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?”

laden with

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

continue, remaining silent for a long while as she tried to ease her emotions, managing only a

seen it yourself. It was 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

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped

him.

“I heard gunshots.

who saved me

arm before she added insistently, “I krlow you saved

woman nestled beside

you tell

gaze directly. “Dominick, why

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

ache pulsed through his brain, and he avoided dredging up

the tranquil night, time seemed suspended for

Yet, her determination persisted.

angry,” Dominick responded

time she recalled the events of that year, those scenes resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m angry that you accepted Kevin’s pursuit without reason, I’m angry that you married

and the other part, bluntly put, was his hatred

long could he hate her

hatred weighed heavily

Stephanie responsible for every misstep, convinced she

for you to acknowledge

was in vain; eventually, he realized it

recognize him for who he

his demands for contrition and reconciliation,

that day? Faced

memories were clouded; fear gripped her as she recalled the sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of pain echoing in the

of blood. She knew the man who had come to

for him, but fear

Chapter 134

that her actions could have

his arm, she whispered, “I’ve been

from me? A token of

was calm, tinged with

I.. I’m here to repay you.” She blushed with

you did. He claimed he saved me,