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?”

events, her voice laden with gravity, oblivious to

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

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

enough to get separated from my classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly, five or six bandits from a mountain village attacked me. They dragged me down the hillside, pounced on

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

her side, her face reflecting deep thought.

him.

“I heard gunshots.

it you who

arm before she added insistently, “I

the woman nestled beside him, his thoughts

you tell

gaze directly. “Dominick, why didn’t

On any other day, he would have likely still been in his study, but tonight he felt a bit

ache pulsed through his

time seemed suspended for

Yet, her determination persisted.

angry,” Dominick responded

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

partially known to her and the other part, bluntly put, was his hatred for

long could he

of hatred

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

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

eventually, he realized it was all

recognize

his demands

you injured that day? Faced with armed bandits,

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

by the acrid scent of blood. She knew the man who had

something for him, but fear

Chapter 134

worst, haunted by the possibility that

arm, she whispered, “I’ve been

do you expect from

voice was calm, tinged with a hint

I.. I’m here to repay

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