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?”

events, her voice laden with gravity, oblivious to

my father ever helped me was likely due to that scandal, though

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

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

slept on her side, her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly,

him.

“I heard gunshots.

was it you who saved me

paused, her cheek resting against his arm before she added insistently,

the woman nestled beside him, his thoughts

didn’t you

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

late at 11 PM. On any other day, he would have likely still

dull ache pulsed through his

night, time seemed suspended for a prolonged

Yet, her determination persisted.

responded in

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

anger, in truth, was only partially known to her and the other part, bluntly

he hate

burden of hatred weighed

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

for you to acknowledge your mistake and

wait was in vain; eventually, he realized it was all

beginning, she didn’t recognize him for who he truly

comprehend his demands for contrition and reconciliation, but

that day? Faced with armed bandits, how

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

of blood. She knew the man who had come to her rescue had been

do something for him, but

Chapter 134

the possibility that her actions

whispered, “I’ve been seeking answers, trying to

from me?

calm, tinged with a

I’m here to repay you.”

what you did. He claimed he saved me,