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.

dirty, andy ground, her head bowed, her pale face

started to get up, leaning on the broken side of the slide. But her legs were numb from staying curled up in the tunnel for too long, and her ankle throbbed with a dull

stood up, her right foot twisted,

forward and

Have you lost your voice! He was inexplicably annoyed,

echoed in her mind, a painful brand etched deep

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

“Are you being stubborn or just trying to

would have retorted immediately, saying she didn’t care about his

she remained silent. She didn’t want a

anything related to it. He had once

desolate place, there wasn’t a sound to be heard, and the flickering, broken streetlight

had lost all patience. Without another word, he scooped her up and strode

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 held

the passenger seat and slammed the door with a force that startled

he walked to the driver’s side, got in, and started the car. With

to hide,” he mustered darkly, his long fingers gripping the steering

surprised to see he hadn’t

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

disinfectant, the wailing sirens of ambulances. Terrifying

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