Crossroads

Stephanie snatched her smartphone from the nightstand, a flicker of surprise on her lace when she saw the caller.

She pressed the answer button and called out with a relaxed tone. "Auntie Diana," she smiled, greeting cheerfully.

"Steff, you sound happy today. Did Kevin come home early for dinner?" Diana teased from the other end as she heard Stephanie's voice.

Stephanie's face fell instantly. She wondered if she should tell Diana what was happening lately.

Diana, meanwhile, grew more excited and quickly added, "Steffi, I met a fortune teller today. She said you've made a good match and won't have to suffer in the future....

"I know it sounds superstitious, but it puts my mind at ease. Since I took you away from the Reeds, it's been hard for you. You even wanted to use your mom's legacy to help Kevin, Honestly, I was against it then, but as long as you're happy and doing well, I think your mom would be happy for you..."

"I'm not happy... Stephanie thought.

Diana's mention of her mother brought a rush of emotion, and Stephanie's eyes stung with tears.

"Steffi? Is something wrong?" Diana sensed the silence on the other end of the phone and asked with concern.

"No, nothing" Stephanie forced a smile and quickly made up a lie. "Just a bit of a cold recently"

Considering her aunt's heart condition, she didn't intend to share the news of her divorce and pregnancy just yet.

Then, Stephanie quickly changed the subject, asking "Aunt Diana, is the sanatorium trying a new medication? Does that mean you can't come home this Christmas?"

"I've heard about a medication from abroad that might help. I don't know how much this treatment will cost, but Steffi, you shouldn't worry about me. I'm used to it all and don't want to be a burden to you."

"How can you be a burden? You're the only family I have left, Aunt Diana. Please don't leave me alone," Stephanie said, becoming a bit emotional as memories of the past surged.

ed for a moment before asking in a low voice, "Steffi, do you really never plan to go back to the Reeds?

Diana paused for a

"I've cut ties with them for many years now. No one knows about me, and I don't care about it either."

Diana's expression became a mix of resignation and helplessness as she heard this.

"Forget it. Let's leave that behind us. No more talk of the Roods."

Then, she smiled slyly and added, "By the way, Steffi, I ran into someone you know at the doctor's. Guess who..."

Suddenly, the door opened with a click.

Stephanie lifted her head alertly, her eyes darting to the door. She hadn't even heard the rest of Diana's sentence.

Dominick walked in, casting a suspicious look her way.

"Steffi, what's going on?" Diana's voice came loudly through the phone, sensing something off about her today.

"Aunt Diana, my phone's dying. We can talk when you're back, Goodbye, got some rest," Stephanie said quickly, her face tense as she eyed the man

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before her, and then she hung up.

After ending the call, she sat up straight, looking nervously at the man in front of her.

Seeing her anxious demeanor, Dominick frowned, but he remained silent, took off his jacket, and went straight into the bathroom.

Stephanie watched as he shut the bathroom door and let out a sigh of relief.

But shortly after, the bathroom filled with the sound of running water.

'He's taking a shower? Does that mean he's staying here tonight?"

Stephanie tensed up...

I up, and she kept thinking about what she was supposed to do now.

A wave of panic made her lie down immediately and yank the covers over herself.

But then she thought that if she was just lying there, especially now that she was incapacitated, she felt too vulnerable.

She quickly sat up again, her back against the headboard, her eyes anxiously fixed on the bathroom door.

About ten minutes later, Dominick stepped out of the bathroom.

Ho wore a light blue robe, loosely tied, water droplets clinging to his sculpted chest, and he immediately looked at the bed as soon as he walked out.

"Are you waiting for me?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

Stephanie blushed under his intense gaze, knowing she had given the wrong signal.

"Of course not! How could I wait for you?" she thought, but the situation seemed like she had been anticipating him.

Dominick's expression was inscrutable as he strode towards the bed. Stephanie shuffled awkwardly, and then hurriedly spoke up. "Are you, are you going to sleep here tonight?"

want to kick me out?" Dominick stood by the bed, his voice cold.

She knew they were truly married, but still....

Stephanie's face turned even redder, and she kept her head down, hardly daring to kick him out.

Dominick saw her flushed cheeks and felt a flicker of something unexpected.

"Move over a bit," he said.

Instinctively, Stephanie obeyed. Her heart raced as she shuffled to the other side of the bed.

Dominick settled next to her and dimmed the lamp. He watched her shuffling toward the edge of the bed as if he were a dangerous beast.

"Stephanie, if you dare e to fall out of bed and hurt our baby.." he warned, his eyes holding a complex emotion as tion as his arm naturally wrapped around her waist.

Stephanie couldn't sleep!

Dominick was right there next to her, their skin lightly touching, the contact making her heart flutter and making her want to move a bit further away from him.

But he was holding her, and she couldn't move.

25

12:49 Thu, 20 Jun M.

"Why aren't you sleeping yet, Stephanie? You want to do something?"

Dominick seemed tired. He had rushed the company's projects to return early and hadn't slept in three days. His voice was hoarse as he murmured close to her ear.

Stephanie's cheeks flushed.

She glanced at the man so close to her from the corner of her eye.

Dominick's eyes were closed. Under the glow of the lamp, he seemed less cold and domineering than during the day, instead appearing more strikingly handsome.

Soon, his breathing became deep and steady. "Is he asleep?' she wondered.

Dominick's head rested in the crook of her neck. She could feel his warm breath and his hair tickling her skin. She push him away but was afraid of waking him.

Worried he might have ulterior motives, Stephanie kept her eyes wide open, staying alert to avoid falling asleep.

By one o'clock in the morning, she finally gave in, her eyelids too heavy to stay open any longer.

e was uncomfortable and wanted to Moonlight washed over the spacious bedroom, streaming through the floor-to-

ceiling windows. The curtains swayed softly in the breeze with a gap left open at the window.

It was early December, and Christmas was just days away. The heater hummed, but the night air snuck in, carrying a hint of winter's chill. Stephanie furrowed her brows slightly, her body instinctively curling up and moving closer to the warm body beside her.

Dominick felt her move closer and suddenly opened his eyes.

He hadn't been asleep. His eyes, bright as stars, fixed intently on the face before him.

His fingers gently caressed her face as he recalled the past few days.

He couldn't sleep and just stared at her face all night long, until dawn....

Stephanie slept deeply, her dreams strange and vivid. It felt like a wild beast had been watching her intensely, making her feel odd.

"Stephanie!" An annoyed voice suddenly rang out right by her ear., Jolted awake, Stephanie's eyes snapped open.

Only then did she notice the morning light spilling through the window. Dawn had broken.

However, what caught her eye was the strong, firm chest of a man right in front of her. Stephanie caught on t as she looked down to see her own hands wrapped around Dominick's waist.

"What is happening?" She stared in confusion, unable to process how she ended up embracing him.

"My hand!" Dominick cried out, annoyed, his voice carrying a complex mix of suppressed emotions, and he glared at her as she remained dazed. Stephanie then realized her head wasn't on the pillow but resting on his arm. She met his intense gaze, cheeks burning, and she scooted back in guillProperty of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

"Your... grandpa said no messing around for the first three months!"

13:19 Thu, có Jun Kai Wa Chapter 22

Stephanie, mustering her courage, almost angrily reproached him.

"it was you who hugged me first!" Dominick retorted, his irritation growing at her disdainful tone.

"Me, hug you?" Stephanie didn't buy it.

Why would I do that?" she scoffed in silence.

But she had a nightmare last night, which might explain it since she wanted to find protection around her,

"Did I really hug you?" Stephanie suddenly insisted on clarifying.

"Stephanie, look where you are touching?"

"Ah!" Stephanie screamed, feeling she would die of embarrassment.

When Stephanie realized what she was doing, she quickly withdrew her hand. "I didn't mean to..."

This morning was a mess for Stephanie, and she was embarrassed. Too embarrassed to face anyone, she buried her head under the covers.

She didn't dare look up until Dominick lifted the covers, got up, and headed to the bathroom. Only when his footsteps faded did she peek out again..... Stephanie's cheeks burned, wondering if she had really done something inappropriate last night.

"Mrs. Wellington, it's time to join Mr. George Wellington for breakfast at the main house..."

The maid entered respectfully, snapping Stephanie back to reality. "Got it," she replied, slightly awkward, and hurried to wash up and change her clothes.

Her ankle was much better, and getting out of bed today was no longer painful.

Still, the maid insisted she use a wheelchair, and pushed her to the main house's dining room.

"How is your ankle?"

As soon as they reached the dining room, George asked in a deep voice, holding a newspaper and not looking up.

"Much better," Stephanie responded.

"If it's nothing serious, then you should return to Reed Villa in om Caelorium tomorrow, and start discussing wedding plans with your family as soon as possible..."

Stephanie's face immediately took on a complex expression at this.

"George, my aunt is my only family. I don't have other relatives!" she said with a hint of resentment in her voice.

"Nonsensel

George furrowed his brows and looked straight at her. "The Reeds e Reeds must attend this wedding. He put down the newspaper and looked towards Dominick across from him, pondering..

Then, he added, "You are going with her."