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?”

reminisced about certain events, her voice laden

and that’s understandable. The only time my father ever helped me was likely due to

silent for a long while as

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

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped his arm with both hands and

him.

“I heard gunshots.

who

arm before she added insistently,

gaze to the woman nestled beside him, his thoughts mingling

you

gaze directly. “Dominick, why didn’t you

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

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

the tranquil night, time seemed suspended for a prolonged

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded in a

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

to her and the other part, bluntly put, was

he hate her

hatred

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

years for you to acknowledge your mistake

was in vain; eventually, he

didn’t recognize him

demands for contrition and reconciliation,

day? Faced with armed bandits, how did

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

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

do something for him, but

Chapter 134

the possibility that her actions could

whispered, “I’ve been

you expect from me?

tinged with a hint

I.. I’m here to repay you.” She

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