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?”

certain events, her voice laden with gravity, oblivious to his puzzled

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

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

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped his arm

him.

“I heard gunshots.

it you who saved me

his arm before she added insistently,

his gaze to the woman nestled beside him, his thoughts

you tell

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

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

and a dull ache pulsed through his brain,

the tranquil night, time seemed suspended for a

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded in

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

in truth, was only partially known to her and the other part, bluntly put, was his

he hate

hatred

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

for six years for you to

he

recognize him for

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

that day? Faced with armed

were clouded; fear gripped her as she recalled the sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of

scent of blood. She knew the man who had come to her rescue

to do something for him, but

Chapter 134

possibility that her

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

expect from me? A

calm, tinged with a hint of

repay you.”

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