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

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

lips lightly, reluctant to continue, remaining silent for a long while

you hadn’t 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

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

her side, her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly, she clasped his

him.

“I heard gunshots.

you who saved me that

arm before she added insistently, “I krlow you saved

his gaze to the woman nestled beside him, his

you

directly. “Dominick, why

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

and a dull ache pulsed through his brain, and he avoided dredging up memories of the

the tranquil night, time seemed suspended for a

Yet, her determination persisted.

angry,” Dominick responded

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

her and the other part, bluntly

could he hate her

hatred weighed heavily on

her consumed him completely, holding Stephanie responsible for every misstep, convinced she owed him, demanding her repayment for a lifetime, no matter

waited for six years for you

he realized it

didn’t recognize

his demands for contrition and reconciliation, but acknowledging

that day? Faced with armed bandits, how

the sounds

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

something for him,

Chapter 134

by the possibility that

to his arm, she whispered, “I’ve been seeking answers, trying

from

voice was calm, tinged

to repay you.” She blushed

for what you did.