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

and shouted repeatedly

anxiety.

“What?”

really know about Stephanie’s taking away and our involvement in it? Has

you hurt her again, I’ll ensure you both

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

it, then…” Courtney’s voice trailed

Dominick’s influence, how could Claire and Courtney remain unscathed

really knows

voice was tinged with fear,

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

Claire had

no reason

the desolate outskirts, her heart gripped by a relentless

known by him, she lacked the means to retaliate and

side?” Courtney’s voice came from the

to cling onto Kevin? Courtney

“Kevin, you

u should go back.”

at him with a complex

morning, Kevin had taken a solid blow from Dominick, leaving a bruise on his chest. Luckily, they were

take at least half a month for the bruise to heal, and it was because of

provoke him. He has a bad temper.” Stephanie felt

“I’m fine.”

inferior to Dominick, whether it was their background,

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Chapter 59

childhood. You don’t need to

chuckling at her, “I

was the eldest male descendant of 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 paled in

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

was taken aback by her words and looked

“Haven’t you heard? Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.” It

“And now…” His gaz

grew increasingly intense, his voice tinged with

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

Their love was

one that seemed destined

but every time he

Stephanie, I feel…” Kevin suddenly grabbed

phone is tinging.” Stephanie said

incessantly. The caller seemed to have something

amusement park and she’s been crying and asking

calling. She sounded anxious, and her voice was

complex gaze. Before hanging up, he responded,

injured, so you should go back

There was no awkwardness or anger on Stephanie’s

could speak so calmly about his daughter. For a moment, Kevin

as if she truly didn’t care about

Claire returned to the country…” Kevin hesitated, wanting to explain some things,