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

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

remaining silent for a long while as she tried to ease her emotions, managing only a forced

separated from my classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly, five or six bandits

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

on her side, her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped his arm with

him.

“I heard gunshots.

you who

resting against his arm before

his gaze to the woman nestled beside him,

you tell

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

have likely still been in his study, but tonight

dull ache pulsed through his brain, and he avoided

seemed

Yet, her determination persisted.

angry,” Dominick responded

recalled the events of that year, those scenes resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m

to her and

he

of hatred weighed heavily

for every misstep, convinced she owed him,

years for you

in vain; eventually, he realized it

didn’t recognize him

struggling to comprehend his demands for contrition and reconciliation, but acknowledging

injured that day? Faced

she recalled the sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of pain echoing in

She knew the man who had come to her rescue had been

for him,

Chapter 134

by the possibility that her actions could

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

do you expect from me? A token

was calm, tinged

here to repay you.” She

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