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?”

her voice laden with gravity, oblivious to his

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

reluctant to continue, remaining silent for a long while

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 on me, and tore my clothes. I

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

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

him.

“I heard gunshots.

it you who saved me

her cheek resting against his arm before she added insistently,

gaze to the woman nestled beside

you tell

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

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

was exhausted, and a dull ache pulsed through his brain, and

night, time seemed suspended for a prolonged

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded in

I’m angry that you accepted Kevin’s pursuit without reason, I’m angry

her and

he

of hatred weighed

misstep, convinced she owed him, demanding her

I’ve waited for six years for you to acknowledge your mistake and

was in vain; eventually, he

the beginning, she didn’t recognize him for who

his demands for contrition and reconciliation, but acknowledging his justified

you injured that day? Faced with armed bandits, how did you

recalled the sounds

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

longed to do something for him, but fear paralyzed

Chapter 134

possibility that her actions could have

to his arm, she whispered, “I’ve been

you expect from me? A token of

tinged with a hint

I.. I’m here to repay you.”

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