Crossroads

Chapter 22

Stephanie snatched her smartphone from the nightstand, a flicker of surprise on her lace when she saw the caller.

She pressed the answer button and called out with a relaxed tone. “Auntie Diana,” she smiled, greeting cheerfully.

“Steff, you sound happy today. Did Kevin come home early for dinner?” Diana teased from the other end as she heard Stephanie’s voice.

Stephanie’s face fell instantly. She wondered if she should tell Diana what was happening lately.

Diana, meanwhile, grew more excited and quickly added, “Steffi, I met a fortune teller today. She said you’ve made a good match and won’t have to suffer in the future….

“I know it sounds superstitious, but it puts my mind at ease. Since I took you away from the Reeds, it’s been hard for you. You even wanted to use your mom’s legacy to help Kevin, Honestly, I was against it then, but as long as you’re happy and doing well, I think your mom would be happy for you…”

“I’m not happy… Stephanie thought.

Diana’s mention of her mother brought a rush of emotion, and Stephanie’s eyes stung with tears.

“Steffi? Is something wrong?” Diana sensed the silence on the other end of the phone and asked with concern.

“No, nothing” Stephanie forced a smile and quickly made up a lie. “Just a bit of a cold recently”

Considering her aunt’s heart condition, she didn’t intend to share the news of her divorce and pregnancy just yet.

Then, Stephanie quickly changed the subject, asking “Aunt Diana, is the sanatorium trying a new medication? Does that mean you can’t come home this Christmas?”

“I’ve heard about a medication from abroad that might help. I don’t know how much this treatment will cost, but Steffi, you shouldn’t worry about me. I’m used to it all and don’t want to be a burden to you.”

“How can you be a burden? You’re the only family I have left, Aunt Diana. Please don’t leave me alone,” Stephanie said, becoming a bit emotional as memories of the past surged.

ed for a moment before asking in a low voice, “Steffi, do you really never plan to go back to the Reeds?

Diana paused for a

“I’ve cut ties with them for many years now. No one knows about me, and I don’t care about it either.”

Diana’s expression became a mix of resignation and helplessness as she heard this.

“Forget it. Let’s leave that behind us. No more talk of the Roods.”

Then, she smiled slyly and added, “By the way, Steffi, I ran into someone you know at the doctor’s. Guess who…”

Suddenly, the door opened with a click.

Stephanie lifted her head alertly, her eyes darting to the door. She hadn’t even heard the rest of Diana’s sentence.

Dominick walked in, casting a suspicious look her way.

“Steffi, what’s going on?” Diana’s voice came loudly through the phone, sensing something off about her today.

“Aunt Diana, my phone’s dying. We can talk when you’re back, Goodbye, got some rest,” Stephanie said quickly, her face tense as she eyed the man

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Chapter 22

before her, and then she hung up.

After ending the call, she sat up straight, looking nervously at the man in front of her.

he remained silent, took off his jacket, and

the bathroom door and let out

filled with

taking a shower? Does that

Stephanie tensed up..

kept thinking about what she was

down immediately and yank the

if she was just lying there, especially now that she

sat up again, her back against the headboard, her eyes anxiously fixed on the

ten minutes later, Dominick stepped

light blue robe, loosely tied, water droplets clinging to his sculpted chest, and he immediately looked at the bed as soon as he

waiting for me?” he asked, raising

under his intense gaze, knowing she had given the

she thought, but the situation seemed like she had

he strode towards the bed. Stephanie shuffled awkwardly, and then hurriedly spoke up. “Are you, are you

out?” Dominick stood by the bed,

were truly married,

she kept her head down, hardly daring to

her flushed cheeks and felt a flicker of something unexpected. “Move

she shuffled to

next to her and dimmed the lamp. He watched her shuffling toward the edge of the bed as if he were a dangerous

“Stephanie, if you dare

out of bed and hurt our baby..” he warned, his

arm naturally wrapped around

waist.

Stephanie couldn’t sleep!

their skin lightly touching, the contact making her heart flutter and making her want to move

from him.

he was holding her, and she

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Chapter 22

sleeping yet, Stephanie? You want to do

had rushed the company’s projects to return early and hadn’t

to her ear.

Stephanie’s cheeks flushed.

close to her from the corner

seemed less cold

handsome.

and

head rested in the crook of her neck. She could feel his warm breath and his hair tickling her skin.

he might have ulterior motives, Stephanie kept her eyes wide open,

one o’clock in the morning, she finally gave in, her eyelids too heavy to stay open any

was uncomfortable and wanted

streaming through the floor–to–ceiling windows. The curtains swayed

early December, and Christmas was just days away. The heater hummed, but the night

slightly, her body instinctively curling up and moving closer to the warm body beside

felt her move closer and suddenly

His eyes, bright as stars, fixed

as he recalled the

and just stared at her face all night long, until

dreams strange and vivid. It felt like a

An annoyed voice suddenly rang out right by her

awake, Stephanie’s eyes snapped

morning light spilling through the window.