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.

struggled. “Put me

on your own?” Dominick repeated through

was thoroughly provoked, and he abruptly

set her down besides the rusting stair railing

and watched her

His voice was a cold command. “Start walking, Stephanie,

she felt a

back at him, bit her lip, and took a step. She wouldn’t let him look down on her, and she would

her right ankle, already twisted, was swollen now from walking down

floor.

right leg buckled.

staircase

up!” Dominick barked. “I

Show me you can

Instead, he continued to urge

eyes began to moisten as she

down, completely losing the strength to rise

her hands clutching the stair railing

desperately wanted to steel herself

was

up, the words

eyes narrowed. “What was that? Louder!”

Stephanie lifted her head, meeting his gaze. Her eyes

her eyes, unexpectedly feeling

behave yourself, he warned coldly, taking a step forward and

though her body tensed up as he

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

difficult

“Mr. Wellington.”

Thu, 20 Jun

Chapter 21

apartment, the driver was about to go upstairs to look for Stephanie but was shocked

the door,” Dominick commanded

into the car, looking

over to buckle her seatbelt, their bodies pressed close together, Stephanie

immediately looked up, sternly

daring not to

called her by her name, her face

slammed

lips at his

leaving Dominick standing there,

violent when you

smile. He just saw Dominick carrying

photo?” Dominick ignored

joke further and spoke honestly. “No

looked down at the smartphone screen

screen, from a particular angle, a photo showed a man and a

surveillance camera above the apartment building. “This caught

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