Crossroads

Chapter 178

“There’s one thing I never understood…”

As dusk fell, Frostvale lit up with colorful lights, and the bustling commercial streets were filled with people. On the second floor of a high–end café, a woman sat by the glass curtain wall and gazed outside, her eyes a bit dazed, as if lost in memories.

Chloe, who was across the table, raised her voice again. “Hayley, I’m talking to you. What are you daydreaming about?” Hayley snapped back to reality and flashed her usual smile. “What’s up?”

Chloe raised an eyebrow at her, lit a cigarette, and took a puff. “Hayley, you’ve been an executive for too long. Your smile looks really fake.” She spoke very bluntly.

“It’s just an occupational habit.” Hayley didn’t mind and shrugged.

Chloe didn’t dwell on it either, knowing that Hayley’s role as an executive at the Innovate Group wasn’t easy.

Chloe continued, “By the way, Hayley, the Pearson family’s banquet should have started by now. Why aren’t you there?”

Hayley didn’t seem to care, taking a light sip of her coffee and speaking nonchalantly. “There’s no need to go.”

“The Pearson family is where you belong, Hayley,” Chloe said. “People see you as a strong career woman, but I know you long for a family because you grew up without parents. So, stop pretending.”

She married Scott right after she graduated from university. Chloe was a bit like Stephanie, with little social experience and a direct way of speaking. Sometimes Chloe compared herself to Stephanie but always felt she fell short, which irked her.

“If you ask me, you should marry a man while you’re still young and let love enrich your life. Stop thinking about work all the time. And also…” Chloe paused, looking at Hayley with a suspicious expression. “Hayley, there’s one thing I’ve never understood… How did you end up with that fool from the Pearson family?”

was holding the coffee cup,

giving Hayley a chance to respond, she continued, “I never said anything when you were with that

that fool as soon as possible. From what I know, Mrs. Teresa Pearson hates Oscar, the illegitimate child. They’re probably announcing inheritance matters at tonight’s banquet,

and took a few more sips until the cup was empty, then slowly set

good looks, and he’s been in a vegetative state abroad for years. Even if he wakes up, he might have physical issues.

she remarked, “I never had a relationship

and Oscar a couple? You said it yourself. You were

Hayley and said, “I knew it! I was wondering how you ended up

studied in Aurorastra, I remember clearly you had a crush on Dominick. At the beginning of freshman year, you mentioned him to me several times, the Wellington family’s oldest third–generation heir, acting all shy like a little

wearing her habitual smile, albeit slightly strained. She casually stated,

This quirk was well–known with a bit of digging. Hayley had no chance of getting

as she looked her over, snuffing out her cigarette disdainfully. “It seems that idiot finally served some

the Pearson family she

to the strikingly handsome Oscar, but he happened to be Dominick’s best friend. Anything related to Dominick piqued her interest,

They couldn’t control their emotions, feeling a strong

recalling the day she first met Dominick on the

Chapter 178

Being new to studying abroad, she wasn’t used to the environment, and the outgoing nature

quickly gathered her fallen textbooks, only thinking about getting back to the classroom. Suddenly, a deep voice behind

one more.”

just make out a well–built man

background. Like an arrogant young noble, he called out and then did nothing, waiting for her to come and retrieve her