Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford (by Koi Fish) novel Chapter 703

Chapter 703

Back then, Rebecca didn’t know Catherine had secretly taken credit for her volunteer work. She simply couldn’t fathom why Vance would protect Catherine so fiercely.

Seeing Vance blindly defend Catherine with a completely expressionless face, Jenny was angered beyond belief.

She pointed a finger at her own chest and demanded loudly, “Vance, are you seriously kicking us out?”

As he remained silent, her anger grew stronger. “Say something! We’ve known each other so long, and you’re banning me from your restaurant forever because of her?”

Rebecca understood exactly how devastating this was for Jenny. Rebecca had only entered this elite high school as a special dance recruit, whereas Jenny and Vance had been close friends since junior high.

Her roaring finally cracked Vance’s rigid facade. He muttered, “I’m only banning people who treat Catherine like dirt.”

The implication was clear: they could still be friends, but only if they accepted Catherine.

Jenny spun on her heel, throwing a bitter ultimatum over her shoulder. “Vance, it’s either her or me! If she’s in your life, I’m out!”

As she stormed off, Vance scowled, locking his eyes on Rebecca. “What about you? Are you leaving too?”

Without a single shred of hesitation, Rebecca turned and ran after Jenny.

She knew her position all too well. She was merely a girl harboring a secret crush on him–one of many in their school. She didn’t even possess the courage or the right to give him an ultimatum like Jenny did.

Because she had never truly pinned him down in the first place. In fact, their friendship only existed because Jenny was the bridge between them.

After that night, she never set foot in Vance’s restaurant again.

Around that time, she had already begun carving her little pebble, intending to give it to Vance as a graduation gift.

His action surprised everyone.

He continued, “Everyone came out to enjoy a nice weekend, and a misunderstanding involving my staff has completely ruined your dining mood. That’s entirely on me.

“To make it up to everyone, any customer eating at my restaurant tonight will have their meals completely comped for a limited time. Please head on inside and continue enjoying your weekend.”

He stepped aside, clearing the path to his entrance.

The phrase “free food” worked magic. The spectating crowd immediately swarmed into his restaurant, completely losing interest in the drama. The entrance cleared out in seconds.

Catherine remained in place, still burying her tear–streaked face against her coworker’s shoulder, weeping softly.

Vance’s expression didn’t soften. His voice cut through the quiet. “Catherine, I think you’ve misunderstood/I’ve known them for a long time. They’d never do something like that.”