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 with gravity, oblivious

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

long while as she tried to ease

from my classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly, five or six bandits from a mountain village attacked

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

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

him.

“I heard gunshots.

you who saved me

cheek resting against his arm before she added insistently, “I krlow you

lowered his gaze to the woman nestled beside him, his thoughts

didn’t you

directly. “Dominick, why didn’t

11 PM. On any other day, he would have likely still been in his study, but tonight he felt a bit

pulsed through his brain, and he

tranquil night, time seemed suspended for a prolonged

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded

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

partially known to her and the other part, bluntly

long could he hate

of hatred weighed

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

six years for you to acknowledge your mistake and seek

he realized it was all a mere

didn’t recognize him for

comprehend his demands for contrition and

that day? Faced with armed bandits,

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

descended gradually, accompanied by the acrid scent of blood. She knew the man who had come to her

something for him, but fear paralyzed

Chapter 134

that her actions could have

to his arm, she whispered, “I’ve

you expect from

tinged with a hint of

I.. I’m here to repay you.”

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