Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford Novel - Chapter 334

Chapter 334 Once they reached the heart of the crowd, the energy shifted fast. Vance's company was a rising star without deep roots, but tech rewarded speed and youth. Bradford Tech was a true leader in the industry, its core business aligning with what Rossi Enterprises needed in a local partner. So, an unspoken consensus seemed to have formed at the banquet: Bradford Tech would stand out. People swarmed them with warm handshakes and bright smiles. The group splintered quickly. Aiden and Lucas peeled off to talk shop with some male guests. Catherine attached herself to a group of women.

Rebecca, Gabriel, Isabelle, and Sonia stayed together. "Who is that guy? Why is he hanging with the ladies?" someone asked Catherine, eyeing Gabriel. No one expected Catherine to have acquaintances at an event of this caliber. She flicked a dismissive glance at Gabriel and sniffed. "Some nobody, riding a woman's invitation to get in. Nothing but a pretty face." Her voice carried just far enough, and a burst of laughter rippled through the group. In rooms like this, that was never a compliment. It usually meant decorative.

Gabriel heard every syllable, but he only lifted his wine glass and smiled faintly. He looked a bit too bookish and civilized in his attire, giving off a completely different vibe from the man in the basement. Someone had asked why he wore glasses when his vision was perfect. He'd answered, "To look civilized, obviously." They had brushed it off as a joke, never knowing it was the truth. When he was younger, he had been all sharp edges and barely leashed violence. The glasses were camouflage-something to blunt the ferocity inside him and hide the murderous glint in his eyes.

Now he was older and more controlled. But the habit remained. In a country ruled by law, it was better to look civilized. Rebecca was ready to leap to his defense, but he just shook his head. The game was just getting started. Nothing beat a public slap delivered at the absolute peak of smugness. Isabelle couldn't stand such behavior, but in the middle of the crowd, a shouting match would only backfire. She leaned toward Rebecca. "She just has a cheap mouth." The message was clear. They should just ignore Catherine and her taunt. "Don't worry," Rebecca murmured.

"He is fine." Isabelle nodded, then glanced at Sonia. "Honestly..." She caught herself, given the public occasion, and sighed instead. "We should grab coffee sometime. Just us." Sonia nodded quietly, maintaining her smile. Isabelle scrolled through her phone, then turned to Rebecca. "Hey, we're not even friends on here yet. Come on, add me." Rebecca nodded. "Sure." The second they connected, Isabelle sent over a string of screenshots, then muttered under her breath, " You know, I tolerate no indecency. Anyway, Catherine is trying to flirt with everyone.