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?”

voice laden with gravity, oblivious to

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

a long while as she tried to ease her emotions, managing only

my classmates on the mountainside. Suddenly, five or six bandits

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

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

him.

“I heard gunshots.

it you who saved me that

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

to the woman nestled beside him, his thoughts mingling but

didn’t you tell

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

any other day, he would have likely still been in

dull ache pulsed through his brain, and he

tranquil night, time seemed

Yet, her determination persisted.

angry,” Dominick responded in a deep

she recalled the events of that year, those scenes resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m angry that you accepted

and

long could he hate

burden of hatred weighed heavily on

convinced she owed

you to acknowledge your mistake and seek

vain; eventually, he realized it was all

recognize him for who he truly

demands for contrition and reconciliation, but acknowledging

you injured that day? Faced

recalled the sounds

by the acrid scent of blood. She knew the man who had come

to do something for him, but fear

Chapter 134

that her actions could have cost him his

she whispered, “I’ve been seeking

expect from me? A token of

voice was calm, tinged

repay you.” She blushed

for what you did. He claimed he saved me,