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

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

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

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 dragged me

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

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

him.

“I heard gunshots.

who saved me

her cheek resting against his arm

gaze to the woman nestled

didn’t you

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

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

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

seemed suspended for

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded in a deep

of that year, those scenes resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m angry

truth, was only partially known to her and the other part, bluntly put, was his hatred for

could he

hatred

misstep, convinced she owed him, demanding her repayment for a lifetime, no matter the

waited for six years for you to acknowledge your mistake and seek

he realized it was all

beginning, she didn’t recognize

struggling to comprehend his demands for contrition and

injured that day? Faced with armed bandits, how

the sounds of struggle,

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

to do something for

Chapter 134

possibility that her actions could

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

expect from me? A

calm, tinged with

to repay

what you did. He claimed he saved me, and