Crossroads

Chapter 134

Sleep evaded her.

Stephanie tossed and turned in her bed, her movements restless, as if burdened by unspoken thoughts that kept her from drifting into

slumber.

“Stephanie.”

On the other side of the bed, Dominick noticed her agitation, finally unable to resist calling her name in a deep, subdued tone.

Immediately, Stephanie settled down.

Yet, within moments, she shifted again.

“Dominick, are you having trouble sleeping?” Her voice was clear and unwavering, betraying her own alertness despite the late hour.

The faint light from the bedside lamp cast a soft glow on Stephanie’s profile. She harbored a genuine fear of the dark.

“Dominick, can I ask you something?”

With evident inner conflict, Stephanie edged closer to Dominick, her tone betraying a hint of urgency as she posed another question.

He remained silent, his gaze fixed on her, prompting her to hesitate in her subsequent words.

“That year, during our high school graduation trip… You were our assistant teacher. Did you… Did you attend that trip?”

She asked cautiously, as if wary of touching upon sensitive matters.

“No,” Dominick replied bluntly.

Stephanie furrowed her brow suddenly, visibly perplexed. “But that’s impossible. Kevin said…”

“What did he say?”

you…” Her eyes searched Dominick’s face intently, a mixture of doubt and suspicion coloring her voice. “It couldn’t have been yo

Meanwhile, Dominick lowered his eyes subtly, offering no further explanation.

“Have you heard anything about the incidents during the trip that year?”

voice laden with gravity, oblivious to his puzzled

and that’s understandable. The only time my father ever helped me was likely due to that scandal, though

lightly, reluctant to continue, remaining silent for a long while as she

unfortunate enough to get separated from my classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly, five

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

side, her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped his arm with both hands and leaned

him.

“I heard gunshots.

you who saved

against his arm before

to the woman nestled beside him,

you

her head, meeting his gaze directly. “Dominick, why didn’t you

wasn’t particularly late at 11 PM. On any other day, he would have likely still

his brain, and he avoided dredging up memories of

seemed suspended for

Yet, her determination persisted.

Dominick responded in

year, those scenes resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m angry that you accepted Kevin’s pursuit without reason, I’m

known to her and the other

could he hate her

of hatred

responsible for every misstep, convinced she owed him, demanding her repayment for a lifetime, no matter

years for you to

was in vain; eventually, he realized it was all

beginning, she didn’t recognize him for who he

struggling to comprehend his demands for

day? Faced

the sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of pain

acrid scent of blood. She knew the man who

do something for him,

Chapter 134

the worst, haunted by the possibility that

whispered, “I’ve

expect from me? A token

voice was calm, tinged

I.. I’m here to repay you.”

did. He claimed he saved me,