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.

gaze finally settling on Hayley, who stood

autumn evening, Hayley’s attire, a white, semi–transparent dress, clung to 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

for Stephanie

the restaurant being a public place and it being dinner time with many

go back, please don’t scold her. This is all my fault,” Hayley said, her voice tinged with

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

the car drove through the rainy night, Hayley looked back frequently

small pot of soup on the table. Stephanie turned her attention away from the scene outside the window,

is impressive,” Vincent remarked sarcastically, seating himself opposite

up her spoon and began eating, treating Vincent

have some self–awareness. Hayley was worried you’d turned off your phone because of jealousy,

continued to

you think I’m wrong to reprimand you?” Vincent persisted, sensing something unusual

Chapter 190

set the spoon down and said calmly, “It’s all my fault” With that, she stood up and walked towards the restaurant door with a blank

my fault“, it was said in a fit of anger. But

What was wrong

with her!

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

with concern. But the woman stepping out of the car seemed oddly composed, her first words demanding. Td

by the request before turning to Dominick who had also emerged from the car. “Mr. Wellington, earlier on the phone, you mentioned. He mentioned

Stephanie without so much as a glance and headed directly

remained impassive as she watched the man move heavily beside her,

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

was, in fact, worse than an

them, a chill settling in her heart

Stephanie, trying to console her. “Mrs. Wellington,

for his

longer upon their return home, she vented her anger, slimming

would get. He better not talk to me for the rest of his life! She berated

She lay in the tub,

splashed the water in the large bathrub, the droplets shimmering in the soft bathroom light, wetting her

bathroom, expansive with its ventilation systems in every corner, offered her

warmth, the full–length mirror on the

wandered, realizing she hadn’t eaten enough for dinner and promptly got

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

I have to tell you to not soak in the bathtub for too