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

that’s understandable. The only time my father ever helped me was likely due to that scandal, though it was also

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

my classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly, five or six

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

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

him.

“I heard gunshots.

was it you who saved me that

resting against his arm

lowered his gaze to the woman nestled beside him, his

didn’t you

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

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

his brain, and he avoided dredging

night, time seemed suspended for a

Yet, her determination persisted.

Dominick responded in

I’m angry that you accepted Kevin’s pursuit without reason, I’m angry that

was only partially known to her and

he

hatred

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

for six years for you to acknowledge your

wait was in vain; eventually, he realized

recognize him for who he

struggling to comprehend his demands for contrition

Faced with

fear gripped her as she recalled the sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of pain echoing in

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

do something for him,

Chapter 134

haunted by the possibility that her

whispered,

expect from me? A token of

calm, tinged with a

to repay you.” She

you did. He claimed