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.

“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,

“I know! I know! I’m just a tool

met Stephanie’s tearful and reddened eyes, his eyebrows

of Stephanie, which bore the name Madison Clark. Dominick then realized that this was the grave of

23 24 25

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

while, Dominick coldly said, “Let’s go back.” His voice

respond to him. She was still squatting in front of the

scolded her, “Stephanie, what’s the matter with you? Stop acting spoiled and throwing tantrums.

back with me!” He

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

with tears.

passed away six years ago. Don’t tell me that just because you returned to Reed Villa today, you’ve

and bent down

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

don’t want to! I won’t

Chapter 25

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 mother died of illness and Gary

yelled back furiously, “You know nothing, Dominick!

were reddened with tears, and she instinctively clenched her fists as she recalled the past

the pain suppressed deep inside that

in the corners of her eyes, “My mother, Madison, she

she couldn’t help but let the

in the end, that despicable Courtney, she had 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 her anger, “Do you know that Courtney, that hussy, is only three years older than me?! That year, my dad brought home Courtney,

poor boy. It was because my grandfather, Thomas Clark, appreciated and supported him that he has achieved what he has today. I hate him, I hate

respected her father, but after he uttered such ungrateful words, she

recounted what had happened

with Courtney. My mom was afraid that 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

end, my

She

the Reeds, she had told herself to endure

and moved to Havencrest, living a frugal life, Fearing to worry Diana, Stephanie

had suffered grievances at Nelson Villa and Reed Villa, but she simply grinned

her tears rolled down

Stephanie, his face stern and composed,

She cried.

and the suicide of her mother. She even felt

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

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

She utterly despised the

another school in her senior year, and

12:51 Thu, 20 Jun

Chapter 25

But why?

too? He 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 up, her cheeks wet

tears streamed down her cheeks and blurred her vision, she looked up at

Stephanie murmured, “Why….

did they do

she turned to look at Dominick, Indignant and

just wanted 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

he listened to her

stopped crying. She turned her

her pain alone. She had been reluctant to share her personal sorrows with others as they were too painful

upon returning to Reed Villa and seeing Gary, Claire,

on Stephanie’s delicate shoulders. As Dominick looked at

口

what to say as he had never

out awkwardly the two

none of your business!” Stephanie snapped, feeling like he was mocking

the corners of her eyes, choked up, trying to isolate herself