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.

arrive at Roberts Villa promptly at 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

Molly pulled up to Roberts Villa in her old car, she noticed a striking

jealous

who might be driving such a

was surprised to find that both Scott and Andy were already awake without her having to yell at them. It

we expecting guests today?” she asked naturally as she

guest

the sofa, and soon, Chloe’s displeased

in

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Chapter 281

After she stood there for a moment,

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

are you standing there like an idiot? Go

tone was commanding. Molly, unwilling to argue and feeling she had

were in the living

dropped a plate, the loud crash breaking the

could you hire someone like

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

if she had done something wrong and ended up in

so you guys go ahead.” She forced out an

for her to

child, spooned up his string beans, looking up

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

the employer’s family?” Chloe lectured Andy gently, but Molly’s smile froze on her face, unable to keep

the same table as the employer’s family. It

adored her. Especially when Chloe mentioned taking him to school today, his

all, she was his biological mother, and no one could change that blood

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

respond. After a moment,

Chloe was Andy’s biological mother, and despite their

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

breakfast,” he said, holding out a box of biscuits.

blankly and didn’t take

You won’t have the energy to work for me if you don’t.” He then pressed the

them without making