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.

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

old car, she noticed a striking red Lamborghini parked at

a jealous glance at the new sports car beside her.

who might be

surprised to find that both Scott and Andy were already awake without her having to yell at them. It was nothing short

we expecting guests today?” she asked naturally as she

guest

from behind the sofa, and soon, Chloe’s displeased face

in

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Chapter 281

she stood there for a

pleased with the address. She lifted her chin arrogantly and seated herself in

housemaid, why are you standing there like

to argue and feeling she had no right to, nodded and headed to

Andy were in the living room, silently observing

remained impassive as she went about her routine of making toasts and salads for them. Suddenly, she dropped a plate, the loud crash breaking the tense silence in the house. Startled, she hurriedly bent down to clean up the shards, accidentally cutting her finger on a piece.

hire someone like this as a

feel embarrassed. She quickened her pace, trying to tidy up as fast as

she had done something wrong and ended up in a place where she didn’t

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

hand for her to go and do something

child, spooned up his string beans, looking up at her with innocent curiosity.

that her cooking might upset their stomachs, so he had her “test” the food first. Eventually, somehow, her

would the maid eat at the same table as the employer’s family?” Chloe lectured Andy gently, but Molly’s smile

same table as the

snobbery, Andy still adored her. Especially when Chloe mentioned taking him to

all, she was his biological mother, and no one could

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

respond. After a moment, she

Andy’s biological mother, and despite their divorce, she still

to tidy up. Later, she fetched a bucket and mop from the utility room. When Scott emerged from his study again, he saw her

he said, holding out a

and didn’t take the

won’t have the energy to work for me if you don’t.”

them without making a