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

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

long while as

day when I was unfortunate enough to get separated from my classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly, five or six bandits from a

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

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

him.

“I heard gunshots.

it you who saved

his arm before she added insistently,

woman nestled beside him,

didn’t you tell

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

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

and a dull ache pulsed through his

night, time seemed suspended for a prolonged

Yet, her determination persisted.

Dominick responded in a deep

I’m angry that

partially known to her and the other

long could he hate her

burden of hatred weighed heavily

for every misstep, convinced she owed him, demanding her repayment

six years for you to acknowledge your mistake

eventually, he realized

didn’t recognize him for who he

comprehend his demands for contrition and reconciliation, but acknowledging

day? Faced with armed bandits, how did you

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

She knew the man who

for him,

Chapter 134

the worst, haunted by the possibility that her

whispered,

you expect from me?

calm, tinged with

repay

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