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

ever helped me was likely due to that scandal, though

a long while as she tried to

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 down the hillside, pounced on me, and tore my clothes. I was terrified and fought desperately to

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

her side, her face reflecting deep thought. Suddenly,

him.

“I heard gunshots.

it you who saved me that

paused, her cheek resting against his arm before she

to the woman nestled beside him, his thoughts

didn’t you

why didn’t

On any other day, he would have likely still been in his study, but tonight he felt a bit

a dull ache pulsed through his brain, and he avoided

time seemed suspended

Yet, her determination persisted.

angry,” Dominick responded

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

and the other

he hate her

hatred

her consumed him completely, holding Stephanie responsible for every misstep, convinced

I’ve waited for six years for you to

was in vain; eventually, he realized it

recognize

comprehend his demands for contrition and reconciliation, but

Faced

her as she recalled the sounds of struggle, gunfire, and cries of pain echoing

descended gradually, accompanied by the acrid scent of blood. She knew

for

Chapter 134

feared the worst, haunted by the possibility that her

to his arm, she whispered,

from

voice was calm, tinged with a hint

I.. I’m here to repay

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