Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford (by Koi Fish) novel Chapter 229

Chapter 229

That evening, they stayed in the freshly cleaned apartment, where a subtle fresh scent lingered everywhere.

To Rebecca, the air in this world felt unprecedentedly crisp and invigorating.

She powered off her phone, stayed with her most cherished person, and slept a full 12 hours without worry.

When she woke up, she felt refreshed and utterly at ease. She reached for her phone and turned it on, discovering several missed calls from Vance, along with messages and a string of question marks: [ What are you doing? Why is your phone off?]

She didn’t reply.

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The AC was set to a comfortable temperature, and the blackout curtains remained drawn. Lying in bed, she recalled that they had already planned breakfast the day before, so she wasn’t in a rush to get up, intending to lounge a bit longer.

But then, Vance intruded again with a video call.

She rejected it, and he messaged: [Why reject my call?]

She replied: [Just woke up. Haven’t freshened up yet.]

He sent another video invite, and she glanced around the room. The bedding here mirrored the style and colors from home.

So, she accepted, holding the phone close to her face. She adjusted the angle so her features filled the

screen.

Thanks to the solid sleep, her cheeks held a soft pink glow.

“We’ve shared a bed for five years,” he said. “I know exactly what you look like when you’ve just woken up and haven’t washed your face.”

She kept her eyes half-closed, staying silent.

“Why did you turn off your phone?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes. “To avoid you bothering me.

He paused. “Rise and shine, piggy.”

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It came out of nowhere. Rebecca knew couples often had quirky nicknames. “Piggy” might be one, but such terms had never been part of her dynamic with Vance.

So, it felt jarringly abrupt, giving her goosebumps.

“I want to sleep more. Hanging up,” she muttered, eager to end the call.

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Chapter 229

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“I was hoping to show you the ocean view,” he sighed. “Never mind. Go back to sleep. I’m having breakfast.”

She promptly ended the call, and he set down his phone.

A voice came from behind him. “So, that’s what you usually call Rebecca? Piggy?”

Catherine carried two coffees over, placing one in front of him.

Vance paused. “Nah. She is sleeping in.”

“I caught a glimpse over your shoulder. She is so lucky,” Catherine said, lowering her gaze. “I’d love to sleep in until I wake up naturally, knowing there’s always someone to get me covered. Unfortunately…”

“Cathy?” Vance noticed.

She shook her head. “Sorry for being a downer. It’s just that recalling my days abroad makes me envious of Rebecca.”

“Remember what I said? We’ll share the joys, and I’ll handle the hardships. I’m serious. Now is the time for us all to enjoy the good life.” He used tongs to add several sugar cubes to her coffee. “No more black coffee from now on. Life will always be sweet going forward.” 1

“Yes!” She looked up, her eyes sparkling with tears, yet she forced a smile-a valiant effort that tugged at the heartstrings. “I saw your video chat with Rebecca. You’ve taken such good care of her, her skin is flawless, unlike mine.”

She touched her face with a bitter smile.

“Cathy!” Vance said. “You’re the most beautiful, no matter the circumstances.”

“Don’t try to flatter me.” She laughed it off. “Anyway, she seemed a bit distant. Is she upset? About me dragging you on this trip?”

“It’s not about you,” he replied. “She is just grumpy from being woken up. My fault for disturbing her sleep.”

“Oh, is that it?” She took a sip of her coffee. “I thought it might be me. I truly don’t want to be the reason you two argue.”

“It won’t come to that.” He sipped his own coffee. “Rebecca is reasonable at heart. She throws the occasional little fit, but it’s because of me. A bit of coaxing back home will sort it out.”

“Really? Even after that day when you had the kidnappers release me first, she wasn’t angry?” She brought up the incident again.

Vance’s mind flashed back to that moment, his hand trembling slightly on the coffee cup.

He steadied himself quickly. “We resolved it once we got home. We even had dinner together yesterday. She must have turned her frustration into appetite, finishing three burgers.”

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