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.

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

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

casting a jealous glance at the new

might be

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

expecting guests today?” she asked naturally as she walked in.

guest

the sofa, and soon, Chloe’s displeased face appeared in sight.

froze in the doorway.

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Chapter 281

for a

with the address. She lifted her chin arrogantly and seated herself in the central position of the living room sofa, exuding the

standing there like an idiot? Go

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

living room,

a plate, the loud crash breaking the tense silence in the house. Startled,

could you hire someone like

She quickened her pace, trying to tidy up as fast as she

was awful, as if she had done something wrong and ended up in a

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

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

with us,” Andy, still a child, spooned up his string beans, looking up at her with innocent

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

lectured Andy gently, but Molly’s

wouldn’t dine at the same table as the employer’s family. It seemed she had truly crossed a

her. Especially when Chloe mentioned

all, she was his biological mother, and no one

and see Andy today.” When only Molly and Scott remained in the house, Scott set down his newspaper, looked up suddenly, and

a moment, she then

know how to respond. Chloe was Andy’s biological mother, and despite their divorce, she

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 if she

holding out

and didn’t take the cookies

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

held them without making a