. I have an engagement tonight."

Immediately after, Cynthia's bright voice filtered through the background. "Mathis, what time is the drone show tonight?"

Mathis hastily hung up.

Bianca felt her breath hitch, the world spinning violently around her.

Seeing her pale face, Jax quickly steadied her. "Are you feeling sick?"

She had been crying nonstop for days, and Jax knew exactly how deep her bond with her mother had been.

Forcing her trembling body upright, Bianca whispered, "I'm fine. It's nothing."

That very night, Bianca saw the trending news on social media. A spectacular drone show lit up the sky above the Dawnstar Capital headquarters, rumored to be a grand gesture by the CEO, Mathis Jagger, for his girlfriend's birthday.

Watching the thousands of drones form breathtaking images across her phone screen, Bianca felt her heart bleed out completely.

His 'engagement' was celebrating Cynthia's birthday.

Unable to hold back any longer, she broke down into agonizing sobs. She promised herself this would be the absolute last time she ever shed a tear for him.

*Bianca Baldwin, from now on, carve him out of your heart.*

A little while later, another flaunting video from Cynthia chimed in. It didn't just show the drones, but also her lavish birthday party. In the frame, Mathis’s long, elegant fingers were visible as he leaned over to cut the cake.

Bianca gripped her phone so hard her knuckles turned white, the pain in her chest suffocating her.

Before she could even save the photos and video, Cynthia unsent them again.

A string of text followed: [Your mother is dead and he still won't stay by your side; he only wants to celebrate my birthday with me. Bianca, you really are a pathetic failure of a wife.]