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 long time

her voice and shouted repeatedly into the phone, her trembling voice suppressing

anxiety.

“What?”

from her seat. “Does Dominick really know about Stephanie’s taking away and

you hurt her again, I’ll ensure you both enjoy your

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

had known about it, then…” Courtney’s voice trailed

influence, how could Claire and Courtney remain

he really knows

tinged with fear, shattering Courtney’s hopeful

she gripped her phone

you want?” Claire had

utility in my hands has no reason to

out at the desolate outskirts, her heart gripped by a relentless fear, as if she

she lacked the means to retaliate

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

Claire to cling onto Kevin? Courtney was stunned to hear

“Kevin, you

u should go back.”

a complex expression,

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

toned and 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

bad temper.” Stephanie felt indignant when she

“I’m fine.”

suddenly felt inferior to Dominick, whether it was their background, career

1784% #

Chapter 59

how to fight since childhood. You don’t need to

his head, chuckling at her, “I never expected

descendant of his generation in the Wellington family. Plus, there was always a difference between maternal

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

by her words

eyes of the beholder.” It was probably something like that back

“And now…” His gaz

upon her grew increasingly intense,

daughter are waiting for you,” she urged again, emphasizing, “We’re both married now, and we can’t go back to the

Their love was

seemed

every time he heard about Claire and their daughter, he

I feel…” Kevin suddenly grabbed her

Stephanie said coldly,

continued to ring incessantly. The caller seemed to

are you? Our daughter fell at the amusement park and she’s been crying and asking for you. Please

She sounded anxious, and her voice was audible even to Stephanie beside

a complex gaze.

injured, so you should go back soon,”

intensely. There was no awkwardness or anger on

so calmly about his

she truly didn’t care about

country…” Kevin hesitated,