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 his puzzled

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

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

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

reflecting deep thought. Suddenly,

him.

“I heard gunshots.

it you who saved

against his arm before she added

to the woman nestled

you

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

wasn’t particularly late at 11 PM. On any other day, he would have likely still been in his study, but tonight he felt a

through his brain, and he avoided dredging up memories

night, time seemed

Yet, her determination persisted.

I’m angry,” Dominick responded in a deep

time she recalled the events of that year, those scenes resurfaced vividly. “Stephanie, I’m angry that you accepted Kevin’s pursuit without reason,

her and the other part, bluntly put, was his hatred for

long could he hate

of hatred

convinced she owed him, demanding

for you to acknowledge your

vain; eventually, he realized it was all a

recognize him

observed his conflicted expression, struggling to comprehend his demands for contrition and

that day? Faced with

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

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

for him, but

Chapter 134

the possibility that her actions could have cost him

tightly to his arm, she whispered, “I’ve been

expect from me? A token

was calm, tinged with a

I.. I’m here to repay you.” She blushed with

what you did. He claimed he