Crossroads

Chapter 24

Stephanie felt inexplicably downcast.

When she woke up the next day, she felt groggy and sluggish, and she didn’t get out of bed until 10 o’clock, completely forgetting about the card game.

“Where is Dominick After waking up, she realized he was nowhere to be seen.

Just as she stepped out of the hotel suite, she bumped into Vincent. He was still holding a grudge against her for tricking him the previous night, so he said coldly. “You can go back to Reed Villa by yourself. He’s not going with you,

“Dominick went to the cemetery. Today is Jessica’s death anniversary.”

Dominick was supposed to accompany Stephanie back to Reed Villa, but when she heard that he was going to pay respects to his deceased ex–girlfriend today, Stephanie couldn’t help but think that he must have truly loved that woman.

The storm in Caelorium had finally stopped, yet she hesitated when she arrived at the hotel lobby,

She didn’t want to go back to Reed Villa.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from the hotel entrance. It was an elderly voice filled with excitement. “Steffi…”

Stephanie’s expression flickered with disbelief as she quickly walked over, and her voice suddenly choked up with emotion as she said, “Grandma.”

“Steffi, it really is you. You’ve really come back! Where have you been all these years? Why didn’t you come back to visit us? Do you know how worried I’ve been?” said the elegant and dignified Samantha Reed with concern and frustration in her voice, her eyes brimmed with tears.

At that, Stephanie felt a pang in her heart and immediately embraced the elderly woman in front of her.

She hadn’t expected her grandmother to come to the hotel to pick her up personally, it had been six years since they last saw each other, and Stephanie currently felt both guilty and conflicted,

“Mr. George Wellington from Havencrest called us a few days ago,” Samantha said, her face lighting up with joy as she took Stephanie’s hand and led har into the car. “I watched you grow up from a child, so I know you very well. If I hadn’t come to fetch you myself today, you would have sneaked away. Now that you’re back, you are not allowed to run off again, okay?

“By the way, where is Mr. Wellington?” Samantha asked as she excitedly looked around.

After getting into the car with Samantha and hearing the question, Stephanie looked conflicted. “He’s busy with some important matters today.”

“That’s understandable, as the sole heir of the third generation of the Wellington family, he surely has a lot to do,” Samantha said, her face still beaming with excitement. “Steffi, I heard you’ve already gotten a marriage license with him. You’ve really done well to become part of the Wellington family. I’m so happy for you.”

Stephanie’s expression stiffened at her words. She felt as if this family reunion had suddenly taken an unpleasant turn.

Meanwhile, the car smoothly headed toward Reed Villa. Along the way, Samantha excitedly asked Stephanie many questions about the Wellington family but nothing about how she had been over the years.

This realization then darkened Stephanie’s expression. Just as they reached the entrance to Reed Villa, she could hear the excited chatter from inside the

villa.

“It’s been so many years since we last met. Oh my, you’ve lost so much weight. Samantha said we were expecting an important quest today, but I had no idea it was you, why didn’t you let me know beforehand?”

12:50 Thu, 20 Jun Me

Chapter 24

for him to try, to thank him for the

right now. We’re family. There’s no need to be

the villa was filled with laughter

stood frozen at the entrance

wanted to

stepmother anymore, Samantha said, seemingly having sensed her

in.”

a servant announced, “Mrs. Samantha Reed

Claire ran over to the door, eagerly saying, “Samantha,

saw Stephanie next to Samantha, her smile froze and

more shocked than Claire, almost reflexively ran over. He stared at Stephanie

him, Stephanie

the first to ask,

Stephanie spat out the word through

to reality. Upon seeing Samantha and Stephanie arm in

Stephanie, while Claire

be upset with your father, okay?” Courtney Peterson spoke with a concerned expression and gentle tone. She seemed to be begging for forgiveness, but she also implied that Stephanie had been stubborn and unwilling to return

years

she instructed Courtney, “Go call Gary down. He’s always busy with work and forgets

she led Stephanie toward the living

then suppressed her irritation and chatted with Samantha. Just then, a little girl suddenly

with a smile. Stephanie, however, just remained silent with a grim expression. She then caught sight of the little girl cuddling up to Kevin’s legs across the Eving room as Claire affectionately stroked the

and Claire then affectionately leaned on Kevin’s shoulder, looking really shy. He, however, looked

Thu, 20 Jun

Chapter 24

expression, Stephanie turned her head away,

asked, “Steffi, Kevin and

she didn’t

“Grandma, I need to go

to stand the oppressive atmosphere any longer. She quickly stood up

respond.

without responding to

closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She despised the Reed family and

and saw that the

memories

behind, his voice filled with shock as he asked,

Reed’s daughter, the only heir of Caelorium’s wealthiest family. But she

however, ignored Kevin and didn’t even

front, stared intently at her, and questioned accusatorily, “Why

does it make, Kevin? Since you’re so grateful to Claire’s brother–in–law for helping you,

on purpose!” Kevin suddenly became agitated and

did it on purpose?” Stephanie asked as she shook off his grip and suddenly burst into mocking laughter. “You cheated on me with my stepmother’s sister, and now you’re questioning me,

rai

his mother had told him not to divorce Stephanie back then. He pondered, ‘Turns out it is because

you two doing?!” Suddenly, a stern and sharp voice came from the second–floor study window. Gary looked at them sharply and ordered Stephanie,