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.

everything since a

be frightened. She raised her voice and shouted repeatedly into the

anxiety.

“What?”

seat. “Does Dominick really know about Stephanie’s taking away and our involvement in it? Has he

I’ll ensure you both enjoy your

frigid, cutting words sent a shiver down Claire’s spine as they replayed in her

truly had known about it, then…” Courtney’s voice trailed off, tinged with a mix

Courtney remain unscathed if Dominick knew

he really

tinged with fear,

paled at the revelation, and she gripped her phone tightly.

want?” Claire had asked the

in my hands has no reason to exist.” That was

desolate outskirts, her heart gripped by a relentless fear,

of her secrets known by him, she

wants you to keep Kevin by your side?” Courtney’s voice came from the speaker, laced

wanted Claire to cling onto Kevin? Courtney

“Kevin, you

u should go back.”

a complex expression, urging him

in the 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 quickly. However, Stephanie felt conflicted seeing the bruise on his

handsome, and he was the epitome of a refined gentleman. It would take at least half a month for the bruise to heal, and it was because of her that he had argued with

temper.”

“I’m fine.”

lowered his head, glanced at his injuries, and suddenly felt inferior to Dominick, whether it was their background, career status, or fighting

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Chapter 59

been practicing how to fight since childhood.

chuckling at her, “I

his generation in the Wellington family. Plus, there was always a difference between maternal and paternal grandchildren. Whenever

to

aback by her words and looked

in the eyes of the

“And now…” His gaz

intense, his voice

wife and daughter are waiting for you,” she urged again, emphasizing,

Their love was

one that seemed destined to

when, but every time he heard about Claire and their daughter, he felt a lingering

I feel…” Kevin suddenly

Stephanie said coldly, pushing

continued to ring incessantly. The caller seemed to have something urgent to let

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

her voice was audible even to Stephanie

with a complex gaze. Before hanging up, he responded, “I

you should go back soon,”

There was no awkwardness or anger on Stephanie’s

so calmly about his daughter. For a

as if she truly didn’t care about him

only found out about my daughter when Claire returned to the country…” Kevin hesitated, wanting to explain some