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

799

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, took off his

shut the bathroom door and let out a sigh of

the bathroom filled with the

that

Stephanie tensed up..

about what she was supposed to do

her lie down

that if she was just lying there, especially now that she

up again, her back against the

ten minutes later, Dominick stepped out of the

a light blue robe, loosely tied, water droplets clinging to his sculpted

me?” he

knowing

she thought, but

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

to kick me out?” Dominick stood by the bed, his voice

they were truly

turned even redder, and she kept her head down, hardly daring to kick

felt a flicker of

as she shuffled to the other side of

settled 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

to fall out of bed and hurt our baby..” he warned, his eyes holding a complex

his arm naturally wrapped around

waist.

Stephanie couldn’t sleep!

the contact making her heart flutter and making her want to move

from him.

he was holding her, and she couldn’t

25

20

Chapter 22

you sleeping yet, Stephanie? You want

early and hadn’t slept in three days. His voice was hoarse as

to her ear.

Stephanie’s cheeks flushed.

to her from the corner of

he seemed

handsome.

breathing became deep and steady. “Is he

and his hair tickling her skin. She push him away but was

kept her eyes wide

morning, she finally gave in, her

uncomfortable and

over the spacious bedroom, streaming through the floor–to–ceiling windows. The curtains swayed softly in the breeze with a gap

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

instinctively curling up and

closer and suddenly

His eyes, bright as stars, fixed

as he recalled the past few

couldn’t sleep and just stared at her face all night long, until

vivid. It felt like a wild beast had been watching her intensely, making her feel

An annoyed voice suddenly rang out right

awake, Stephanie’s eyes snapped

did she notice the morning light spilling through