Crossroads

Chapter 21

Dominick didn’t do anything inappropriate towards her. He simply took some gauze and hydrogen peroxide from the medical kit to dress her wound.

The wound was somewhat deep, and as the hydrogen peroxide touched the cut, Stephanie couldn’t help but frown. Dominick glanced at her, still wearing a cold expression and saying nothing, but his movements became much gentler. After he finished, Dominick turned to tidy up the medical kit while Stephanie quickly slipped her shirt back on.

When Dominick turned back to look at her, she had already put on her jacket and was nervously meeting his gaze.

“Thank you,” Stephanie said awkwardly,

Dominick didn’t respond. Instead, he looked at her intently for a moment as if pandering something.

“Let’s go back.” He suddenly spoke up and strode toward the door.

However, Stephanie didn’t follow up immediately. When Dominick reached the door, he turned back to look at her with some displeasure, saying again, “Back to Wellington Villa.”

Stephanie sat in the wooden chair, biting her lip. “I need to wait for my aunt to come back. I have something to talk with her about,” she explained, hesitant to leave.

“Your aunt’s still in the sanatorium on a new medication. She can’t come home just yet, Dominick said flatly.

Stephanie was taken aback by the fact that he even knew about this.

With no excuses left, she lowered her gaze to her ankle, bit her lip, and braced herself to stand up. Then, she walked towards him with small steps.

Dominick seemed preoccupied with something else and barely paid attention to her as she followed him.

They walked out, one in front of the other…

The old apartment building had no elevator, forcing Stephanie to tackle five flights of stairs.

Each step sent a jolt of pain through her ankle, making her wince and pale slightly.

Dominick, naturally fast with his long legs, was already out of the building when he turned around and realized Stephanie was not in sight.

His brow furrowed as he stood impatiently, looking up toward the stairs.

Just as Dominick looked up, his usually stern face softened in surprise.

He frowned and took the stairs two at a time, finding her sitting on a step on the second floor.

“What’s this? Lost your tongue? Couldn’t you say your foot was injured?” he shouted, clearly angry.

Stephanie was already throbbing with pain, and his shout only fueled her grievance.

She couldn’t understand why he was yelling at her. “It is none of your business!” she retorted.

Dominick’s face darkened with anger.

12:49 Thu, 20 Jun M

Chapter 21

His patience was wearing thin, He watched her stubborn defiance and quickly bent down to scoop her up.

instinctively struggled. “Put me down, I can walk on

own?” Dominick repeated through clenched teeth, staring

was thoroughly provoked, and he

Dominick set her down besides the

stood, arms crossed, and watched her like

voice was a cold command. “Start

felt a little frightened,

a step. She wouldn’t let him look down on her, and she would do anything to

her right ankle, already twisted, was swollen

floor.

her right leg buckled. She pitched

a cry, Stephanie’s knees hit the floor. She quickly grabbed the staircase railing, saving

barked. “I said

Show me you can

intention of helping, Instead, he continued to urge her on

began to moisten

squatted down, completely losing the strength

her head, her hands clutching

desperately wanted to steel herself to

pain was

sorry…” She choked up, the

eyes narrowed. “What was that? Louder!” His harsh voice

his gaze. Her eyes held a stubborn defiance, yet

into her eyes, unexpectedly feeling a twinge of

coldly, taking a step forward and scooping her

though her body tensed up as he carried

Nestled in his embrace, she didn’t dare to move. She could feel his strong heartbeat

was truly difficult to

“Mr. Wellington.”

20

Chapter 21

the apartment, the driver was about to go upstairs to look

commanded in a

stuffed into the

their bodies pressed close

immediately looked up, sternly calling

stiffened, daring not to

reason, when Dominick called her by

forcefully slammed the car door shut. His

at his words, not daring

leaving Dominick standing there, watching the fading car lights with a thoughtful

you didn’t get violent when you busted those cheaters,

Dominick carrying a woman down and wondered

the photo?” Dominick ignored his teasing and asked

dare joke further and spoke honestly. “No MMS from the satellite card

spoke, he looked down at the

from a particular angle, a photo showed a man and a woman seemingly wrapped in an intimate embrace,

above the apartment building.

hugging like in the photo.” He turned to Dominick with a sly grin.. “Because Kevin was carried out of