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

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

for a long while as she tried to ease her emotions, managing only a forced

on the mountainside. Suddenly,

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

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

him.

“I heard gunshots.

it you who

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

to the woman nestled beside him, his thoughts

you tell

why didn’t you tell me that you did

other day, he would have likely still been in his

his brain,

seemed

Yet, her determination persisted.

responded in a deep

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

was only partially known to her and the other part, bluntly put,

he

of hatred weighed

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

six years for you to acknowledge

in vain; eventually, he realized it

recognize him for who he

demands for contrition and reconciliation, but acknowledging his justified

Faced with armed bandits, how did you

recalled the sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of

gradually, accompanied by the acrid scent of blood. She knew

for him,

Chapter 134

by the possibility that her

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

you expect from me? A

tinged

repay you.”

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