Crossroads

Chapter 133

She couldn’t recall how she had managed to leave. Everything felt like a blur,

Upon returning to Wellington Villa, the household staff were taken aback by their mud–splattered appearance, unsure of how to react. The butler stood nearby, his voice attempting to maintain calmness as he announced, “Dinner is ready.”

The once warm meal had long since gone cold.

Dominick said nothing more, his face dark as if he couldn’t bear to look at her again. Immediately upon their return, he turned sharply and

retreated to his bedroom.

“Mrs. Wellington, perhaps you should have some hot soup first…”

Sandra, observing Stephanie’s stunned and frightened demeanor, disregarded any thoughts of cleaning her up. Instead, she promptly instructed a maid to bring a steaming bowl of soup to help soothe her nerves.

Stephanie followed Sandra to the dining area, where she mechanically sat down and sipped half a bowl of the hot soup, which tasted bland

to her.

Finally, Sandra escorted her back to the bedroom, whispering softly as they walked, “Mrs. Wellington, Mr. Wellington has always been reserved since childhood. There are matters he prefers not to discuss. Please, avoid upsetting him. Focus on your duties here at Wellington

Villa and steer clear of his personal affairs.”

Dominick’s affairs were beyond her influence, no matter how much she desired to intervene.

Stephanie remained silent, her face still drained of color, as she ascended the familiar staircase leading to their bedroom,

Upon pushing open the door, a faint smell of tobacco lingered in the room.

Stephanie hesitated at the threshold, reluctant to step inside. In the room, Dominick’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He quickly extinguished the cigarette in his left hand out of habit.

Their gazes met, both faces etched with a tangle of emotions.

“Mrs. Wellington, please remember not to provoke him.” Sandra cautioned from the doorway, her voice barely a whisper. She feared Stephanie might inadvertently provoke Dominick once more.

With a gentle push from Sandra, Stephanie tentatively crossed the threshold and the door closed behind her.

In the spacious room, now occupied solely by him and her, an unspoken tension hung heavily in the air, casting a palpable sense of unease

and unfamiliarity.

the door with

as he scrutinized her with a mixture of concern and frustration, observing every nuance of her anxious

charged atmosphere any longer, or perhaps infuriated by some unseen thought, his brow furrowed deeper. He suppressed the turmoil within his chest with rigid

before she saw him, feeling the heavy thud of his steps drawing

fear she couldn’t

Chapter 133

her, his eyes avoiding hers as he passed by, reaching for the door handle with deliberate

seemed to shrink,

“Dominick…”

coat, pulling him back slightly, causing a fleeting flash of surprise across

mean to upset you. I’m just…scared.” Her voice wavered, the words barely audible as she struggled to

low, a mixture of

where a tear threatened to fall, a testament to the

voice.

faltered, memories flooding back, each word heavy with unresolved

so cold, and I could smell the iron of blood. It

didn’t answer. I called for

in her eyes, each one a testament to the weight of her unspoken

just want to understand you. I don’t want

of something happening

arms wrapped around his waist, seeking solace in his

she continued to speak through her tears, “I’m so scared that I won’t know if something happens to you, and that I won’t be able to help. I feel

initial surprise replaced by a complex blend of emotions as

vulnerability.

know what to say. He hadn’t expected her to say these things, nor had he ever imagined she would embrace him and cry

words were muffled and filled with guilt, spoken in a humble

to

say, looking down at her tear–streaked face with a

!! She had been

love to cry, it’s just…I’m pregnant. It’s my babies

her tears.

couldn’t help but find this both amusing and

confession left Dominick momentarily

will surely be a crybaby

her ear, “if our sons cry too much in the future, they won’t be able to find wives. So, don’t cry… It

Chapter 133

him comforting her. After all, this iceberg of a man was not