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 gravity, oblivious to his

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

her lips lightly, reluctant to continue, remaining silent for a long

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

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

side, her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she

him.

“I heard gunshots.

was it you who saved me

cheek resting against his arm before

gaze to the woman nestled beside him,

didn’t you

gaze directly. “Dominick, why didn’t you

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

through his brain, and he avoided dredging up memories

the tranquil night, time seemed

Yet, her determination persisted.

angry,” Dominick responded

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

partially known to her and the other part, bluntly put,

he

burden of hatred weighed heavily on

Stephanie responsible for every misstep, convinced she owed him, demanding her repayment for a lifetime,

you to acknowledge

eventually, he realized it was all a mere

didn’t recognize him for who

his demands for contrition and reconciliation,

that day? Faced with

sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of pain echoing

descended gradually, accompanied by the acrid scent of blood. She knew the man who had come to

something for him,

Chapter 134

by the possibility that her actions could have cost

arm, she whispered, “I’ve been seeking answers,

expect from me? A

calm, tinged with a

I.. I’m here to repay

taking credit for what you did.