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.

Hayley, who stood before

to her damp skin, revealing her delicate shoulders and the faint outline of her legs

for Stephanie to

it being dinner time with many patrons around, an uneasy silence

please don’t scold her. This is all my fault,” Hayley said, her

Hayley looking remorseful.

the car drove through the rainy night, Hayley

Stephanie turned her attention away from the scene outside the window,

is impressive,” Vincent remarked sarcastically, seating himself

She calmly picked up her spoon and began

have some self–awareness. Hayley was worried you’d turned 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?”

Chapter 190

she set the spoon down and said calmly, “It’s all my fault” With that, she stood

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

What was wrong

with her!

the entrance. As soon as they got out of

concern. But the woman stepping out

to Dominick who had also emerged from the car. “Mr. Wellington, earlier on the

striding past Stephanie without so much as a glance

remained impassive as she watched the man move heavily beside

when it had started; the dynamics between them had shifted. For instance,

treatment was, in fact, worse than an

them, a chill settling in her heart as she wondered.

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

asked for his

to contain it any longer upon their

He better not talk to me

another bath. She lay in the tub, the

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

its ventilation systems in every corner,

the soothing warmth, the full–length mirror on the right wall obscured by

my sons go hungry. Her thoughts wandered, realizing she

naked Stephanie and causing her to almost

I have to tell you to not soak in