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?”

events, her voice laden with gravity, oblivious to his puzzled

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

silent for a long while

mountainside. Suddenly, five or six bandits from a mountain village attacked me. They dragged me down the hillside, pounced on me, and tore my

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

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

him.

“I heard gunshots.

you who saved

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

to the woman nestled beside

didn’t you

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

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

and a dull ache pulsed through his brain, and

seemed suspended for

Yet, her determination persisted.

Dominick responded in a deep

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

partially known to her and the

long could he

hatred weighed heavily on

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

you to acknowledge your mistake and

he realized it was all a

recognize him for

struggling to comprehend his demands for

day? Faced

recalled the sounds of struggle, gunfire, and

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

to do something for

Chapter 134

that

whispered, “I’ve been seeking

from me?

calm, tinged with

here to repay you.”

taking credit for what you did. He claimed