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

much, Stephanie composed herself and headed towards the hospital

grandmother in the e hospital. She planned

feel uneasy.

entered the hospital ward where Samantha was admitted, the elderly woman

to her grandmother’s excitement, Stephanie

anything else, Samantha eagerly scanned the area behind

reproachful. “Steffi, don’t always wear that stern look and make Mr. Wellington feel uncomfortable. Others are going to say that our family’s younger generation

in place, Stephanie yearned to retort,

her granddaughter, Samantha couldn’t help but recall past grievances. “It’s all because your mother was too petty. She pushed Courtney downstairs, causing her to suffer a miscarriage. My

with my mother. Courtney fell on her own!” Stephanie bit her

and fall on her own?”

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

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

haven’t finished speaking!” Samantha was displeased

you want to be abandoned by a man for

her bag tightly

spirited from her youth, unlike the demure socialites the old lady favored. Apart from her appearance, Stephanie

22 23 2

this realization, Samantha’s tone softened slightly. “Steffi, you’re my only granddaughter. I want nothing but for you to be happy. But there are some truths you may find hard to accept. Men prefer women like Courtney and Claire who

that she should emulate Courtney and Claire,

on the hospital bed. “Grandma, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hasten back

these words, Stephanie strode out without

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Chapter 52

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

with his business, and make good use of the child in your belly!

situation…

door of the ward shut, and finally, Samantha’s voice

to visit her. Sometime I hate how

Stephanie closed her eyes and tried to compose herself. “I want to go

old man from the Wellington family always wore a

Villa.

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

she wanted to

also know

call and a text

her bag. Stephanie intended to book the fastest return ticket, only

a call from

His message was short and

is in Caetorium.” Stephanie felt a strange stirring in her heart upon learning that he was

before lightly touching the callback

why he had come to Caelorium. Was it for business or