Crossroads

Chapter 43

Dominick’s face darkened with each passing second.

Then, without another word, he turned and strode off.

Stephanie watched him leave, her expression filled with confusion.

She couldn’t understand what had upset him, only that he seemed deeply angry.

“What is he angry about?‘ Stephanie murmured under her breath.

She began to follow him, then remembered his recent issues with Jessica and stopped, her heart heavy. “Never mind!” she thought.

Dominick, indeed furious, walked briskly as he pulled out his phone and said in an icy tone, “Send me the WhatsApp passwords for the artists under your company…”

Vincent, on the other end, could tell Dominick was in no mood for excuses, and hesitated before replying, “Dominick, why do you need those WhatsApp passwords? That doesn’t sound right…” After all, it was about privacy.

“Then I will find someone to hack them,” Dominick retorted sharply.

Hearing this, Vincent immediately tensed up. “Has something happened?”

“Send me Courtney’s WhatsApp password…” Dominick’s tone was laced with impatience.

Upon hearing Courtney’s name, Vincent narrowed his eyes, lost in thoughts.

Courtney was indeed an artist under his company, but she had recently lost a leading role to Jessica, and she was a member of the Reed family…

“Dominick, you and Stephanie just got married, and Courtney is part of the Reed family. Jessica’s star is on the rise. Getting this year’s award is just a piece of cake for her. There’s really no need…”

Vincent spoke hesitantly, trailing off as Dominick gave no response, seemingly uninterested in explaining.

With a sigh, Vincent opted to simply have someone send Courtney’s WhatsApp password to Dominick rather than risking him trying to hack into it and possibly blowing up his company’s database.

But Vincent couldn’t figure out why Dominick would suddenly need Courtney’s WhatsApp password. Dominick didn’t even seem like someone who used WhatsApp.

Stephanie sat in the gazebo in the garden for quite a while, her expression sullen. “How could he be angry? I’m not even angry yet!” She was really annoyed just thinking about Dominick’s cold face.

He went out, messed around, and dared to come back to be mad at her!

But the way Dominick had looked at her earlier was…strange.

11:29 Fri, 21 Jun

C

Frustrated and confused, Stephanie was about to go to the stusly to confront Dominic when a tall figure apponias had her rapidly

As Stephanie tumed, she locked eyes with her father Gary’s piercing gare, and a sense of wariness surger

*Do you even have any shame tett?” he scolded, his voice shipping with scornful reproach.

Stephanie was used to such scolding from her father. She kept a stern face, her fists clenched, and walked away if he didn’t eve

“Stop right there!” Gary sounded furious. “Why didn’t you tell me you have married Kevin three years ago? His tone was cold as he

accused.

you? The day my mother died was the day I left the Heed family, all have nothing to

me? Where were you when I was hungry and

care, and she didn’t

glared at his only daughter, yet now they

to do with me? George called me over because you are using the name of the teed family’s lady. Everything you de reflects on the name of

has nothing to do with my status, The Wellingtons only let me in because I’m pregnant. Don’t

climbed into Dominick’s bed just to marry listo a wealthy family!” Gary’s expression

a gold digger. I got into Dominick’s bed, and it’s all my plant” Stephanie hit her lip

you can lecture me? When my mother helped Courtney and her sister go to college, Courtney was only 20, and she had

face darkened as he raised his hand to strike

else can you do besides

flinching, her eyes red and defiant as

her cheek, his

his hand, his voice cold and commanding. “I’m warning you. You better behave yourself from now

out of the country. You broke in as the other woman just because you want to revenge. tion’t spend your

11:29 Fri, 21 Jun

Chapter 43

not the other woman!” Stephanie held back

three years

heavy mix of suppressed grievances

64%

her emotions. “I helped Kevin, and I don’t regret the choices I made then. I loved him and was prepared to face anything for him. I don’t need his gratitude, nor would I stoop to such

H

fallen in love with the wrong person, she was ready to

scared of? That I might compete with Claire for a man? What else has my stepmother been telling you? That I’m disgraceful,

couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. She

and walked away firmly, her proud and lonely figure carrying her last shred of dignity

in Gary’s eyes. He knew his daughter’s

really not know about what happened that

knelt before him, offering her mother’s inheritance in exchange

that he agreed to help Kevin avoid jail time

here?” Gary’s

help Kevin… Stephanie held back tears in her eyes. These

tears.

was this matter. She had wronged her

her back, and now she was the one being blamed. Everyone

decided to head back to her room. She didn’t want to see

passing the main villa, a familiar little figure excitedly ran past right in

cute pink bubble dress and sporting two little braids, that little girl was… Stephanie’s face darkened, recognizing her as Claire’s

wondered why Joyce was

The child’s voice loudly called

posture, Stephanie turned towards the hall and watched

11:29 Fri, 21 Jun

Chapter 43

the

made everyone’s

64%1

looked furious. He glared at Claire, who had shown up unexpectedly,

“Her name is