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?”

about certain events, her voice laden

only time my father ever helped me was likely due to that scandal,

a long while as she tried to

wouldn’t believe it if you hadn’t seen it yourself. It was at sunset that day when I was unfortunate enough to get separated from my classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly, five or six bandits from a mountain village attacked me. They dragged me down the hillside,

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

slept on her side, her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly,

him.

“I heard gunshots.

who saved me that

resting against his arm

his gaze to the woman nestled beside him, his thoughts mingling but remaining

you tell

gaze directly. “Dominick, why didn’t you tell me that you did those

other day, he would have likely still been in his study, but

his brain, and he

night, time seemed suspended for a

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded in a

year, those scenes resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m angry that you accepted

in truth, was only partially known to her and the other part, bluntly put, was his hatred for

long could he hate her

of hatred weighed heavily

towards her consumed him completely, holding Stephanie responsible for every misstep, convinced she owed him, demanding her repayment for a lifetime,

for you

eventually, he realized it was all a

she didn’t recognize him

comprehend his demands for contrition and reconciliation, but

that day? Faced with armed bandits, how did

memories were clouded; fear gripped her as she recalled the sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of pain echoing in the darkening

accompanied by the acrid scent of blood. She knew the man

longed to do something for him, but fear

Chapter 134

by the possibility that her actions could have cost

his arm, she whispered, “I’ve been seeking answers, trying

do you expect from me? A token of

voice was calm, tinged

I’m here to repay you.” She blushed with

deceived me by taking credit for what you did. He claimed he saved me,