Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford (by Koi Fish) novel Chapter 285

Chapter 285

It felt like a soft breeze whispering past her ear. By the time Rebecca finally reacted, Vance was already melting into the busy crowd.

“Rebecca!” Desmond called out from the deck.

“Coming!” she answered, relieved.

It seemed Vance had finally gotten it, which meant he wouldn’t keep pushing to take care of her forever.

She boarded with the troupe, and they set sail for the next city.

She didn’t know that Vance hadn’t gone far. He appeared on the third-floor balcony of a waterside hotel, watching her boat gradually drift away.

Catherine stepped up behind him and followed his stare. She murmured, “She’s gone.”

Vance stayed silent.

“You still have us.” She moved closer and stood beside him. “I’m never leaving again. None of us will

ever leave you.”

Boats crisscrossed the harbor every minute. In seconds, the ship mingled with the dozens of identical

ones.

He bowed, giving a bitter chuckle. “Yeah. I should be happy. She finally found her life’s purpose. Isn’t that what I always wanted?”

“Exactly,” she said. “You couldn’t spend the rest of your life with someone you don’t love, could you?”

“The rest of my life?” His eyes drifted far out over the water.

Her gaze darkened for a split second, then she sighed theatrically, “Honestly, Rebecca doesn’t know what is good for her. Any other girl would have been over the moon to have a husband like you-money, luxury, and everything else handed to her. She would have treated you like royalty.” 2

He smiled bitterly, saying nothing.

She frowned for a moment. “Anyway, let her go. You deserve someone who truly loves and cherishes you.”

He turned to look at her, and she smiled up at him.

“Let’s head back,” he said. “I’ve been away from the company for too long. It doesn’t feel right.”

“Oh, sure.” She paused. “I miss Aiden and Lucas anyway.”

He pulled out his phone to book the tickets. “Where are you flying?”

She froze. “Back to Soliaridge with you, of course.”

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Chapter 285

He checked the flight information. “I’m stopping in Arelmoor first.”

“W-What for?”

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“Rebecca started the tour from Arelmoor with the troupe. Josette’s probably still there. I’m going to bring her home.” He selected a flight and looked up. “You heading straight to Soliaridge?”

She fought to keep her expression neutral. “Sure, we’ll wait for you there.”

He confirmed their flights and paid. “You go first so you don’t feel bored. My flight is two hours after yours. We should leave for the airport now.”

“Okay.” Her voice trembled with frustration as her plan was wrecked by Josette once again.

To reach the airport, they had to leave Venice and take a train for an hour and a half to another city.

“I’ll take Josette home, and Rebecca will come running back.” These words kept echoing in Catherine’s

ears the whole ride.

She lost count of how many times he had mentioned Josette and could not remember when he had said

this sentence. But it was burned into her brain.

After thinking for a moment, she unlocked her phone and began sending messages.

[Go to Arelmoor. Find Rebecca’s grandmother. And do these people look familiar?]

II don’t know where she is. You have ten hours to find her.]

Ten minutes later, the reply came: [Ticket booked. Arriving in three hours.]

She heaved a sigh of relief.

Now it was three hours versus ten hours. Who would win?

Rebecca’s journey felt lighter than air, like she’d finally snapped free of invisible chains. And in the next city, she’d meet Kaitlyn.

The tour schedule didn’t actually pass through Kaitlyn’s city, but Rebecca had stayed in touch and arranged a quick get-together.

Rebecca stepped into the hotel lobby and spotted Kaitlyn. Even though they’d only met a handful of times, she recognized Kaitlyn instantly because the latter looked so much like Josette.

Kaitlyn glanced up from her coffee and picked Rebecca out of the group just as fast.

“Becky!” Kaitlyn pulled her into a firm hug. “Look at you-all grown up!”

The last time they met, Rebecca was still a little girl.

They had no show the first night, so everyone rested while the niece and aunt slipped out.

Kaitlyn had long known about Rebecca’s injury, her heart aching even more at Rebecca’s limping.

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Rebecca comforted her; she could tell real concern from fake pity a mile away. Kaitlyn’s worry was the real thing.

They were the two people Josette loved most, so the first thing they did was video-call her to show that they were together.

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