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?”

reminisced about certain events, her voice laden with gravity, oblivious

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

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

classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly, five or six bandits from a mountain village attacked me. They dragged me down the hillside, pounced on me, and tore my clothes. I was terrified and fought desperately

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

side, her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped his arm with both hands and leaned

him.

“I heard gunshots.

it you who saved me

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

woman nestled beside him, his

you

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

particularly late at 11 PM. On any other day, he would have likely still been in

a dull ache pulsed through his brain, and he avoided dredging up

time seemed suspended for

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded in a deep

resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m angry that you accepted Kevin’s pursuit without reason, I’m

partially known to her and the other part, bluntly

could he hate

hatred weighed

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

waited for six years for you to acknowledge your mistake

was in vain; eventually, he realized it was all a mere

beginning, she didn’t recognize him

observed his conflicted expression, struggling to comprehend his demands for contrition and

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

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

accompanied by the acrid scent of blood. She knew the man who had come to her

something for him, but

Chapter 134

the possibility that her actions could have cost him

whispered, “I’ve been

you expect from me?

tinged with

repay you.” She

what you did. He claimed