Crossroads

Chapter 46

Today was the Winter Festival. After having breakfast with the elders, Stephanie returned to Wellington Villa and sat on the living room sofa, looking somewhat dejected.

She muttered to herself, “So today is Dominick’s birthday…”

Yesterday, they had attended a class for expecting parents together. Stephanie had noticed that Dominick seemed to have mixed feelings about the Winter Festival as if he didn’t want to mention it..

She mumbled under her breath, “Does he not want me to know about his birthday?” Stephanie then wondered if it was because he feared she might bother him.

Since running into Jessica yesterday, Stephanie had felt rather downcast..

Jessica had deliberately mentioned the tie Dominick had left behind after staying there overnight, which was clearly trying to show her up.

Compete? Stephanie knew she had no grounds to..

Just then, a teasing voice came from outside the door. “Stephanie…”

Stephanie looked up toward the front door and was somewhat surprised. “Vincent, what are you doing here? Dominick isn’t home. He probably went to the office.

Vincent spake with certainty. “Dominick wouldn’t be at the office on a special day like today…”

He then stopped talking, and his eyes widened as he looked at the living room table. “Stephanie, did you buy this birthday cake?!” Vincent’s

tone was as if he were shocked.

Stephanie looked down at the birthday cake on the table and sighed.

Vincent sat down across from her and seriously asked, “Stephanie, did you know today is Dominick’s birthday?”

“Yeah.” Stephanie responded dully.

In fact, she had only accidentally heard the butler mention Dominick’s birthday that morning, so she had picked up her phone and ordered a cake. But when Stephanie brought the cake back, the faces of the butler and the staff at Wellington Villa were quite grim.

Stephanie pointed at the birthday cake on the table and curiously asked, “Hey, Vincent, do you know why this is…”

“The Wellington family never celebrates the Winter Festival,” Vincent replied gravely, raising an eyebrow slightly as he looked at her.

Stephanie looked somewhat astonished.

Vincent continued, “Dominick doesn’t like others celebrating his birthday. It’s best he doesn’t see this birthday cake. I suggest you throw it away quickly.”

He remembered six years ago when he and their friends had tried to celebrate Dominick’s birthday, and it had been a disaster.

“I got it,” Stephanie murmured, not pressing further since Dominick didn’t want her to know too much.

She hung her head low and held the one–pound delicious tiramisu cake as she walked up to the second–floor bedroom, planning to eat it in

her room.

do you know why Dominick hates women so much?” Vincent

Chapter 46

your cake, but he

sharply and

looked troubled and hesitated

teased Stephanie, “Every year on his birthday, Dominick never goes to the office. He might be at the club or the bar. Do you want to go

kay,” she readily agreed.

asked her casually. “Stephanie, are you really that concerned about Dominick?” he asked with a

somewhat embarrassed and quickly denied, “No! I’ll go upstairs to change my coat…” Afterward,

foreign–style coat and skinny white pants. Her hair was tied up

around her neck.

together. Upon seeing how bundled up Stephanie was, Vincent couldn’t help but tease

I

need to dress warmly. I’d get scolded if I caught a cold,” she replied nonchalantly. Stephanie

her dial the number and joked, “Oh, do you need to ask Dominick’s

nodded seriously. “Yes, he said I must

thinking. “Dominick usually doesn’t care about

no one answered Stephanie’s

was suddenly on edge and looked at Vincent with a cunning glance. “If he scalds me,

be reasonable?!” he

car, regretting bringing her out. The car drove smoothly, and about 30 minutes later, it stopped at Flaming Bar in Havencrest’s bustling Number

entrance. It was her first time in such an upscale bar. As Stephanie looked at the luxurious decor, she felt like a country bumpkin in the city. “It’s

center of the second–floor open lobby. Beautiful women with long legs were sitting by the

even livelier around midnight,” said Vincent, who was a regular VIP here. He then flashed her an ambiguous smile. “Stephanie, did you know your husband owns this

widened slightly, and she pondered, “Dominick owns this place?!

husband’s bed. Stephanie, be smart. Don’t always butt heads with

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Chapter 46

Stephanie replied, her expression

“Oh, you’re done for then, Stephanie. After you have the baby, you’ll definitely be despised and kicked out of

need him to kick me out. I’ll leave on my

obvious imitation and wondered

elevator stopped on the 12th floor, and two guests came in. Upon seeing Vincent, they immediately smiled pleasingly, “Mr. Hayes, long

your new girlfriend? She’s really pretty… But she

vanished, and he said coldly, “This

wondered, Vincent’s best friend’s wife? Vincent doesn’t have many close friends, and

they quickly played dumb and apologized with a smile, “We’ve

important business with Vincent. Stephanie listened as they talked about stocks and investments. When the elevator reached the 22nd floor, Vincent exited first with a

the top floor with the waitress; I have some business to discuss with them, I’ll join you shortly.” Vincent called a female waitress to escort her to the

Vincent had serious matters, she

Vincent didn’t forget to remind her, “Remember, don’t

A–list celebrities and models making appearances, adding to the glamour and allure of the place. It was a world of glitz and glamour

Bar was chaotic, but the top floor was completely different. It was comfortable and quiet, and

stood in the elevator, watching the floor numbers tick upward rapidly. However, just as the elevator doors opened on the