Filed to story: Rebecca Perry and Vance Bradford Romance Book PDF Free
If not, just go out. I can manage myself. ” He extended his palm, revealing the broken zipper pull. ” Poor quality. I’ll have to tear it. ” With a sharp tear, the dress split down the back, cool air rushing against her skin. She whirled, clutching the torn bodice. ” You can go now. ” He arched a brow, words hovering on his lips, but the doorbell interrupted. The food had arrived. He turned and walked out. Post – shower, Rebecca emerged refreshed, her damp hair towel – wrapped. Her pajamas were loose and comfortable. The suite boasted dual bathrooms.
Vance had finished his own shower and was now seated by the window with the spread of food and wine before him. ” Come join me for a bite, ” he invited. ” Not hungry. ” Coerced into this situation, she opted to scroll through her phone instead. ” I need to talk to you.”
“If it’s the same old drivel, spare me. I know the world doesn’t hand out rich CEOs like candy, and I’m certainly not lucky enough to meet one, especially since the only one I managed to meet is already taken.”
“Not that. ” She paused. Could he have something new to say?
“Check the view – stunning nightscape. ” He downed his wine in one swallow. As she browsed, an email caught her eye. It was the Certificate of Enrollment sent by the school. Now she could resume her visa applications. Absorbed in the details, she missed his words until his voice loomed behind her Why’s that art school emailing you? ” Her hand shook, and her phone fell to the floor. 11 ” Nothing, ” she stammered, snatching it up and locking the screen. ” Just reconnecting with a former teacher who’s back from abroad.” To deflect, she added quickly, ” What did you say earlier?”
“I have something to discuss. Come over, ” he replied, dropping the subject of the email. Relief washed over her. ” Sure, just let me sort my hair. “
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 like a broken record – pointless. No matter how much she debated, she couldn’t change his mind.
It was better to let it go than waste her breath. So, she simply stayed quiet, cradling her glass of water and sipping it slowly. ” Rebecca, ” he said after finishing nearly half his glass, his brow furrowing. ” I know your angle. You’ll say it’s all Cathy’s fault.”
“No, really, ” she protested. ” You’re misreading me entirely.”
“I knew you’d say that. ” He drained the glass. ” But cut her some slack. She went through a lot overseas. Her boyfriend was abusive, leaving her battered enough to end up in the hospital.
She came back with injuries and has a poor relationship with her family. We’re her only source of support. ” He paused, observing her reaction. She nodded. ” Fair point. ” Stunned by her ease, he blinked. ” You’re not upset? ” In her bathrobe, she felt the air in the room was a bit cold. Cradling her warm cup, she found its warmth comforting, ” Why would I be? ” Should she punish herself for their mistakes? She didn’t even mention divorce anymore. It was easier to let things be this way. After all, she was studying abroad soon.
She’d handle it then or simply wait out the two – year separation clause. After the initial surprise, he relaxed. ” Glad you see it. Catherine’s pampered upbringing left her unprepared for suffering. After returning, she’s dealt with so much, so I pay more attention to her. Sure, she can be a bit headstrong and doesn’t always know how to read a situation, but that’s just who she is. Everyone admired her pure innocence and liveliness. Age doesn’t erase that. Core traits endure. ” She popped a grape into her mouth. ” Makes sense.
“He chuckled, a rarity before her, but it was courtesy of Catherine. She couldn’t help but recall a line from a romance novel: [ The young master hasn’t laughed like this in a long time. ]
It suited Vance perfectly. The only twist was that in the novels, the male lead laughed because of the female protagonist, whereas here, it was because of a supporting character.
From Vance’s viewpoint, perhaps Catherine starred as the heroine, relegating Rebecca to a mere side role. ” You’re throwing me off with this attitude, ” Vance said, still chuckling as he poured more wine. ” Let me put it this way don’t worry, everything I have – my house, my wealth, my company is yours rightfully. Just ease up on Catherine ; no more clashes. Deal? I’m working hard to earn all this for us.” Rebecca searched for the meaning behind his long winded speech and tried to decipher it, ” So, you mean your house, car, company, and money are all mine, but your heart belongs to her?”
“I said drop the grudges. Why circle back? ” He frowned. ” You already own so much. Why still the jealousy?”
“Scumbag! ” she thought bitterly, But he was wrong. She truly didn’t intend to dwell on it, just trying to get to the point. Setting her glass down, she picked up the plate of grapes and began eating. ” Solid arrangement. Let’s seal it. Notarize if needed for peace of mind.
“Having money but no husband? That was no different from hitting a jackpot. He had been swirling his wine glass the whole time, and she knew when he did that, he was contemplating, probably strategizing about how to negotiate terms with her. Her words halted him, shock etching his face. ” You really think this is a good idea? No resentment? ” She waved her hand dismissively. ” None. So, when are we going to get it notarized? ” His expression soured. ” That’s unnecessary. ” A pang of disappointment hit her. Verbal promises meant little.
Hopefully, he would remember this when it came time for a divorce. She popped grapes thoughtfully, her eyes darting. There were no signs of displeasure, but Vance was upset. He yanked the plate away. ” Why are you eating so many grapes at night? They’re full of sugar. Aren’t you worried about toothaches? And you said you weren’t hungry. ” Innocent fruit, scapegoated. ” You done? I’m going to brush my teeth, ” she said, grabbing her phone from her lap.
To be honest, what worried her was not how far his affair with Catherine had gone but whether he would discover the secrets stored on her phone. ” What’s so captivating on that device? You’re glued to it all day, ” he said. Now the phone was scapegoated. ” Give it here. ” He set down his wine glass and extended his hand. ” Don’t force my hand. ” She recalled her messages, thinking through each one. Most of the ones related to going abroad had been deleted, while important emails remained untouched.
And to be safe, she had logged out of that email account, so there shouldn’t be any issues. To avoid a pointless tussle, she surrendered it. He scrolled intently, scrutinizing her chats with Desmond, but there was nothing abnormal. ” What’s this? ” he suddenly asked.
