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 gravity,

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

a long while as she tried to ease her

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

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

side, her face reflecting deep thought.

him.

“I heard gunshots.

you who saved me that

paused, her cheek resting against his arm

to the woman nestled beside him,

you tell

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

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

ache pulsed through his brain, and he avoided dredging

the tranquil night, time seemed

Yet, her determination persisted.

responded in a

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

and the other part, bluntly put, was his hatred for

could he hate

of hatred

convinced she owed him,

you to acknowledge your mistake and

in vain; eventually, he realized it

beginning, she didn’t recognize him for who he truly

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

you injured that day? Faced with armed

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

blood. She knew

do something for him,

Chapter 134

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

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

expect from me?

calm, tinged with

I’m here to repay you.” She

credit for what you did. He claimed