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

me was

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

you hadn’t seen 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 attacked me. They dragged me down the hillside, pounced on me, and tore my clothes. I was terrified and fought desperately to

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped

him.

“I heard gunshots.

who saved

words paused, her cheek resting against his arm before she added insistently, “I

woman nestled beside him,

you tell

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

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

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

seemed suspended for

Yet, her determination persisted.

angry,” Dominick responded

those scenes resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m angry

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

long could he hate her

hatred weighed heavily

hatred towards her consumed him completely, holding Stephanie responsible for every misstep, convinced she owed him, demanding her repayment for a lifetime, no matter the

you to acknowledge

vain; eventually, he realized it was all a

recognize

struggling to comprehend his demands for contrition and reconciliation, but

day? Faced with armed

the sounds of struggle,

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

longed to do something for him, but fear

Chapter 134

by the possibility that her

his arm, she whispered,

you expect from me?

was calm, tinged

repay you.”

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