Crossroads

Chapter 52

The car exited the highway and headed towards the largest private hospital in Caelorium.

The man at the wheel kept glancing at the woman beside him, and finally said, “Steffi, Jessica looks so much like you. She…”

“She’s not related to me by blood!” Stephanie said blankly before quickly adding, “Please let me off at the front.”

The man parked the car on the side and turned to gaze at her profile, his tone suppressing complex emotions. “I’m just concerned about

you…

“Kevin! I told you I don’t need your concern!”

Stephanie eagerly opened the car door, wanting to get out.

“Stephanie, there’s no need to avoid me like this. I truly mean no harm to you. If I wanted to harm you, I would have done it in the past three

years.”

Kevin paused, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.

Then, he spoke calmly. “I just want to say that the women in our circle may look innocent, but they’re not. Jessica’s resemblance to you is likely due to plastic surgery. You need to be careful.”

Stephanie was somewhat surprised because Kevin did sound genuinely concerned.

She opened the car door and stepped out, lowering her gaze to meet the man inside the car. She spoke slowly and deliberately. “Kevin, you’re here this time in Caelorium for your marriage with Claire, right? Frankly, I’m not so generous to be able to forgive you, so I won’t give you my blessings! But I won’t stand in your way either. Remember, we’re done.”

She separated her feelings clearly. When she loved someone, she would give it her all, and she did not care for the concerns that came too

late.

Meanwhile, he sat in the car, glaring fiercely at Stephanie who was walking away.

“Stephanie!”

For some reason, he couldn’t control himself and shouted loudly at her retreating figure, “Stephanie, I care about you not because you’re from the Reed family! I just…”

It was because…

Kevin watched her disappear around the corner. Even he couldn’t answer the question himself as to why he cared about her.

As he had pledged to George that he would marry Claire, he and Claire went to the city hall to sign the papers and obtain their marriage license the next day. All the wedding preparations went on smoothly in the last few days, yet a sense of inexplicable melancholy and reluctance lingered in his heart.

Kevin, consumed by frustration, unleashed his anger on the steering wheel, causing the car horn piercing through the air like a sharp cry.

In the midst of his tumultuous emotions, a blend of restlessness and confusion enveloped him, as if certain truths were veiled from him, and he had been deceived and manipulated all along

Meanwhile, at the bend in the road, Stephanie took a deep breath. Furrowing her brows, she muttered in annoyance, “What’s gotten into him7

10:36

Chapter 52

room earlier, and Kevin’s sudden appearance somewhat saved Stephanie from

composed herself and headed towards the hospital across the

to Caelorium was solely to see her grandmother in the e hospital. She planned to return to Havencrest soon as this place

feel uneasy.

Samantha was admitted, the elderly woman greeted her with

contrast to her grandmother’s excitement, Stephanie remained

she could say anything else, Samantha eagerly scanned

don’t always wear that stern look and

place, Stephanie yearned to

too petty.

mother. Courtney fell on her own!” Stephanie bit her lip, unable to contain her

and fall on her own?” Seeing that Stephanie dared to argue with her, Samantha’s face darkened,

preferred boys to girls. After Courtney’s miscarriage, her health problems left her unable to conceive again, which made Samantha resent Madison even more, blaming her for the end of

to in Havencrest. If you need anything, just call for the nurse,” Stephanie did not want to stay a minute longer

I haven’t finished speaking!” Samantha was displeased that Stephanie was going to leave

divorce once. Do you want to be abandoned by a man for the

Stephanie clenched her

that Claire effortlessly exuded. She was too headstrong, too spirited from her

22 23

realization, Samantha’s tone softened slightly. “Steffi, you’re my only granddaughter. I want nothing but

she should emulate Courtney and Claire,

“Grandma, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hasten back to Havencrest to learn how

Stephanie strode

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Chapter 52

Samantha, aware of

your father more with his business, and make good use of the child in

situation…

of the ward shut, and finally, Samantha’s

bitterly, she muttered, “I shouldn’t have come to visit her. Sometime I hate how soft-hearted

eyes and tried to compose herself. “I want

always wore a stern expression,

Villa.

Reed family didn’t care about her and only saw her as a tool for them. Wellington

to return to

know that

a missed call and a text

her phone from her bag. Stephanie intended to book

was a call

Caelorium.] His message was short

a strange stirring in her heart

for a moment before lightly touching the callback button, her

if should she ask him why he had come to Caelorium. Was