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 with

probably haven’t heard about it, and that’s understandable. The only time my father ever helped me was likely due to that scandal, though it was also to protect

long while as she tried to ease her emotions, managing

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

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

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

him.

“I heard gunshots.

it you who saved me that

her cheek resting against his arm before she added insistently, “I krlow you saved

woman nestled beside

you tell

“Dominick, why didn’t you tell me that

11 PM. On any other day, he would have likely still been in his study, but tonight he felt

was exhausted, and a dull ache pulsed through his brain, and he avoided dredging up memories of

time seemed suspended for

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded in a deep

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

anger, in truth, was only partially known to her and the other part,

he hate

hatred weighed heavily

him completely, holding Stephanie responsible for every misstep, convinced she owed

I’ve waited for six years for you to acknowledge your mistake and seek

he

recognize him for who he truly

his conflicted expression, struggling to comprehend his demands for

were you injured that day? Faced with armed bandits, how did

sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of pain echoing in

descended gradually, accompanied by the acrid scent of blood. She knew the man

something for him, but

Chapter 134

feared the worst, haunted by the possibility that her actions could have cost him his

arm, she whispered,

from

voice was calm, tinged

I’m here to repay you.”

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