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?”

laden with gravity,

ever helped me was likely due to that scandal, though it

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

at sunset that day when I was unfortunate enough to get separated from my classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly, five or

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

thought. Suddenly, she clasped

him.

“I heard gunshots.

you who saved me

arm before she added insistently, “I krlow you saved

nestled

you tell

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

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

ache pulsed through his brain, and he avoided dredging up

seemed

Yet, her determination persisted.

responded in

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

only partially known to her and the other

long could he hate

burden of hatred weighed heavily

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

for six years for you to acknowledge your mistake and

was in vain; eventually, he realized it

beginning, she didn’t recognize him for who

observed his conflicted expression, struggling to comprehend his demands

Faced with armed bandits, how did you

memories were clouded; fear gripped her as she recalled the sounds

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

do something for him, but

Chapter 134

that her

whispered, “I’ve been

expect from me?

tinged

I.. I’m here to repay

for what you did. He