Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford

On the fifth anniversary of Rebecca Perry's marriage to Vance Bradford, his first love returned to the country.

That night, she caught him in the bathroom, murmuring Catherine's name as he pleasured himself.

That was why, for five years, he had never touched her.

"Catherine is back; she's all alone. I'm just helping her as a friend."

"I understand."

"I promised her I'd accompany her to the island for her birthday. I'm just fulfilling it."

"Okay."

"This banquet requires a capable companion, and Catherine is more suitable than you."

"Okay, go ahead."

When she stopped getting angry, stopped shedding tears, and stopped making a fuss, he grew puzzled. "Rebecca, why aren't you angry?"

Of course, she wasn't angry anymore—because she was preparing to leave.

Weary of this stagnant marriage, she had secretly learned a foreign language, taken the proficiency exam, and applied to study abroad.

The day her visa was approved, she presented him with the divorce agreement.

Vance froze. "No joke. How are you gonna survive without me?"

Rebecca turned away, bought a plane ticket, and flew to the European continent, vanishing without a trace.

The next time he saw news of her was in a viral video. Dressed in a flowing red gown, she danced against a foreign sky, igniting the internet with her performance.

He gritted his teeth. "Rebecca, no matter where you hide, I will find you and bring you back!"

The faint sound of running water echoed from the bathroom; Vance Bradford was taking a shower.

It was three in the morning, and he had just returned home.

Rebecca Perry stood at the bathroom door, her heart pounding. There was something she wanted to discuss with him, but she felt nervous, unsure if he would agree once he heard it.

As she pondered how to broach the subject, a strange noise came from inside. She listened closely and realized he was pleasuring himself.

The heavy breaths and muffled groans struck her like hammers, pounding relentlessly at her chest. Bitterness surged through her like a tidal wave, leaving her gasping for air, drowning in agony.

Today marked their fifth wedding anniversary, yet they had never consummated their marriage.

So, this was why. He'd rather take care of himself than touch her.

His breathing grew more frantic, and suddenly, in a moment of intense release, he groaned lowly, "Catherine..."

That name delivered the final, crushing blow. Something inside her shattered into dust.

She clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs and turned to flee, but in her haste, she stumbled, crashing into the sink and tumbling to the floor.

"Rebecca, is that you?" Vance's voice, still ragged from exertion, carried a note of forced composure, though his breathing remained heavy.

"I-I needed the bathroom. I didn't know you were showering," she stammered, desperately grabbing the sink to pull herself up.

But in her panic, she made things worse. Water slicked the floor and countertop, making it impossible to find her footing.

She finally managed