Crossroads

Chapter 182

“Let’s go over there and sit for a while.”

They walked out of Pearson Villa’s banquet hall. It was already 9 PM, and the night breeze felt a bit chilly.

The dark night made the banquet lights behind them seem even more dazzling. They saw the night view as they stepped out of Pearson Villa’s gates. The lights gradually dimmed, and the violin music behind them faded.

When they were away from the flattery and noise of the banquet, their hearts also calmed in the quiet night.

Stephanie stopped at Pearson Villa’s gates and looked around. On either side were flower beds, and the parking lot was behind the villa.

The Pearson family had organized this grand birthday banquet, inviting many distinguished guests from the business and political worlds. Some cars were even parked outside the walls, making the surrounding roads look a bit crowded.

They had to wait a while for the bodyguards to fetch the car.

“There are a few lounge chairs by the pool. Let’s go sit there for a bit.”

Stephanie thought, since they had to wait anyway, she got excited, let go of Dominick’s hand, and walked straight towards the right rear side of

Pearson Villa.

She curiously looked around at the plants, suddenly remembering something from the past. She raised her voice and muttered, “Oh, right, there were two melon vines planted behind the statue. I wonder if they bore fruit this year…”

He watched her light footsteps ahead. She seemed to be in a much better mood.

≈ 5 * = AF NEW A

Dominick frowned slightly and followed her. At night, Pearson Villa’s garden was lit with soft yellow lamps, not too bright, adding a touch of tranquility.

Pearson Villa wasn’t as grand as Wellington Villa, but Wellington Villa was so large that Stephanie often complained about its pool being suitable for filming horror scenes. She seemed to like here more…

She was very familiar with Pearson Villa.

Dominick stopped under a lamp, dim light casting a soft glow on him. He gazed at her, increasingly suspicious…

followed them out of curiosity. Seeing

the statue, fiddling with

Wait a

minute. Wait

down, squatting

out of the tangled vines, her face darkening.

it. Someone killed my

food, loved melons during the summer melon harvest season. She

often. Mason would tease her, saying it wouldn’t be good even

some flowers.

melon.

a melon had started to grow, but a damn rat bit off its root, so

young, or perhaps she felt something deep inside. It seemed like some things were destined to be tragedies. She was afraid of tragedies. Then, she inexplicably cried uncontrollably, which scared Oscar, who stood still and didn’t know

a complex expression. Even the usually slow Vincent sensed something was off and asked in a serious

shouldn’t have been so familiar

knew, the Reed family of Caclorium and the Pearson family of Frostvale had no connections or business dealings. Mason’s bizarre comments had already caused some uncase, and seeing Stephanie’s current behavior only

a lot when I was little,” she said

was skeptical. “Stephanie, you were such a handful. Why did you keep running off

Chapter 182

brushed some grass off her clothes and looked up, noticing Dominick staring at her with an

momentarily stunned, not understanding the annoyance on

to inform them that the car was waiting

lit backyard of Pearson Villa, Stephanie inadvertently turned away,

as usual. He walked over to her side, naturally wrapping his right arm around her

she felt Dominick’s grip on her waist was a

car door for them. Some of their business acquaintances passing by smiled and wished them

secrets. Dominick had told

secrets, ones

admitted to wanting to protect Oscar. Oscar was different from

Oscar was just an illegitimate child, often mocked as a reclusive fool. People loved to make

car. As it drove smoothly, Dominick took a call from Hayley. The woman over the phone asked about Oscar, feigning concern. Dominick replied, “Oscar isn’t at Pearson

very displeased. “None of them have good intentions. Who knows what Hayley’s up to with all her fake

truly annoyed. She remembered Teresa and the other women’s