Crossroads

Chapter 281

Stephanie woke up with a sneeze.

She had dawdled until midnight the previous night before finally falling asleep. Just as the morning sun was barely making its appearance, her phone began buzzing incessantly with messages from the Innovate Group’s staff, reminding her to be at the airport on time. Today, she and three other models were scheduled to fly to Harlington for a photoshoot.

ང་ཧ་ཨཱཇཅ་༠ 。:

Clutching her phone, Stephanie was taken aback. She had genuinely forgotten about this.

“Okay,” With her characteristic sluggishness in the morning, she mumbled an acknowledgment and obediently went to brush her teeth.

“Stephanie, are you coming down with a cold?”

To her credit, before leaving, she remembered to call Molly. Perhaps it was her slightly nasal voice that prompted Molly’s concern.

“I’m on my way to the airport now. Looks like I’ll be staying in Harlington for three days.”

Seated in the taxi, Stephanie complained while on the phone, “Vincent is so afraid I’ll get fired that he had someone wake me up before dawn.

“Wait, the Innovate Group’s staff doesn’t fall under Vincent’s management, right? Does the Innovate Group provide wake–up services?”

With her mind still a bit foggy, Stephanie sneezed again, grabbing a tissue to cover her nose. The wake–up call matter seemed not worth pursuing further.

“Damn it, Stephanie! You said you were going to eat and drink your fill. Did you know Dominick didn’t attend the banquet, so you ran off too? You heartless…” Molly’s voice from the phone was filled with resentment.

Dominick didn’t go to the banquet either?

Just hearing that name put Stephanie in a bad mood.

“Hey, what were you up to last night, getting yourself sick? Will it affect your shoot?” Molly’s tone softened, worrying about her friend.

“I spent the night on the balcony in the cold wind…” Stephanie recalled the foolish things she had done last night, her voice trailing off. “I suspect the tenant in Unit 502 upstairs is someone I know.”

“What’s with Unit 502?”

“Never mind.” Stephanie’s expression became complicated; she didn’t want to talk about this.

“Oh, by the way, Oscar told me you were with Scott last night. Did he drive you home?”

Now, it was Molly’s turn to avoid the topic. She stiffened, answering, “Yes, we came back early.”

The two women, each preoccupied with their own thoughts, ended the call as Stephanie informed Molly that she was almost at the airport. Molly, with her innate caretaker instincts, reminded her once again to stay safe before hanging up.

six in the morning. Her busy day often began with preparing breakfast for Scott and Andy, rousing them from bed. She would then send Andy off to school and ensured Scott took his stomach medication after breakfast. She’d clean the floors, wash the dishes, and

Molly pulled up to Roberts Villa in her old car, she noticed a striking red Lamborghini parked at the entrance. The stark contrast between the two cars was undeniable.

her car, casting a jealous glance at the new sports car

might be

hall, she was surprised to find that both Scott and Andy

expecting guests today?” she asked naturally as she

guest here?”

and soon, Chloe’s displeased face

froze in the

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Chapter 281

there for a moment, she finally broke

wasn’t pleased with the address. She lifted her chin arrogantly and seated herself in the central position of the living room sofa,

housemaid, why are you standing there like

and feeling she had no right to, nodded and

in the living

she went about her routine of making toasts and salads for them. Suddenly, she dropped a plate, the loud crash

could you hire someone like this

room reached Molly’s cars, making her feel embarrassed. She quickened her pace, trying

ended up in a place

“I’ve already eaten before coming here, so you guys go ahead.” She forced

said nothing, merely waved his hand for her to go and do

Andy, still a child, spooned up his string beans, looking up at her

might upset their stomachs, so he had her “test” the food first. Eventually, somehow, her relationship with the father–son duo

gently, but Molly’s smile froze on her face, unable to keep up

maid wouldn’t dine at the same table as the employer’s family. It

despite Chloe’s previous snobbery, Andy still adored her. Especially when Chloe mentioned taking

and no one could change that blood

remained in the house, Scott set down his newspaper, looked up suddenly, and

respond. After a moment, she then nodded and murmured, “Sure.”

respond. Chloe was Andy’s biological mother, and despite their divorce,

back to the kitchen to tidy up. Later, she fetched a bucket and mop from the utility room. When Scott emerged from his study again, he saw her wearing gloves, a scarf, and even a work cap, as

out a box of biscuits.

blankly and didn’t take the cookies from

the energy to work for

them without making a move.