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.

remained expressionless, his gaze finally settling on Hayley, who stood before him, drenched from the

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 to

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

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

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

night, Hayley looked back

table. Stephanie turned her attention away

appetite is impressive,” Vincent remarked sarcastically, seating himself

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

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

continued to

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

Chapter 190

Stephanie replied after eating about half the soup. Finding it bland, she set the spoon down and said calmly, “It’s all my fault” With

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

What was wrong

with her!

was waiting at the entrance. As soon as they got out of the car,

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

from the car. “Mr. Wellington, earlier on the phone, you mentioned. He mentioned that Stephanie was not at the hotel and that she

as a

expression remained impassive as she watched the man move heavily

now, she couldn’t pinpoint when it had started; the

was, in fact, worse than

in her heart as she wondered. Did

to Stephanie, trying to console her. “Mrs. Wellington, in truth, Mr.

asked for

Stephanie was seething with frustration. Unable to contain it any longer upon their return home, she vented her anger, slimming the door shut behind

that’s what he would get. He better not talk

bath. She lay in the tub, the

splashed the water in the large bathrub, the droplets shimmering in the

its ventilation systems in every corner, offered her a sense of security as she

of time in the soothing warmth, the full–length mirror on the right wall obscured by a haze of steam, enveloping the

go hungry. Her thoughts wandered, realizing she hadn’t eaten

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

tell you to not soak in the