Crossroads

Chapter 253

was already early winter, and the wind carried a biting chill in the dead of night. Since most of Stephanie’s clothes got soaked in Flaming Bar Molly immediately pushed her into the bathroom for a hot bath when they returned to the apartment.

Stephanie was unusually quiet, a silence that made Molly very y uneasy.

As soon as the bathroom door was closed, Molly paced nervously outside, afraid she might soak too long and pass out, or worse, do something foolish due to the shock.

Fortunately about fifteen minutes later, the bathroom door opened

“Your hair is all wet from the bath. Let me get the hairdryer. Molly said as she hurriedly fetched it, along with the household first aid kit.

Molly’s tiny apartment was about 700 square feet. The master bedroom had an en–suite bathroom, while the separate bathroom was on the small balcony. Since the master bedroom was Molly’s, Stephanie, respecting others‘ privacy or perhaps due to a deep–seated reluctance to be close to anyone, always chose to use the bathroom outside on the balcony

Molly finally dried Stephanie’s long hair and led her to the guest room. She quickly opened the first aid kit and began to massage the bruises around Stephanie’s wrist. “Does your wrist still hurt?” Molly asked

Stephanie sat on the edge of the bed, expressionless and silent, but she didn’t refuse Molly’s help. As Molly applied the medicinal alcohol to her bruises, she cursed angrily. “That bastard Dominick actually grabbed your wrist so hard it bruised. Is he out of his mind“”

When Molly mentioned Dominick, she glanced up at Stephanie cautiously and lowered her voice, calling softly. “Stephanie..

Her quietness made Molly worry even more.

“Stephanie, if you’re feeling upset, just say it. Don’t keep in bottled up. I’ll do my best to help you” As soon as she spoke, Molly’s eyes welled up with

cars.

friend crying so hard. Stephanie trembled slightly and croaked out a few words.

can earn our own living and spend our own money. When we have money, we

the right words to comfort her. “Look at you, always walking on eggshells since you married Dominick. Even if they serve you gourmet food, you’d still lose your appetite. If they don’t appreciate you, remember we still got us.

feeling the bones of her emaciated frame. In just over a month, Stephanie had lost more than 20 pounds, and the more Molly thought about it, the more

only tensing up whenever Molly mentioned the Wellingtons”

the door a few times that Molly snapped out of it. She looked up, embarrassed to see that she had

wonder whether she was too weak or Stephanie was pretending to be too strong. If she had

Let’s have

You mu

standing up and pulling Stephanie along without any further

her pulling. As they reached the door, she suddenly

welled up

Even a simple bowl of oatmeal

Stephanie. Oscar sat with them at the table, but he didn’t seem to have an appetite

some, too.

she offered. He didn’t

finished their meal and were about to get up, he looked at

and pleasant as ever, gentle

at the dining table, unable to process his meaning. His sudden statement seemed

10:35 AM ď ď·