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

closeness with Dominick in the private room earlier,

dwelling on it too much, Stephanie composed herself and headed

Caelorium was solely to see her grandmother in the e hospital. She planned

feel uneasy.

admitted, the elderly woman greeted

Stephanie remained composed. “Grandma, how are

say anything else, Samantha eagerly scanned the area

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

place, Stephanie yearned to retort,

but recall past grievances. “It’s all because your mother was too petty. She

with my mother. Courtney fell on her

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

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

anything, just call for the nurse,” Stephanie

was displeased that Stephanie

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 time? Our family can’t afford to be embarrassed like that,” Samantha

outside the ward, Stephanie clenched her

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

23

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 are more

that she should emulate Courtney and Claire, Stephanie suppressed

there’s nothing else, I’ll hasten back to Havencrest to learn how to please Mr.

these words, Stephanie strode

10:36

Chapter 52

finished!” Samantha, aware of Stephanie’s stubbornness, shouted orders

with his business, and make good use of the

situation…

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

have come to visit her. Sometime

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

wore a stern expression, Stephanie

Villa.

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

wanted to

also know

call and a text message

from her bag. Stephanie intended to book the

a call

Caelorium.] His message was short and

in Caetorium.” Stephanie felt a strange stirring in her heart upon learning

lingered on the screen, and she hesitated for a moment before lightly touching the callback button,

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