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.

settling on Hayley, who stood before

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 it highlighted her red lace bra beneath the soaked

was rare for

restaurant being a public place and it being dinner time

This is all my fault,” Hayley said, her

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,

the table. Stephanie turned her attention away

impressive,” Vincent remarked

up her spoon and began eating,

worried you’d turned off your phone because of jealousy, so she ran out into the rain to find you. Do you have

to

to reprimand you?”

Chapter 190

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

Stephanie said, “It’s all my fault“, it was said in a fit of anger. But tonight,

What was wrong

with her!

Sandra was waiting at the entrance. As soon as they got out

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

before 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

without so much as a glance and headed directly upstairs

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

now, she couldn’t pinpoint when it had started; the dynamics between them had shifted. For instance, they were

silent treatment was, in fact, worse than

at them, a chill settling in her heart as she

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

asked for his

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

what he would get. He better not talk to me for the

incensed, grabbing her nightclothes and rushing for another bath. She lay

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

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

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

Her thoughts wandered, realizing

startling the naked Stephanie and causing her to almost slip on the

tell you to not soak in