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?”

certain events, her voice laden with gravity, oblivious to his puzzled

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

for a long while as she tried to ease her

seen it 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 down the hillside, pounced on me, and tore my clothes. I was terrified

Dominick froze momentarily.

Chapter 134

thought. Suddenly, she clasped his arm with both hands and leaned

him.

“I heard gunshots.

you who saved me that

against his arm before she added insistently, “I krlow you saved

nestled

didn’t you

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

have likely still

and a dull ache pulsed through his brain, and he avoided dredging

the tranquil night, time seemed suspended

Yet, her determination persisted.

Dominick responded

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

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

he hate

burden of hatred

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

years for you to acknowledge

he

didn’t recognize him

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

injured that day? Faced with armed bandits, how

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

the acrid scent of blood. She knew the man who had come to her

to do something for

Chapter 134

feared the worst, haunted by the possibility that her

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

do you expect from me? A token

calm, tinged

I.. I’m here to repay you.”

you did. He claimed he saved me, and I