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?”

her voice laden with

ever helped me was likely due to that scandal, though

continue, remaining silent for a long while as she

mountainside. Suddenly, five or six bandits from a mountain village attacked me. They dragged me down the hillside, pounced

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped his

him.

“I heard gunshots.

who saved me

words paused, her cheek resting against his arm before she added insistently, “I krlow

gaze to the woman nestled beside him, his

didn’t you

raised her head, meeting his gaze directly. “Dominick, why didn’t you tell me that you did

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

pulsed through his

time seemed suspended for a

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded in a

scenes resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m angry that you accepted Kevin’s

her and the

he

of hatred weighed

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

you to acknowledge your mistake and seek

was in vain; eventually, he realized it was all

recognize him for who he

struggling to comprehend his demands for contrition

you injured that day? Faced with

gripped her as she recalled the sounds of struggle, gunfire, and

the acrid scent of blood. She knew the man who

for him, but fear

Chapter 134

possibility that her actions could have

his arm, she whispered,

from me? A token

was calm, tinged with

I’m here to repay you.”

by taking credit for what you did. He