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.

Dominick frowned, but he remained silent,

door and let out a sigh of

the bathroom filled with the sound of

a shower? Does that mean he’s

Stephanie tensed up..

she kept thinking about what she was supposed

lie down immediately and yank the covers

thought that if she was just lying there,

sat up again, her back against the

ten minutes later, Dominick stepped out

to his sculpted chest, and he immediately

me?” he asked, raising

blushed under his intense gaze, knowing

I wait for you?” she thought, but the situation

bed. Stephanie shuffled awkwardly, and then hurriedly spoke up. “Are you, are you going

stood by the

they were truly married,

redder, and she kept her head down, hardly daring to

flushed cheeks and felt a flicker of

Her heart raced as she shuffled to the other

settled next to her and dimmed the lamp. He watched her shuffling toward the edge of the

“Stephanie, if you dare

and hurt our baby..” he warned, his

arm naturally wrapped

waist.

Stephanie couldn’t sleep!

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

from him.

holding her,

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Chapter 22

sleeping yet, Stephanie? You want to do

rushed the company’s projects to return early and hadn’t slept in three days. His voice was hoarse as

to her ear.

Stephanie’s cheeks flushed.

at the man so close to her from the

he seemed less cold and domineering than during the day,

handsome.

his breathing became deep and steady. “Is he asleep?’

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

motives, Stephanie kept her eyes wide open, staying alert to avoid falling

one o’clock in the morning, she finally gave in, her eyelids too

uncomfortable and

floor–to–ceiling windows. The curtains swayed softly in the breeze with a gap left

hummed, but

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

move closer and suddenly

asleep. His eyes, bright as stars, fixed intently on the face before

as he recalled the

couldn’t sleep and just stared at

a wild beast had been

voice suddenly rang

Stephanie’s eyes

then did she notice the morning light