Crossroads

Chapter 190

Stephanie leaned back, casually glancing towards the restaurant entrance, her gaze tinged with boredom and mild curiosity.

In the next heartbeat, her eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by what she saw.

“Thank goodness you’re

you’re here. The words rushed out from a figure sprinting towards her breathlessly.

Stephanie struggled to comprehend the situation. Hayley appeared before her, drenched to the bone. Water dripped from her clothes, hair, and fingertips, painting a picture of utter disarray.

“What are you doing?” Stephanie asked, a hint of disbelief coloring her tone

Hayley’s voice trembled with urgency and regret as she gasped for air. “Stephanie, I’m so sorry, I used Dominick’s phone earlier, but I shouldn’t have answered your call just now…” Her complexion, pale from the torrential rain, betrayed her distress. “We were worried sick about you. Please don’t be angry with Dominick. I’m really sorry about this.

“She was sorry? What for? Stephanie wondered.

“Stephanie, why are you being so willful!”

From beyond the restaurant’s glass doors, a figure strode purposefully towards them, his voice laced with biting frustration

“In this pouring rain, you run off and then shut off your phone. Are you deliberately seeking attention, Stephanie?“

Vincent’s anger flared, his e

Leyes narrowing as he observed Stephanie seated calmly while Hayley stood before her, soaked and apologetic. He fought the urge to reprimand her on the spot.

He had cautioned Dominick countless times against indulging women as it only fostered unnecessary drama.

The atmosphere in the small restaurant, which was not more than a thousand square feet in size, tensed noticeably with the arrival of these prominent guests.

The few waitstaff huddled in a corner, if their memory served them right, recognized the man with brown hair as Vincent, the most popular among women in the city. The other man, though unfamiliar to them, seemed even more formidable and less approachable based on his demeanor.

Clearly, these were important individuals

Stephanie’s face remained impassive, unmoved in her seat.

Ignoring Vincent’s chastisement completely, she sat in silence. Yet, she couldn’t ignore Dominick’s intense gaze, which spoke volumes.

“What have I done wrong this time? Stephanie thought.

on Hayley, who stood before him,

her damp skin, revealing her delicate shoulders and the faint outline of her legs beneath the skirt. The soft lighting of the restaurant wasn’t bright, but it highlighted her red lace bra beneath

was rare for Stephanie to remain

being a public place and it being dinner time with many patrons around, an uneasy silence settled among

go back, please don’t scold her. This is all my

Outside, Dominick and Hayley spoke quietly, with Hayley looking remorseful. He handed her his coat, which she gratefully accepted and offered a small smile

through the rainy night, Hayley looked back

Stephanie turned her attention away from

appetite is impressive,” Vincent remarked sarcastically, seating

didn’t react angrily. She calmly picked up her spoon and began eating, treating Vincent as if he

phone because of jealousy, so she ran out into the rain to find you. Do you have any idea how guilty

continued to ignore

I’m wrong to reprimand you?” Vincent persisted,

Chapter 190

after eating about half the soup. Finding it bland, she set the spoon down and said calmly, “It’s all my fault” With that, she stood up and walked towards

her in bewilderment. Usually, if Stephanie said, “It’s all my fault“, it was said in

What was wrong

with her!

at the entrance. As soon as they got out of the car, she hurried

Wellington, are you alright?” Sandra’s voice quivered with concern. But the woman stepping out of the car seemed oddly composed, her first words demanding. Td like some soup,

turning to Dominick who had also emerged from the car. “Mr. Wellington, earlier on the phone, you mentioned. He mentioned that Stephanie was not at the hotel and that she

past Stephanie without so much as a glance and headed

expression remained impassive as she watched the man move heavily beside her, his steps echoing

would have surely reprimanded her immediately. But now, she couldn’t pinpoint when it had started; the dynamics between

silent treatment was, in fact, worse than an

glanced at them, a chill settling in her

her. “Mrs. Wellington,

for his

it any longer upon their return home, she vented her anger, slimming the

treatment he wants, then that’s what he would get. He better not talk to

rushing for another bath. She lay in the tub,

large bathrub, the droplets shimmering in

bathroom, expansive with its ventilation systems in every corner,

the full–length mirror on the right wall obscured by a haze of steam, enveloping the Tranquil

Her thoughts wandered, realizing she hadn’t eaten enough for

bathroom door swung open, startling the naked Stephanie and causing her

not soak