Lahat ng Kabanata ng Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford: Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

All night long, the same tiresome arguments had circled endlessly, with Catherine's every word and sentence branding Rebecca as an utter embarrassment, until Rebecca had finally reached her breaking point."Alright, if you want to avoid embarrassment, stay away from me," she said. "I'm on the edge right now. Who knows what unpredictable things I might say or do? In your eyes, I'm already a complete disgrace, so why should I fear making it even worse?"She deliberately embraced a reckless, devil-may-care demeanor, wishing these intrusive people would simply back off and spare her the mounting irritation.Yet Vance remained rooted in place, unmoved. The other two lingered as well, settling into seats around her.Desmond returned carrying a glass of juice, his eyes scanning the trio before he let out a bemused chuckle. With no vacant spots left near Rebecca, he handed her the drink and chose a chair a short distance away.Catherine then launched into an effusive monologue extolling t

Catherine froze, darting a bewildered glance at Vance, as if asking, "Why is Mrs. Mueller being so nice to Rebecca?"Vance was equally puzzled, unaware of any connection between Rebecca and the Muellers.Joyce shot Sean a mildly reproachful look. "Honestly, have you forgotten our son's lifesaver?"Recognition finally flickered across Sean's face. "Ah, yes—the girl from the dance academy, right? Blame my poor memory."Catherine and Vance were even more confused. How did Rebecca become the lifesaver of the Mueller family's eldest son?The young woman, who had walked in with Joyce, extended her hand to Rebecca with a friendly smile. "I'm Tracy. It's nice to meet you, Rebecca."Rebecca regarded Tracy for a moment, her mind flashing back to Catherine's earlier boasts. Her lips curled with quiet amusement.Catherine's face flushed crimson and eventually turned ashen with embarrassment.Adding insult to injury, Desmond chuckled, "Tracy, you need to step into the public eye more often.

Hadn't Vance left with his crew? Why was he still here?He remained in his tuxedo, blending seamlessly among the elite crowd, though his hair was slightly disheveled now.He stood motionless on the lowest step, as if patiently awaiting Rebecca's descent."Shall we take this side path instead?" Desmond suggested, noticing her hesitation.Rebecca nodded in agreement.But just as they veered away, Vance bounded up the steps, blocking her path with deliberate calm."You see me now, yet you're still planning to leave with someone else?" His voice was steady, but his eyes held an inscrutable intensity.The night's events had clearly shaken him deeply. If resentment brewed, he'd likely direct it at her, as he always did.Rebecca offered a wry smile. "Didn't you want me to pretend I don't know you?""When did I ever say that?" he countered sharply.She found the back-and-forth exhausting. Pointless accusations without proof could loop endlessly."Excuse me, Mr. Bradford," she murmur

"Wait! Aren't you supposed to be with Catherine?" Rebecca scanned the suite, utterly baffled by his intentions.Vance let out a frustrated chuckle. "I never pegged you for being this accommodating. Had I known, I might've entangled myself with a dozen more over these five years."Rebecca slipped off her shoes, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as she shrugged indifferently. "It's never too late to start."Once she'd resolved to let go of love, no inner turmoil could sway her. She'd endure and move on.Vance's brow creased as he watched her silhouette against the floor-to-ceiling window, elegant in her gown. "You don't actually believe you've won over Desmond, do you?""Some minds are so tainted that they see corruption everywhere," she snorted."The elite world is more cutthroat than you imagine. It's no fairy tale where CEOs tumble from the heavens in endless romance. It's all transactions, pure and simple." He joined her at the window, their reflections gazing out ove

Back in the bathroom, Rebecca swiftly switched email accounts on her phone for safety.She unwrapped her towel, combing through her semi-dry locks before returning. In mere minutes, Vance had drained another glass. The bottle was now half-empty."I'll keep it moderate—no drunken repeats," he said, justifying the lapse. "Too much stress lately. Need to unwind a bit.""Oh," she responded flatly.She had once risked her life to save him, but now the debt was cleared. She'd honor his choices without interference.He gestured toward the plate. "Their steaks are good. Eat it while it's hot."She declined, "I've had enough tonight. Can't manage more."He offered a rueful smile. "You certainly enjoyed your evening."She nodded. "It was indeed enjoyable."Refilling his glass, he shook his head and sighed, "Impressive. You thrive while my deals crumble one by one."She was tempted to retort, "Is it because of me that they failed? Don't you know how it happened?"But this argument felt