Crossroads

Chapter 260

Stephanie never imagined that the first person that found her would be him.

She remained huddled in the cramped U–shaped tunnel of the children’s slick, lifting her head slightly. The dim streetlights outside cast a hazy. dreamlike glow as she gazed at the man who suddenly appeared before her. It was Dominick.

When the saw his familiar, stern face, her eyes welled up with tears.

She had so much to say, but the words caught in her throat. She stared at him, afraid he would vanish like a mirage, just like in her dreams, if she called out.

“How long do you plan to hide in there!” Dominick called out impatiently.

Seeing her still motionless, he furrowed his brows in irritation. “Get out!

His deep, magnetic voice was cold and commanding. Yet, she didn’t move. Finally, Dominick’s face darkened. He bent his tall frame, reached in, and, without a hint of gentleness, grabbed her wrist and yanked her out.

Stephanie was caught off guard. Before she knew it, she was pulled forward, her head banging against the slide’s inner wall several times.

Dominick released her as soon as she was out, looking down at her disheveled hair and her pathetic, half–kneeling posture.

“If you want to trade your suffering for sympathy, you’d better make sure you have the worth and ability: Otherwise, you’ll just look foolish His eyes were sharp. his words cold and scomful.

To him, she was worthless now.

not to hear him. She supported herself on the dirty, andy

the slide. But her legs were numb from staying curled up in the tunnel for too long,

as she stood up, her right foot twisted, and she thought she

forward and caught

ankle, and you won’t tell me? Have you lost your voice! He

in her mind, a painful brand etched deep

kept her head down, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. She didn’t cry easily, so why did

Dominick’s face darkened. “Are you being stubborn or just trying to squeeze

the past. Stephanie would have retorted immediately, saying she didn’t care about his

now, she remained silent. She didn’t want

related to it. He had once promised

was bone–chilling. Especially in this desolate place, there wasn’t a sound to be heard, and the flickering, broken streetlight only added to the

another word, he scooped her

up, Stephanie instinctively tried to struggle free, but her efforts only intensified his expression as he tightened his grip. His frustration was evident in the way he

her into the passenger seat and slammed the door

in, and started the car. With a press of the accelerator, they sped away

his long fingers gripping the steering wheel as

reaction was slow. She was surprised to see he hadn’t brought a driver, opting to

in thoughts, she recognized the familiar white buildings ahead, panicked, and raised her voice. “I don’t want to go to the hospital. Let me

hospital. The smell of disinfectant, the wailing sirens of ambulances. Terrifying memories

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