Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford (by Koi Fish) novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169

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“Oh no!” Josette fretted, mortified at losing face in front of Vance and afraid of embarrassing Rebecca.

“It’s fine. We’ll just clean it up.” Vance stood at once.

He fetched wet towels, gently wiping her hands and mouth until everything was neat again. Josette handled the rest of her clothes with napkins.

“I’m so sorry for the trouble,” she apologized.

“No worries at all.” Vance’s eyes softened with genuine emotion. “My grandmother raised me. I wish I could have taken care of her longer.”

Around the corner, two figures slipped past.

“Vance is just soft-hearted,” Aiden muttered. “Rebecca may not be the best wife, but he’s so filial to Josette. I think he’s making up for losing his own grandmother too early.”

“He has always been dutiful,” Catherine agreed, her eyes flashing with resentment. “When I volunteered at the hospital, helping care for his grandmother, he treated her exactly like this. Now he’s treating Rebecca’s grandmother the same way.”

“You are kind too, volunteering to help the elderly,” Aiden praised. “Both of you have good hearts.”

Catherine had already drifted into her own thoughts, emotions swirling behind her eyes.

Vance remained attentive throughout the meal. He cut Josette’s steak, split her oversized pasta, and carefully separated the ice-cream portion of the dessert.

He bustled around, leaving Rebecca with nothing to do. She had wanted to give Josette this new experience, yet he had taken over every task.

Bored, she reached her spoon toward the ice cream, but he blocked it. “You’d better not eat that.”

His gaze flicked to the top of her head. He caught himself, remembering Josette might not know.

Rebecca considered it, then nodded. With the trip so close, she could not risk anything. She switched her spoon to the cake instead.

Vance finished the ice cream himself.

She glared. “I suspect you just wanted it all for yourself and used that as an excuse.”

He gave an innocent look, and she snorted, “You’ve been way more attentive lately. Practice makes perfect, huh?”

She was implying he’d honed it with Catherine. The sarcasm sank in, and his jaw tightened.

“We’ll settle this later,” he said lightly, then turned to Josette. “Grandma, she’s been bullying me nonstop these days.”

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Chapter 169

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Rebecca snorted at his fake playfulness.

The meal ended, and Vance offered to drive them home.

Rebecca helped Josette up, declining, “It’s fine. Go handle your stuff.”

“I have nothing tonight. Come on. It’s hard to find a cab at this hour,” he insisted, taking Josette’s other

arm.

Rebecca relented, and they helped Josette into the back seat.

Vance glanced at her in the rearview mirror, hesitating. In the end, he said nothing, starting the car and driving off.

Half an hour later, they pulled up outside Josette’s courtyard. Vance got out first, then helped them out one after another.

“Thank you. Drive safely,” Rebecca said, reaching to close the gate.

He planted his hand on the gate, his tone bitter. “Not letting me in?”

Josette was still in the yard, so Rebecca kept her tone polite even though her face was cold. “Don’t you have other plans? I don’t want to hold you up.”

She leaned over and whispered, “The deadline is approaching. Sell those gifts and the house quickly. Cash them out.”

He kept his hand on the gate, staring at her with deep meaning. “Remember your rights but forget your duties?”

She paused. What duties?