Crossroads

Chapter 26

Stephanie returned to her old high school, and since today was the school’s centennial celebration, the campus

is was very lively.

She excitedly grabbed Dominick’s arm and shared memories of her past. “I used to climb this very tree back then. Sometimes when I missed curfew, I’d climb the tree to jump the wall, but more often it was to hide from people.”

Dominick looked down at Stephanie, whose cheeks were flushed with excitement, and let out a resigned laugh as he let her chatter

on.

Vincent also had followed along and now couldn’t helpingly tease her, “Who were you hiding from? Your admirers?”

Stephanie, not one to be modest, nodded and replied, “Yes, it was quite troublesome.”

Vincent immediately rolled his eyes at her words. “You surely are confident.”

Instead of arguing with him, Stephanie reminisced seriously, “Confidence is something you develop. After my mother passed away back then, I had a fallout with my family. I didn’t want to rely on the Reed family’s money, so I started working part-time jobs. I was clueless at first, constantly getting scolded, and sometimes wrongly accused. But to avoid starving, I had to toughen up and be confident!”

Dominick felt for her at these words.

Stephanie looked up at the locust tree across from the school and started to get lost in her thoughts.

Since her mother’s suicide when she was 17, she had become extremely sensitive. Her first year after breaking off from the Reed family was very tough.

And since Diana was in poor health, Stephanie gave all her scholarships to Diana. She always tried to act tough, but in reality, she had only about 20 dollars left for food for the entire semester.

There were times when Stephanie even went days without eating. Once, unable to bear the hunger any longer, she ate a meal without paying and ran out of the restaurant while being chased by the staff.

She had been the pampered young lady of the Reed family since childhood, so being criticized for dining and dashing was deeply distressing for her. But Stephanie was truly hungry back then and had no other choice.

Stephanie was terrified back then. As she heard the curses and footsteps of those chasing her, she swiftly climbed up an old locust tree on a secluded path, curled up among the leaves, and held her breath in fear.

She didn’t know how long she had been up there. It wasn’t until the sunset painted the street in a dim light that Stephanie cautiously poked her head out to look around.

However, just as Stephanie leaped down from the tree, a man suddenly appeared on her right.

She then landed squarely on him.

The man was casually

g with headphones on when Stephanie suddenly fell from above, knocking him down to the ground.

Instead of cursing at her, he looked utterly bewildered.

Chapter 26

Stephanie didn’t dare to look at his face, thinking he must be furious.

After quickly climbing off the man, instead of apologizing, she wore a fierce expression and angrily scolded him, “Can’t you watch where you’re going? Don’t block my way…”

She actually didn’t know why she was angry, perhaps it was because the man was dressed in expensive clothes, which made her feel resentful as she too had once been a cherished heiress of high society.

Still, Stephanie was scared for her life. After scolding the man, she immediately ran off

Looking back now, she felt like she had been too arrogant at that moment. Fortunately, the man didn’t seek revenge on her.

Stephanie recounted her hardships, Vincent looked

his head, only to notice Dominick was also gazing at the same tree as if reminiscing about

outlet over there. Their milkshakes are famous and delicious,” Stephanie said,

of customers. Stephanie had planned to just grab a milkshake and leave, but the shop’s

plump owner smiled as she handed the menu to Dominick. “Steffi used to work here. She was the star employee here, drawing

but he took the menu

that Dominick had

a coquettish voice rang out from their left. “They have a couple’s combo here, Kevin. Should we

It was indeed Kevin and Claire, and they were with a

ཆ་ཇན་བག་ཞ

to call the waiter, she saw them and paused for a moment. Afterward, she fixed her gaze sharply on Stephanie with

family and didn’t want to be in the same space as Claire and the others. Therefore, she stood

Claire intentionally raised her voice and spoke softly. “Kevin, let’s go. I don’t want to

up with a

two even got a marriage license. Your relationship is out in the open. Unlike some people, hiding behind lies and parading their out-of-wedlock kid around. Come on, if you have no shame, you still got to consider the

11:21 Fri, 21 Jun

Chapter 26

turned pale

his voice and asked, “What are you afraid

Afterward, Vincent casually ordered a table full of desserts and drinks. Even though neither he nor Dominick were fond of sweets, he just wanted to annoy the people across

either, and they also ordered a table full of

Kevin.

scooped a spoonful of ice cream she

women and loathed the overly dramatic types the most. Therefore, as he looked at Claire,

glared at Stephanie across the table. “Do something

refusing to glance in their

tell me you still care about that Kevin. What do you see in him anyway?

just glanced thoughtfully

gaze, lowered her head to take a sip of her milkshake, and didn’t finish

frustrated, thinking. ‘These days Stephanie has been using Dominick to throw her weight around and bully us. But now, when she encounters those two jerks, she

saying, “Stephanie, Courtney became your stepmom at just the age of 20, and now her sister

milkshake tightly and glanced out of the corner of her eye at Claire, who was looking back

suddenly lifted her

at Stephanie, she suddenly leaned forward, wrapped her right hand around his neck, and kissed him on

sitting across from them, was taken aback by

and kissed passionately in the crowded beverage outlet, they

momentarily stunned and could not quite grasp the situation yet. At that moment, he could only feel Stephanie’s inexperienced kiss dancing across his lips as a

them, feeling extremely

密67%嗇

67%歐

Chapter 26

was the kind of man whose looks and background were enough to drive any woman crazy, yet he ended up with

suddenly got flustered and disdainfully pushed

Dominick’s voice was

speak before she saw him angrily stand up

just a

men… Don’t worry, I don’t think Dominick is that upset with you,” Claire from the opposite table said in a seemingly caring tone, though there was a hint of satisfaction in her

start calling him by his first name,” Vincent snapped

“What’s wrong with him?”

Vincent

t was a

to explain to her, “Dominick has never liked physical contact with women since he was young. He only ever had one girlfriend before. And he tends to react strongly