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

her closeness with Dominick in the private room earlier, and Kevin’s sudden appearance somewhat saved Stephanie from

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

feel uneasy.

entered the hospital ward where Samantha was admitted, the

her grandmother’s excitement, Stephanie remained composed. “Grandma, how are you

could say anything else, Samantha eagerly scanned

else with Stephanie, Samantha’s expression turned reproachful. “Steffi, don’t always wear that stern look and

to retort, but she

mother was too petty. She pushed Courtney downstairs, causing her to suffer a

nothing to do with my mother. Courtney fell on her own!” Stephanie bit her lip, unable

was bearing your father’s child. Why would she be so careless and fall on her own?” Seeing that Stephanie dared to argue with her, Samantha’s face darkened, her sharp and

girls. After Courtney’s miscarriage, her health problems left her unable to conceive again, which made Samantha resent Madison

call for the nurse,” Stephanie did not want to stay a minute longer if Samantha was going to continue

Samantha was displeased that Stephanie was

serve Mr. Wellington well in the future? You’ve been through a divorce once. Do you want to be abandoned by a man for the second

the ward, Stephanie clenched her

too headstrong, too spirited from her youth, unlike the demure socialites

22 23 2

managed to marry someone from the prestigious Wellington family. With this realization, Samantha’s tone softened slightly. “Steffi, you’re my only granddaughter. I want nothing but for you to be

emulate Courtney and Claire, Stephanie suppressed a scornful

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

these words, Stephanie strode

10:36

Chapter 52

haven’t finished!” Samantha, aware of Stephanie’s stubbornness, shouted orders as

make good use of the child in your belly! Don’t let other women

situation…

and finally, Samantha’s

shouldn’t have come to visit her. Sometime I hate how

fragile figure on the hospital wall, Stephanie closed her eyes and tried to compose herself. “I want to go back to

always wore a stern expression, Stephanie found

Villa.

no family anymore. The Reed family didn’t care about her and only saw her as a tool for them.

wanted to return

also know that

a missed call and a text

intended to book the fastest return

was a

message was short and

a strange stirring in her heart

moment before lightly touching the callback button, her

should she ask him why he had come to Caelorium. Was it for business