All Chapters of Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford: Chapter 461 - Chapter 470

Rebecca glanced at him and couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Aren't you getting in the car? Planning to stand out here and freeze?""Huh?" Desmond blinked, still processing."Are you really gonna spend Christmas Eve all by yourself?" she teased."No... I... uh... I really..." He paced back and forth before snapping out of it. "Oh, right! Hang on! I need to grab the gift!"He had anticipated this, knowing Gabriel would pick her up for Christmas. He had dreamed about her inviting him along, even getting the perfect gift ready.When he bounced back out, however, he spotted someone else standing by the car. It was none other than Vance, who had been gone for a couple of days.He wondered, "What is this guy doing here? He isn't seriously expecting to tag along, is he? Gabriel would never allow that."Vance had come to deliver a gift for Rebecca. He knew that she wouldn't spend Christmas Eve alone and that he would never be welcome in Gabriel's home, so he had decided to hand it

In the end, Kaitlyn got eased out, and a while later, Gabriel came out as well."Guess I was in the way," he chuckled.He didn't mind testing the young man a bit. The result? In a single afternoon, Desmond put together an absolute feast, including desserts and soup."Is your family in the restaurant business?" Kaitlyn gasped."No. I just love cooking," Desmond replied with a grin."In all my decades, I've never sat down to a dinner this incredible!" Kaitlyn exclaimed.It was probably an exaggeration, but it showed just how impressive the spread was."Thank you, Aunt Kaitlyn," he responded smoothly with a beam.Every time he used that appellation, Rebecca would glance at him. He pretended not to notice, but his ears slowly turned pink.This was the kind of warm family reunion night Rebecca had always dreamed of. As a kid, she had watched holiday commercials on TV—bright colors, smiling faces, laughing families.It always looked so warm. But in her first 20-plus years, she had

Rebecca had brought gifts too—one for everyone at the clinic.After she went in for her therapy session, Robert called out a loud goodbye. In his bright red suit and carrying an empty red sack, he headed out, wishing Desmond a Merry Christmas on his way.Rebecca felt like something was missing. The gentleman who always came with Robert wasn't there—probably taking the holiday off.Outside the clinic, the usual row of cars was mostly gone because of Christmas, but a few still lined the curb.Robert climbed into the passenger seat of one of them. The driver sat stone-faced, staring straight ahead. When Robert got in, the man didn't even react."I saw her arrive with her boyfriend," Robert chuckled. "Good-looking kid—seems really nice and incredibly attentive. You've got no chance, son."The driver's face flushed red with anger.Robert laughed. "Mad? That won't change anything."The man kept his jaw tight. "Are you enjoying this?""What's there to enjoy?" Robert said with a grin.

"If you don't keep your mouth shut, I might just leave your body out in the woods somewhere!" the driver snarled, whipping around.Robert raised an eyebrow. "Toss me wherever you like. I can't control anything while I'm alive. Why would I care what happens after I'm gone?"Desmond drove along in high spirits. They were almost at the park road. One more stretch, and they'd be home.But he suddenly pulled over. "I need to call Gabriel.""Why?" Rebecca blinked, knowing this guy could be sneaky."I booked a restaurant a month ago. I thought... maybe I'd get the chance to take you out for Christmas..."Those big, pleading eyes were back. He reached over and gently tugged her sleeve. "Is that okay?" "Go ahead and call him. See if he'd yell," she said, unable to resist the look.Right in front of her, he asked Gabriel for the rest of the afternoon off.Gabriel wasn't thrilled. "Everything outside is closed. Where can you go?""A few places are still open.""Put Becky on the phone.

Vance didn't want to admit how perfectly they fit together and how well they moved as partners.What hurt most was that Rebecca could still dance, yet the person helping her chase that dream wasn't him. He had been the one who wanted more than anything to see her back on stage. He had been the one willing to lift her at all costs.For five years, he had said countless times, "Rebecca, I want you to be happy more than anyone else does in the world."Whether he said it to her or to himself, in the end, he had chosen the worst possible way. He had thought that giving her a luxurious life, beautiful clothes, and freedom from financial worry meant she was happy.He had never once considered that she wasn't a pet. He had never realized she wanted her own sky to soar high into.Now someone else had lifted her, and she looked so radiant, just like the 16-year-old girl who had done backflips in front of the entire grade to join her class photo. She probably hadn't even known she was the ce