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?”

about certain events, her voice laden with gravity, oblivious to his

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

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

at sunset that day when I was unfortunate enough to get separated from my 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

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped his arm

him.

“I heard gunshots.

who saved me

words paused, her cheek resting against his arm before she

woman nestled beside him, his

you

his gaze directly. “Dominick, why didn’t you tell me that

other day, he would have likely still been in his study, but

ache pulsed through his brain, and he avoided dredging up memories

the tranquil night, time seemed suspended for

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded

resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m angry

known to her and the other

could he hate her

hatred weighed heavily

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

you to acknowledge your

wait was in vain; eventually, he realized it was

didn’t recognize him for who he truly

demands for contrition and reconciliation,

day? Faced with armed bandits, how

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

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

to do something for him, but fear paralyzed

Chapter 134

possibility that her actions could have cost him

tightly to his arm, she whispered, “I’ve been

expect from me? A token of

tinged with a hint of

here to repay

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