Crossroads

Chapter 132

Around seven in the evening, night began to fall.

It was a time that should have been quiet, but this area was unusually restless.

Under the dimsky, hurried figures moved about, shining bright flashlights and clutching color–printed photographs.

The photographs depicted a woman dressed in Chanel’s latest summer collection–a white high–collared blouse, a loose, light purple floral maxi dress, and black snakeskin flat shoes. She had a delicate face, and her long, wavy hair flowed smoothly down to her waist…

“Excuse me, have you seen this woman?”

“Any information you can provide will be rewarded…”

That evening. Avalon Lakes was unusually lively. A group of sturdy, unfamiliar men with serious expressions were asking around about a

woman.

The residents of the neighborhood were abuzz, seriously pondering the matter because word had spread that anyone who could find this woman would be handsomely rewarded with 200 thousand dollars- a life–changing sum

“Who is

is this woman?” Their curiosity was palpable.

Meanwhile, the woman in question, Stephanie, was hiding in an inconspicuous tile–roofed house deep within the area. Looking flustered, she was desperately trying to communicate with the elderly woman before her.

“I just happened to meet your grandson in the park and brought him back… There’s no need to cook for me; I need to leave… Do you have a phone?”

Difficult to understand her dialect, Stephanie had been gesturing with her hand near her ear to indicate she needed to make a call. “I need to call home. I’m afraid my family is looking for me…”

The elderly woman, likely around seventy years old, wore simple but clean clothes and smiled kindly, “You sit there for a while, dinner is almost ready.”

Stephanie felt like she was about to break down because she couldn’t communicate with this old lady.

Looking at the darkening sky outside, she felt anxiety grow. She kept repeating herself, hoping the woman would understand at least a little. “I need to make a phone call. Is there a phone here? A phone!”

“My grandson is very mischievous. I’ve been looking for him for a long time. Thank you for bringing him back…”

But the elderly woman continued to thank her. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she turned excitedly towards the door, muttering to herself, “I’ll go catch a big rooster for you to take home.”

What?

only caught the

go home,” Stephanie said, sitting on a wooden chair in

“Miss.”

about three years old raised a large apple towards her with his small hands.

Chapter 132

bit

looked down at the little boy by her feet, accepting the apple from him. “Thank you,” she said. Yet,

had been sulking in the park when suddenly, she heard the sound

direction of the

found the child under a dilapidated slide on the right side of the

thought the child might be injured. She cautiously approached him and luckily found that he was unharmed. Unfortunately, she seemed

mommy…” The child kept crying for his

Even if it was a

let them handle it, but the next moment, she angrily

Dominick’s car.

take you home.” She crouched down, looking

seeing that there was no one around and tired from crying, he

with his

through twists and turns, they ended up here. Undoubtedly,

to leave but

darker, making h ten pounds in

“Here, take it home…”

ay to go…

more uneasy. Before long, the elderly woman

dumbfounded, her hand not

to take this

into the outskirts of

The bi

and the intense glare of headlights instantly illuminated the

through the occupants. The large rooster, suddenly startled, flapped its wings

cackle.

woman appeared fearful and overwhelmed as a group of robust, tall strangers barged into her modest home, holding the child into

“What… What do you

want?”

face tensed nervously as she confronted the imposing group of men, rising

familiar and commanding

and composed. His bodyguards cleared a

Chapter 132

perhaps it was the blinding headlights outside or the suddenness