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, oblivious to his puzzled

my father ever helped me was likely due to that

reluctant to continue, remaining silent for a long while as

when I was unfortunate enough to get separated from my classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly,

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped his arm with both

him.

“I heard gunshots.

was it you who saved me

arm before she added insistently, “I krlow

his gaze to the woman nestled beside him, his thoughts mingling but remaining

didn’t you

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

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

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

the tranquil night, time seemed suspended for a

Yet, her determination persisted.

angry,” Dominick responded

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

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

could he

burden of hatred weighed

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

for you to acknowledge your

vain; eventually, he realized it was all a

she didn’t recognize him for who he

comprehend his demands

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

as she recalled the sounds of struggle, gunfire,

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

do something for

Chapter 134

feared the worst, haunted by the possibility that her actions

to his arm, she whispered,

you expect from me? A token

was calm, tinged with

I.. I’m here to repay

taking credit for what you did. He claimed