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.

then send Andy off to school and ensured Scott took his stomach medication after breakfast. She’d clean the floors, wash

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

out of her car, casting a jealous glance at

might be

both Scott and Andy were already awake without her having to yell at them. It was nothing short of a

she asked naturally as she walked

the guest

and soon, Chloe’s displeased face

froze in

1/8

Chapter 281

stood there for a moment, she finally broke

her chin arrogantly and seated herself in the central position of the living room sofa, exuding the

you standing there like

she had no right to, nodded and

and Andy were in the living room, silently observing the

for them. Suddenly, she dropped a plate, the loud crash breaking the tense silence in the house. Startled, she hurriedly

you hire someone like

voice from the living room reached Molly’s cars, making her feel embarrassed. She

as if she had done something wrong and ended up in a place where she didn’t belong, feeling utterly humiliated.

was truly agonizing for Molly. “I’ve already eaten before coming here, so you guys go ahead.”

for her to go and

child, spooned up his string beans,

eat together at the same table. However, Scott had expressed concern that her cooking might upset their stomachs, so he had her “test” the food first. Eventually, somehow, her relationship with the father–son duo had grown closer and more

at the same table as the employer’s family?” Chloe lectured Andy gently, but Molly’s smile froze on her face,

typically, a maid wouldn’t dine at the same table as the

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

mother, and no one could change that blood

Andy today.” When only Molly and Scott remained in the house, Scott

a moment, she then nodded

she didn’t know how to respond. Chloe was Andy’s biological mother, and despite their divorce, she still had

a bucket and mop from the utility room. When Scott emerged from his study again, he saw her wearing gloves, a scarf, and even

breakfast,” he said, holding out

didn’t take

to work for me if

just held them without