Crossroads

Chapter 25

Dominick wondered in confusion, “Stephanie went missing?”

After she left Reed Villa, she didn’t return to the hotel and suddenly vanished without a trace.

Vincent was also helping to search for Stephanie and couldn’t help but complain, “What on earth is Stephanie up to? She doesn’t even pick up her phone. Is she doing this on purpose to make us search for her?”

Dominick gazed at the slowly setting sun in the sky, his stern face masking his emotions, feeling somewhat irritated.

Scott hurriedly parked the car in front of the hotel and leaned out to shout to Dominick, “Dominick, we’ve found her. She’s at the cemetery…”

Dominick pondered in bewilderment, ‘She’s at the cemetery?”

When Dominick arrived at the cemetery with the others, he immediately recognized the wornan squatting in front of a tombstone in the west section of the graveyard. It was none other than Stephanie herself,

Dominick then approached her with a complex expression and heavy steps

He stood beside Stephanie and scolded her sternly, “Stephanie! What on earth are you trying to do? Are you intentionally making everyone worried, trying to cause a frantic search to satisfy your vanity? Don’t play this trick with me next time, Stephanie. If something happens to the child, you won’t be able to handle the consequences.”

Stephanie suddenly looked up and shouted with resentment, “I know! I know! I’m just a tool for bearing children to your”

When Dominick met Stephanie’s tearful and reddened eyes, his eyebrows furrowed slightly

Afterward, he glanced at the tombstone in front of Stephanie, which bore the name Madison Clark, Dominick then realized that this was the grave of Stephanie’s mother.

As the sun began to set in the west, the sky started to darken. Meanwhile, Dominick and Stephanie just looked at each other in silence, making the already gloomy cemetery seem more cerie

After a long while, Dominick coldly said, “Let’s go back.” His voice was much calmer than before.

Stephanie did not respond to him. She was still squatting in front of the tombstone, unwilling to leave.

Dominick looked down at her frail figure and inexplicably felt annoyed. He scolded her, “Stephanie, what’s the matter with you? Stop acting spoiled and throwing tantrums. I have no patience with women!”

“Come back with me!” He repeated sternly.

“I don’t need you to tell me what to do.” Stephanie kept her head down, her gaze fixed on the photo of her mother on the tombstone, her eyes brimming

with tears.

Dominick was frustrated. “Your mother passed away six years ago. Don’t tell me that just because you returned to Reed Villa today, you’ve become sentimental. I don’thave time to keep an eye on you, Come back with me right now!”

He really didn’t have much patience for women and bent down and simply pulled Stephanie to her feet.

But, for some reason, she was being stubborn today. With her eyes red and swollen, she clung tightly to her mother’s gravestone, refusing to let go.

Stephanie cried out, “I won’t gal I don’t want to! I won’t let you force me. None of you can force me…

Chapter 25

Dominick wondered in confusion, Stephanie went missing?”

After she left Reed Villa, she didn’t return to the hotel and suddenly vanished without a trace.

Vincent was also helping to search for Stephanie and couldn’t help but complain, “What on earth is Stephanie up to? She doesn’t even pick up her phone. Is she doing this on purpose to make us search for her?”

Dominick gazed at the slowly setting sun in the sky, his stern face masking his emotions, feeling somewhat irritated.

Scott hurriedly parked the car in front of the hotel and leaned out to shout to Dominick, “Dominick, we’ve found her. She’s at the cemetery…”

Dominick pondered in bewilderment, “She’s at the cemetery?”

When Dominick arrived at the cemetery with the others, he immediately recognized the woman squatting in front of a tombstone in the west section of the graveyard. It was none other than Stephanie herself.

Dominick then approached her with a complex expression and heavy steps.

Are you intentionally making everyone worried, trying to cause a frantic search to satisfy your vanity? Don’t play this trick with me next time, Stephanie. If something happens

I know! I’m just a tool for

met Stephanie’s tearful and reddened eyes,

front of Stephanie, which bore the name Madison Clark. Dominick then realized that

23 24

began to set in the west, the sky started to darken. Meanwhile, Dominick and Stephanie just looked at

coldly said, “Let’s go back.” His

respond to him. She was still squatting in

and inexplicably felt annoyed. He scolded her, “Stephanie, what’s

me!” He

need you to tell me what to do.” Stephanie kept her head down, her gaze fixed on the photo

with tears.

Don’t tell me that just because you returned to Reed Villa today, you’ve become sentimental. I don’t have time to keep

and bent down

red and

don’t want to! I

Chapter 25

like this, Dominick reproached her angrily, “Stephanie, you are the sole heiress of the Reed family, the wealthiest family in Caetorium, and your mother was the first heiress of the military and political Clark family. Even after your

back furiously, “You

and she instinctively clenched her fists as she

and heart–wrenching memories triggered the pain suppressed deep

glistened in the corners of her eyes, “My

deceased mother, she couldn’t help but let the tears

an affair with my father and became pregnant with his son…” Stephanie’s voice choked up as she looked up at Dominick and shouted as if venting all

that?! Back then, he was just a poor boy. It was because my grandfather, Thomas Clark, appreciated and supported him that he has achieved what he has today. I

he uttered such ungrateful words, she began to hate her

what had

I would be at a disadvantage, so she came forward to help me and accidentally pushed Courtney, who then fell and miscarried. My father blamed my mom for Courtney’s miscarriage and actually sent her to prison. And

the end, my mom

She committed

left the Reeds, she had told herself to endure it all, to be

each other and moved to Havencrest, living a frugal life, Fearing

the years, Stephanie had suffered grievances at Nelson Villa and Reed Villa, but she simply grinned and bore it. However, today, she couldn’t bear it

cold tombstone, her tears rolled down her cheeks and dropped onto it one by

stern

She cried.

family and the suicide of her mother. She even felt responsible for her mother’s

her mother’s suicide in prison, didn’t pursue the issue of Courtney’s miscarriage further, yet

as to marry that despicable Courtney shortly after her mother had been

She utterly despised the

and so transferred to another school in her

12:51 Thu, 20 Jun

Chapter 25

But why?

cheated on me with Claire. Why is it always the Peterson sisters? Why do they have to give me a hard time… Stephanie’s voice choked

vision, she looked up at the sky

Stephanie murmured, “Why….

did they do this to

utterly emotional as she turned to look at Dominick,

a warm and loving home. Why does it have to be so hard?! I’ve always worked hard, giving my all no matter what I do. But why is life so unfair?!” Stephanie cried out in despair, which soon turned into helpless sobbing, “What have I done wrong? Please tell me. What did I do wrong? Why does it have

as he listened to her with her stubborn yet

gradually stopped crying. She turned her head away, no

she grappled with her pain alone. She had been reluctant to share

seeing Gary, Claire, and Courtney, Stephanie

its glow on Stephanie’s delicate shoulders. As Dominick looked at her

口

know what to say as he had

finally managed to squeeze out awkwardly the two words, his tone

your business!” Stephanie snapped, feeling like he

tears from the corners of her eyes, choked