All Chapters of Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford: Chapter 281 - Chapter 290

The strains of Butterfly Lovers flowed through the theater. The melody carved so deeply into Rebecca's soul that every cell in her body started to wake up and dance.In her practice clothes for convenience, she took Desmond's extended hand and kicked off her shoes. The instant her bare feet hit the stage boards, some kind of power surged from the soles, igniting all the blood in her body.When he lifted her high into the air, she transformed into a butterfly, dancing in perfect sync with the version of herself from five years ago on the giant screen.The audience erupted in thunderous applause, their warm tolerance enveloping her.Her dancing wasn't the same blistering perfection she'd owned five years ago, but these were people who lived and breathed art.They offered warm encouragement instead of the sharp, cutting words she'd heard too many times: "You can't dance anymore. I've seen it. You're done."The second she and Desmond nailed their final, dazzling pose, the music melte

Rebecca vividly described how the troupe had celebrated her birthday in the theater.Josette's eyes went wide. "Wow, a three-layer cake? You are a fortunate child, surrounded by so much love!""That's right," Rebecca said, her smile glowing from the inside out. "I really am incredibly happy right now."She went on to ask Josette about various aspects of her life, and Josette seemed to be doing well. They chatted for quite some time, sharing stories and laughter.Eventually, Josette considerately reminded her to sleep. Sharp as ever, she had calculated the time difference, knowing it was late where Rebecca was."Okay. Sweet dreams, Grandma," Rebecca said, ending the call.Just like that, her birthday had gone out with fireworks. It had been such a magical night that she was still buzzing with excitement, unable to fall asleep.She had danced on a real stage in front of a real crowd. The scene kept playing in her mind.The troupe had snapped photos of the birthday moment, sending

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 wan

Kaitlyn smelled faintly of a soft perfume that made Rebecca feel safe. Being held like that made her want to cry even harder.This was the motherly hug she'd dreamed about as a little girl but had never once gotten from her own mom. But now, on the cusp of adulthood, she felt it with her aunt.After only a few days, she already hated saying goodbye, but they'd see each other again in just over a month. Gabriel thoughtfully handed out gifts to the entire troupe, introducing himself as Rebecca's cousin and thanking them for looking after her.Helia sidled up and whispered, "Wow, your cousin is generous! The gifts he gave each of us weren't cheap, and he bought for the whole troupe."Rebecca still had no idea what Gabriel did for a living. They'd only met the night before and hadn't conversed much.Kaitlyn had brought him home once years ago, before Rebecca was even born, and it hadn't gone well. After that, she kept him away."Becky, we are heading out," Gabriel said, climbing into

The moment they landed, they went straight to the prison. Rebecca revealed her identity as Soren's daughter and asked to see him.As expected, Soren had already been released on bail."I just got back from overseas," she said frantically. "May I ask who arranged the bail for my dad?"The officer told her it had been done through a lawyer. Soren's family hired one and paid the bail.It didn't make sense. If they were willing to spend the money, Soren would have been out long ago. They hadn't done so or sought a lawyer because they didn't have the funds.It all pointed to one fact. Someone else had footed the bill."I know who it was," she muttered soullessly, sinking on the curb outside."Vance?" Desmond guessed quietly.Rebecca pulled out her phone, stared at the long string of missed calls, and dialed back.Vance answered almost instantly, his voice bright with surprise and joy. "Rebecca, you're back? Why didn't you tell me beforehand? I'd have picked you up. Where are you ri