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?”

voice laden with gravity, oblivious to his

time my father ever helped me was likely due to that scandal, though

lips lightly, reluctant to continue, remaining silent for a long while as she tried to ease her

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

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

on her side, her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped his

him.

“I heard gunshots.

you who saved me

arm before she added insistently,

nestled beside him, his

didn’t you tell

head, meeting his gaze directly. “Dominick, why

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

was exhausted, and a dull ache pulsed through his brain, and he

night, time seemed suspended for

Yet, her determination persisted.

Dominick responded in a

“Stephanie, I’m angry that you

was only partially known to her and the

long could he hate

hatred weighed heavily

convinced she owed him, demanding her repayment for a lifetime, no matter the

you to acknowledge your mistake

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

beginning, she didn’t recognize him for

to comprehend his demands for

Faced

sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of pain echoing

blood. She knew

something for him, but fear

Chapter 134

possibility that her actions could have cost him his

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

you expect from me?

tinged with a hint of

I’m here to repay

for what you did. He