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.

crying so hard. Stephanie trembled slightly and croaked

worry. You have us, your friends. Women today are independent. We don’t need to please or rely on anyone. We can earn our own living and spend our own money. When we have money, we spend it. When we don’t, we live frugally. We can still have a good life on ouT

voice choked with emotion, desperately trying to find the right words to comfort her. “Look at you, always walking on eggshells since you married Dominick. Even if they

emaciated frame. In just over a month, Stephanie had lost more than 20

let her hug her without saying a word, only tensing up whenever Molly mentioned

door a few times that Molly snapped out of it. She looked up,

indifferent while she herself was a tearful mess made Molly wonder whether she was too weak or Stephanie was pretending

Let’s

You mu

oatmeal before going to sleep, Molly said, standing up and pulling Stephanie along without

As they reached the door, she suddenly

eyes welled

some oatmeal. He was a really good cook. Even a simple bowl of

placed them in front of Stephanie. Oscar sat with them at the table, but he

day. Have some, too.

interest in the bowl of oatmeal she offered. He didn’t move, just quietly sitting with them,

were about to get up,

as clear and pleasant as

at the dining table, unable to process his

10:35 AM ď ď·