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.

do?! Are you intentionally making everyone worried, trying to cause a frantic search

“I know! I know! I’m just a tool

and reddened eyes, his eyebrows

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

23 24 25

Meanwhile, Dominick and Stephanie just looked at each other in silence, making the already gloomy cemetery

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

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

down at her frail figure and inexplicably felt annoyed. He scolded her, “Stephanie, what’s

me!” He

head down, her gaze fixed on the photo of her mother

with tears.

years ago. Don’t tell me that just because you returned to Reed Villa today, you’ve become sentimental. I don’t have time to keep an eye on you. Come back with me

women and bent

stubborn today. With her eyes red and swollen, she clung tightly to her mother’s

I

Chapter 25

seeing her 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 mother died of illness and Gary remarried, you are still more fortunate than many others out there. Don’t wallow in self pity here. You have no right to

profoundly hurt by his words and yelled back furiously, “You know

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

heart–wrenching memories triggered the pain suppressed deep inside

in the corners of her eyes,

remembered her deceased mother, she couldn’t help but let

the mountainous area. My mother kindly funded their university education in the city. But 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, who was pregnant at

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

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

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

the end, my mom

mom died… She committed suicide

tears anymore. Ever since she left the Reeds,

she and her aunt Diana depended on each other and moved to Havencrest, living a frugal life, Fearing to worry Diana, Stephanie endured everything on

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

the cold tombstone, her tears rolled down her cheeks

looked intently at Stephanie, his face stern and composed, and

She cried.

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

issue of Courtney’s miscarriage further, yet he still

as to marry that despicable Courtney shortly after her mother

She utterly despised the

Reed family, and so transferred to another school

12:51 Thu, 20 Jun

Chapter 25

But why?

Why is it always the Peterson sisters? Why do

streamed down her cheeks and blurred her vision, she looked

Stephanie murmured, “Why….

did they do this

as she turned to look

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

he listened to her

crying. She turned her

pain alone. She had been reluctant to share her personal sorrows with

Reed Villa and seeing Gary, Claire, and Courtney, Stephanie had

desolate cemetery, the setting sun cast its glow on Stephanie’s delicate shoulders. As Dominick looked at her frail

口

know what to say as he had never known how to comfort someone, especially

awkwardly the two words, his tone cold and distant,

Stephanie snapped, feeling like he was mocking

away the tears from the corners of her eyes, choked up, trying to isolate herself behind a façade of