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.

finally settling on Hayley, who stood before him, drenched

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

was rare for

dinner time with

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

needed to leave quickly in her drenched state. Outside, Dominick and Hayley spoke quietly, with Hayley looking remorseful. He handed her his coat, which she gratefully

car drove through the rainy night, Hayley looked

with a tray, carefully placing a small pot of soup on the table. Stephanie turned

impressive,” Vincent remarked sarcastically,

didn’t react angrily. 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

continued to ignore

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

Chapter 190

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

fault“, it was said in a

What was wrong

with her!

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

out of the

Dominick who had also emerged from the car. “Mr. Wellington, earlier on the phone, you mentioned. He

so much as a glance

she watched the man move heavily beside her, his steps echoing

couldn’t pinpoint when it had started; the dynamics between them had shifted. For instance, they were silent on the entire way home without talking to each

was, in fact, worse than an

at them, a chill settling in her heart as

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

for

to contain it any longer upon their

would get. He better not talk to

her nightclothes and rushing for another bath. She lay in the tub, the

the droplets shimmering

systems in every corner,

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

sons go hungry. Her thoughts wandered, realizing she

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

have to tell you to not soak in the