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

only made Molly cry harder. “Stephanie, don’t 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

trying to find 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. Just don’t do anything

frame. In just over a month, Stephanie had

only tensing up whenever Molly mentioned

wasn’t until Oscar knocked on the door a few times that Molly snapped out of it. She looked up, embarrassed to see

she was too weak or Stephanie was pretending to be too strong.

hungry. Let’s

You mu

before going to sleep, Molly said, standing up and pulling Stephanie

As they reached

eyes welled

had made some oatmeal. He was a really good cook. Even a simple bowl of oatmeal tasted so good, with the right balance of softness and warmth,

served two bowls and placed them in front of Stephanie. Oscar sat with them at the table, but

too. Molly said, increasingly taking on a caretaker

bowl of oatmeal she offered. He didn’t move, just quietly sitting

get up, he looked at Stephanie

clear and pleasant as ever, gentle

was stunned at the dining table, unable to process

10:35 AM ď ď·