Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford (by Koi Fish) novel Chapter 187

Chapter 187

“Someone wants to buy the matching set,” Rebecca answered steadily. “I’m just showing her what the pair looks like together.”

“Matching set?” His voice rose noticeably. “You’re welcome to sell anything of yours. You do not have permission to touch my things.”

“It’s a couple’s set,” she explained with a small shrug. “The buyer wants both. Without your coat, mine

won’t sell.”

“Rebecca!” His anger flared.

He had been angry far more frequently lately.

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“What’s the problem? You haven’t worn it in years,” she reasoned. “Giving it to someone who will actually use it is just sensible recycling. Don’t worry. I’ll split the proceeds with you.”

He snorted, pushed her gently aside, reached into the closet for fresh clothes, and spoke in a low, dark tone. “Cathy and the others are having a gathering tonight. Despite their repeated attempts to keep me there, I came back to spend the evening with you. And now you…”

He stopped mid-sentence, turned, and walked out to change in the living room. Rebecca heard him on the phone a moment later.

“Hey, Catherine. Where are you guys now? Yes, I’m heading over shortly. Do you need anything? Dessert? What kind? Cheese tea? Which shop? Understood.”

He headed out, and Rebecca returned to her conversation with the buyer. Her fingers, still wrapped in gauze, made typing slow and awkward.

The buyer was local, and the shipping address was the front desk of a hotel.

Rebecca: [No problem. I’ll ship everything tomorrow.]

She finished packing the items scheduled to go out the next day, booked the courier pickup, and then

made a video call to Josette.

Seeing her grandmother safe and settled eased her anxiety. She showered, climbed into bed, and started a movie when her phone lit up with incoming messages.

The number was unknown, but the words were painfully familiar.

[You blocked everyone, including Vance, because you can’t handle reality?]

[In that case, why don’t you just divorce him already? Stop clinging to him like a leech.]

[What can you give Vance besides embarrassment and trouble? Can you even sleep with him? Can you give him children? If you can’t fulfill the most basic duties of a wife, what good are you?]

The phrase “sleep with him” pricked the old wound. Not because he hadn’t touched her in five years.

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That pain had long since scarred over.

Now she felt only relief. A child would have made leaving him infinitely more complicated. What truly stung was the knowledge that he had shared their most private issues with Catherine.

The hurt lasted only a heartbeat before it faded. After all, this wasn’t the first time he had done such things. Before, he had told Aiden about his lack of interest in her.

They could gossip behind her back as much as they liked, but coming at her directly with these messages? She would not accept it.

The texts continued to arrive in rapid succession.

[Guess where we are right now? In the new house Vance bought me! And even more expensive bags and watches. Guess who bought them? This time, you won’t be able to take them from me.]

It was followed by photos of the new house, new bags, the four of them drinking, and a large cake with icing that read: New Home for Cathy.

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