Crossroads

Chapter 59

Dominick reclined against the car, adopting a leisurely posture. His eyes, partially veiled, lazily traced patterns on the car window with hist Fingertips, as if indifferent to the world around him.

“Not only did you deceive him, but you also orchestrated a plan to harm him in ways that he could never fathom…”

With each chilly, sonorous syllable, Claire’s complexion paled, as if the weight of Dominick’s words pressed upon her soul.

“No, that’s not true,” she protested, her lips trembling in denial.

“Stop your baseless accusations!”

Claire’s agitation grew, a mounting sense of dread and unease enveloping her in the confined space of the car. Desperately, she grasped at the door handle, wanting to escape.

But the door remained locked, trapping her within.

Dominick, disdain evident in his gaze, opened his eyes fully, fixing Claire with an unwavering stare through the rearview mirror.

“Ms. Peterson, according to this hospital report, you’re medically incapable of bearing children. So, may I ask, where did your daughter come

from?”

He casually tossed a bundle of papers toward her, his eyes ablaze with contempt and impatience. “While your daughter is truly related to the Nelson family, the DNA test shows that you’re not her mother…

“You first planned to get Kevin into legal trouble, then sought your brother–in–law’s help to save him, hoping to earn his gratitude so you could marry him and become part of the wealthy Nelson family. But Stella’s insistence that he marry another woman thwarted your plans. So you patiently bided your time abroad, waiting for the right moment to return with his daughter…”

“No! That’s not it”

With these accusations, Claire’s heart pounded with fear and apprehension.

‘No… he couldn’t possibly know,” she tried to comfort herself

Her thoughts spun in disarray.

This long–buried secret was unknown even to her sister, Courtney, so how could Dominick know about it so well?

Could it be that fateful year, he…

Startled, Claire looked up, meeting Dominick’s inscrutable and forbidding eyes in the rearview mirror.

Claire’s mind was in a mess, while she was drowning in fear and anxiety

The incessant ringing of her phone in her pocket jolted Claire back to the present.

Realizing she had been summarily dismissed from the car by Dominick, she turned her gaze toward the highway, where his vehicle had vanished into the distance, leaving her heart racing uncontrollably.

“Claire, are you alright?”

As the call connected, Courtney’s voice crackled with concern and urgency. “Why did Dominick look for you out of the blue?”

10:38 Sat, 22 Jun

Chapter 59

Claire held her phone and said in a trembling, low voice, “He knows everything.

knows everything since

seemed to be frightened. She raised her voice and shouted repeatedly into

anxiety.

“What?”

Courtney rise from her seat. “Does Dominick really know about Stephanie’s taking away and our involvement in

again, I’ll ensure you both

words sent a shiver down Claire’s spine as they

it, then…” Courtney’s voice trailed off, tinged with a mix of complexity and

how could Claire and Courtney remain unscathed

really knows

was tinged with fear, shattering

she gripped her phone tightly. “What exactly does he

do you want?” Claire had

of utility in my hands has no reason

by a relentless fear, as if she had provoked a ruthless and

she lacked the means

your side?” Courtney’s voice came from the speaker, laced with confusion and

onto Kevin? Courtney was stunned to

“Kevin, you

u should go back.”

looked at him with a complex expression,

morning, Kevin had taken a solid blow from Dominick, leaving a bruise on his chest. Luckily, they were in a hospital and could bandage it up

gentleman. It would take at least half a month for the bruise to heal, and

has a bad temper.” Stephanie felt indignant

“I’m fine.”

suddenly felt inferior

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Chapter 59

fight since childhood. You don’t need to

head, chuckling at her, “I never

his generation in the Wellington family. Plus, there was always a difference between maternal and paternal grandchildren. Whenever anything was compared to him, these relatives

you were always the best to me,” Stephanie, sitting next to

was taken aback by her words and looked

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.” It

“And now…” His gaz

grew increasingly intense, his voice tinged with

daughter are waiting for you,” she urged again, emphasizing, “We’re both married now, and we

Their love was

seemed

time he heard about Claire and their daughter, he felt a lingering frustration at

feel…” Kevin suddenly grabbed

is tinging.” Stephanie said coldly,

incessantly. The caller seemed to have something urgent to

and she’s been crying and asking for you. Please

sounded anxious, and her voice was audible even to

at Stephanie with a complex gaze.

injured, so you should go back soon,” Stephanie said

was no awkwardness or

ex–wife, she could speak so calmly about his daughter.

she truly didn’t care about him

about my daughter when Claire returned to the country…” Kevin hesitated, wanting to explain some things, but it