Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford (by Koi Fish) novel Chapter 222

Chapter 222

Rebecca answered the call, noting the background chatter that suggested Vance was stepping out of a meeting.

“I saw the ticket. Tomorrow afternoon to Denver, right?” he said.

“Yeah,” she confirmed, weaving in details to make it sound seamless. “We’ll stay overnight in Denver, then rent a car for a self-drive adventure through the state.”

“Cool,” he replied easily. “Oh, and pull me off your blacklist. It’s a pain not being able to send you anything properly.”

“Alright.” She nodded, realizing he’d been limited to calls and texts.

In the background, someone teased him as they passed. “Whoa, who has the guts to block our great CEO?”

Vance’s laughter filtered through the line. “Mr. Osborne, you’ve got me there. I accidentally ticked off the wife.”

That name was unfamiliar to Rebecca.

Russell Osborne let out a hearty guffaw. “Makes sense. Only Mrs. Bradford can knock you down a peg.”

“Alright, Rebecca. We’ll hash out the details when I’m home,” Vance said, wrapping up. “The client’s waiting.”

Rebecca turned her thoughts to packing. This time, she aimed for minimalism; fewer items meant less chance of raising suspicions.

A simple carry-on bag would suffice. She could restock once in Arelmoor.

Her next task was drafting the divorce agreement and a farewell note for Vance. The agreement proved straightforward; with eight figures in her savings, she had no intention of demanding more from him.

Among the assets, five properties in Soliaridge bore her name, including their current home. She decided to claim four, leaving him the one they shared.

Its security code matched Catherine’s birthday, and the decor echoed her preferences entirely. Despite living there for five years, it held no appeal for Rebecca anymore.

She also held company shares but wanted no ongoing ties to his business. A clean severance meant cashing them out and moving on without entanglement.

That covered everything. The note to him, however, required careful consideration. Should she pour out resentment, cataloging his betrayals in exhaustive detail?

Ultimately, she chose restraint. Dwelling on grievances would only reopen her wounds, stirring emotions she’d rather leave behind.

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Chapter 322

+25 Bonus

While an amicable parting felt almost too gracious after all she’d endured, she viewed it as an act of kindness toward herself.

Her words were brief and measured: [After five years of marriage, love and hate have both run dry. Look over the divorce agreement. If anything doesn’t sit right, message me, though I believe I’ve been more than fair. Let’s not drag this out. I wish you smooth sailing, blooming success, and a life full of light.] +

As she penned the final line, memories flooded back: that teenage boy in his school uniform beneath the blooming osmanthus tree, petals shimmering like a galaxy of stars.

A pang of sorrow stung her nose. This was goodbye. Perhaps she’d only ever loved the magic of those osmanthus and that moonlit night.

She placed the pen down, slipping both the agreement and note into the left drawer of his desk. If he discovered them independently, fine. Otherwise, she’d notify him once safely en route to Europe.

With those matters settled, she grabbed lunch. As afternoon visiting hours approached, she headed to the hospital to see Nancy, who remained admitted for her serious injury.

It would take a few more days for her to heal. In fact, Nancy had intuited some of Rebecca’s intentions, but Rebecca felt compelled to offer a genuine farewell.

Initially, she’d envisioned hiring Nancy to care for Josette post-discharge, but with plans evolving to include Josette’s relocation, that option had vanished.

Nancy’s face brightened at the sight of her, though guilt quickly followed for imposing on Rebecca. After all, Rebecca’s mobility was limited.

“Madam, you don’t need to come by. I’m managing just fine here,” she said, gesturing to the caregiver attending her.

Rebecca smiled warmly. “This is actually my final visit.”

“Does that mean… you’re not returning?” Nancy asked, her suspicions confirmed.

Rebecca paused, choosing her words. “I’m uncertain about the future, but even if I ever come back, it’ll likely be brief, just for loose ends, I doubt I’ll settle here long-term. I’m sorry, Nancy. I’d planned to line up steady work for you, but circumstances changed. Any ideas on what you’ll do next?”

“Don’t fret over me. I’ll land on my feet with another job,” Nancy assured her with a gentle smile. “You’ve been incredibly kind these years.”

Rebecca proceeded to settle Nancy’s outstanding wages, tacking on an additional six months’ worth.

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