Crossroads

Chapter 23

Stephanie had once imagined that if one day she were to get married and bring the man she loved hto meet her parents, it would surely be a blissful OCCANOIL However, it turned out that it was only her wishful thinking Stephanie had married Kevin three years ago without a wedding ceremony. They had simply registered for the marriage license and started living their lives together afterward, Later, she had reflected for a long tand felt that a woman must have a grand wedding to make the man truly appreciate what he had. Otherwise, he would never cherish her, as men wouldn't cherish what ctoo easily.

However, this time, Stephanie honestly would prefer to do without a wedding ceremony.

Inside the car, she nervously glanced over at Dominick, who was sitting next to her.

As he leaned back in his seat with a stern face, he was reviewing a contract in his right hand while talking to speople through a Bluetooth earpiece in his ear.

Dominick seemed completely unconcerned as if he wasn't bothered at all about the situation. Meanwhile, the car smoothly continued on its way toward Havencrest International Airport.

Just then, he flipped open the contract and casually said into the Bluetooth earpiece, "Going to Caelorium."

Stephanie was bored. So, she gazed out the car window at the scenery while eavesdropping on his phone conversation, Deep down, Stephanie felt reluctant to go back to Caelorium with him.

But she had no choice since it was George's order. Stephanie thought that Dominick seemed reluctant as well.

"I actually don't have anything important to do in Caelorium," Dominick said leisurely, and his voice trailed off abruptly before turning to look at Stephanie beside him.

Afterward, he calmly stated, "To meet the parents and ask them for my wife's hand."

Stephanie was daydreaming, but Dominick's words jolted her, and her expression froze as she looked at him.

She wondered, "Ask them for my wife's hand? It sounds so strange coming from Dominick's mouth."

Dominick turned off the Bluetooth earpiece, and after noticing Stephanie's shocked look, he asked nonchalantly, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," she replied awkwardly as she quickly lowered her head and stopped looking at Dominick.

They arrived at Havencrest International Airport, where they would take a two- hour flight to Caelorium. The Wellington family's servants had everything well- prepared, ensuring a smooth journey.

However, just as Dominick and Stephanie arrived at Caelorium's airport, a violent storm suddenly broke out.

The sky was filled with dark clouds while thunder boomed and lightning flashed. They then did not immediately head to Reed Villa but instead went to a pre- booked luxury hotel.

The hotel manager personally greeted them and escorted them to a luxurious suite on the top floor to rest. It was only then that Stephanie realized that this hotel belonged to the Wellington family, and she couldn't help but think how wealthy Dominick really was.

12:50 Thu, 20 Jun M Chapter 23

Stephanie had once imagined that if one day she were to get married and bring the man she loved hto meet her parents, it would surely be a blissful occasion.

However, it turned out that it was only her wishful thinking.

Stephanie had married Kevin three years ago without a wedding ceremony. They had simply registered for the marriage license and started living their lives together afterward.

Later, she had reflected for a long tand felt that a woman must have a grand wedding to make the man truly appreciate what he had. Otherwise, he would never cherish her, as men wouldn't cherish what ctoo easily.

However, this time, Stephanie honestly would prefer to do without a wedding ceremony.

Inside the car, she nervously glanced over at Dominick, who was sitting next to her.

As he leaned back in his seat with a stern face, he was reviewing a contract in his right hand while talking to speople through a Bluetooth earpiece in his ear.

Dominick seemed completely unconcerned as if he wasn't bothered at all about the situation, Meanwhile, the car smoothly continued on its way toward Havencrest International Airport.

Just then, he flipped open the contract and casually said into the Bluetooth earpiece, "Going to Caelorum."

Stephanie was bored. So, she gazed out the car window at the scenery while eavesdropping on his phone conversation. Deep down, Stephanie felt reluctant to go back to Caelorium with him.

But she had no choice since it was George's order. Stephanie thought that Dominick seemed reluctant as well.

"I actually don't have anything important to do in Caelorium," Dominick said leisurely, and his voice trailed off abruptly before turning to look at Stephanie beside him.

y wife's hand."

Afterward, he calmly stated, "To meet the parents and ask them for my s Stephanie was daydreaming, but Dominick's words jolted her, and her expression froze as she looked at him.

sounds so strange coming from Dominick's mouth."

She wondered, 'Ask them for my wife's hand? It so Dominick turned off the Bluetooth earpiece, and after noticing Stephanie's shocked look, he asked nonchalantly, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," she replied awkwardly as she quickly lowered her headed looking at Dominick.

They arrived at Havencrest International Airport, where they would take a two- hour flight to Caetorium. The Wellington family's servants had everything well- prepared, ensuring a smooth journey.

However, just as Dominick and Stephanie arrived at Caelorium's airport, a violent storm suddenly broke out.

The sky was filled with dark clouds while thunder boomed and lightning flashed. They then did not immediately head to Reed Villa but instead went to a pre-

booked luxury hotel The hotel manager personally greeted them and escorted them to a luxurious suite on the top floor to rest. It was only then that Stephanie realized that this hotel belonged to the Wellington family, and she couldn't help but think how wealthy Dominick really was.

Chapter 23

The Wellington family was powerful and had a profound background, and as the sale heir of the family's third generation, Dominick seemed to lead a charmed life.

However, Dominick was somewhat different from the lavish and reckless wealthy young heirs Stephanie knew.

He seemed very busy at that moment. When Dominick went into the hotel suite, three of his bodyguards handed him a thick stack of documents. He then sat down sternly at the desk in the suite and began reviewing and signing them.

After hesitating for a moment, Stephanie spoke up. "If you're too busy, I can go back to Reed Villa by mysell."

She had severed ties with the Reed family and hadn't gotten in touch with them ever since. So, the idea of suddenly returning to the villa to meet them made Stephanie uncomfortable, especially with Dominick accompanying her, which only made her even more uneasy.

However, working at the desk in the spacious and luxurious suite, Dominick didn't seem to have heard Stephanie at all, offering no response whatsoever.

Her expression then turned gloomy. But Stephanie had already grown accustomed to being ignored by Dominick.

Stephanie thought irritably, "Dominick ignoringprobably means he disagrees.

The nerve of him to not even bothering to speak."

She walked over to th lightning.

the window and saw that it was dim and gloomy outside, with the sky filled with swirling dark clouds and occasional flashes of Stephanie looked down from the top floor of the hotel and could see the dense crowd and traffic below, bustling about even in the pouring rain. They braved the harsh weather solely for the sake of their livelihoods Stephanie thought that marrying a wealthy man was the quickest and most convenient way for a woman to change her fate, and it was precisely because of this that many women would stop at nothing to becthe other woman.

She he then recalled the Reed family and her stepmother, who was only three years older than herself.

Stephanie's stepmother had gotten involved with her father intimately at the age of 20 and even had driven her mother to her death.

At that moment, the thick floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the hatred in her eyes. Stephanie mused, 'I once swore I'd never return to Reed Villa...

Just as Stephanie's thoughts were in turmoil, the suite door was suddenly flung open with a loud bang.

She instinctively turned to look.

Stephanie then saw a handsman in silver-rimmed glasses appear at the door and look at her with disbelief. "Jessica?"

"Scott, you've got the wrong person, This is Mrs. Wellington." Another teasing voice cthrough as another tall man with short hair entered the room. Stephanie looked at the two strangers in front of her, hesitant about how to react.

She knew the short-haired man was Vincent. He was famous as he was often featured on the front pages of magazines with his supermodel girlfriends, luxury cars, and all sorts of extravagance. Vincent was also the head of a big entertainment and film company. Meanwhile, Stephanie didn't recognize the man wearing the glasses.

However, since they were Dominick's friends, Stephanie nodded at them both as a polite gesture and responded, "Hello."

Vincent seemed quite curious about her. He stopped closer to Stephanie, eager get to know her better.

Meanwhile, Dominick, who had been quietly reviewing documents, looked up at the two men and asked, "What are you two doing here?" Vincent immediately sensed Dominick's tone was not pleasant. He turned to look at Dominick and cheekily chuckled, "Scott and I just happened to have

12:50 Thu, 20 Jun MO Chapter 23

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sbusiness in Caelorium, so we thought we'd drop by to see your wife." "Well, you can leave now then." Dominick bluntly dismissed Vincent. Vincent protested, "I haven't introduced myself yet..." He then pondered, "It's not as if I'm going to do anything to her.

Dominick didn't seem to want to bother with Vincent anymore. He lowered his head and continued to s "You're so famous. Vincent. She already knows who you are,"

Vincent looked annoyed, thinking. "That's a clear dig at me!

sign the documents before Ming indifferently. Meanwhile, Stephanie, who was watching from the side, smiled mischievously.

She thought, 'So even other people are also afraid of Dominick. Maybe I'm not that much of a coward after all Vincent spoke up eagerly. "Dominick, you guys can't possibly rush to Reed Villa now with this storm. Besides, look at you. You're busy with your work that you have neglected Mrs. Wellington. How about I take her for a walk and grab something to eat downstairs in the lobby..."

Stephanie didn't know what Vincent was up to, but certainly not something good. However, she indeed did not want to return to Reed Villa so soon, Therefore, she readily agreed, "I'll take a walk in the lobby, and we'll head over to Reed Villa later."

Upon hearing that, Dominick's hand holding the pen paused, and he silently frowned at Vincent's smug look and then glanced at Stephanie, who appeared somewhat uneasy. Dominick asked in a deep voice, "Have I neglected you?"

Stephanie's cheeks suddenly flushed as she replied, "No."

Vincent then fed her out of the suite. Just as the door closed behind them after they walked out, Scott commented in surprise, "She looks exactly like Jessica."

Afterward, Stephanie and Vincent took the VIP elevator down to the third-floor lobby, which was a non-smoking area. He then ordered swarm, nourishing foods for her.

Just as she was about to thank Vincent, his true colors finally showed He nonchalantly sized up her and said, "You really are something, Stephanie.

You're just a divorcee and you've managed to snag Dominick." His tone now lacked the respect he had shown earlier when calling her Mrs. Wellington. Stephanie wasn't shy about it at all and directly retorted, "Well, you can't really blme. It's all thanks to my baby."

Vincent turned grim at her words and thought, 'As expected, this woman is tough to handle.

He had always held Dominick in high regard and had been wondering what kind of woman would be worthy of being Dominick's wife. However, he had never expected that Dominick would marry a divorcee.

Vincent then thought of a way to get back at her and teach her a lesson.

He suggested, "Stephanie, since it's a long night ahead, how about we play a little gto lighten the mood? Do you know how to play cards?" Vincent called over two friends and boastfully told Stephanie, "Since it's our first tplaying cards together, I'll show mercy and won't go too big of a bet. Let's just make it 200 thousand dollars for each round,"

Thus, the four of them gathered around a table to play cards.

(12:50 Thu, 20 JUN Chapter 23

However, it didn't turn out as Vincent had expected. Stephanie spread her right hand and directly demanded payment from Vincent across the table, "Pay up now! Pay up!"

His expression then tumed utterly grim It was only then that Vincent realized one of his biggest regrets in life was inviting Stephanie to play cards. But it wasn't because he bard skills were exceptional. It was because Stephanie was utterly unreasonable.

"Stephanie, you are practically robbing me," Vincent protested fiercely while glaring at the cards in her hand. "That's a cheat hand!"

At that moment, Stephanie's vision was somewhat blurry. She had received two IV bags of nutrientm infusions that morning at Wellington Villa. The infusions were said to supposedly strengthen the fetal health, but a side effect was that it made her sleepy.

With her blurry vision, she looked at Vincent across the table and suddenly slammed her hand on the table.

Stephanie stood up and angrily replied, "Cheat hand my foot! This is a royal flush. Do you even know what a royal flush is? You owethirteen times the money. Now, hurry up, I want cash..." Meanwhile, the other two gentlemen remained silent for fear of offending Dominick. She was his wife after all

"Look, your so-called royal flush is missing an ace!" Vincent tried to reason with Stephanie.

Stephanie then grabbed a card and slammed it down in front of him with a slap. "This is a wild card!"

Vincent gritted his teeth in frustration at her words. Just then, Dominick and Scott happened to walk over Dominick had finished reviewing his documents and noticed that the unreliable Vincent had taken Stephanie away and hadn't brought her back.

As soon as Dominick entered, he sensed something was amiss. "What's going on?"

Stephanie clung to his arm and said to him as if she was tattling, "Dominick, your untrustworthy friend here is trying to cheatout of my winnings." Dominick momentarily looked surprised. He glanced down at her, who had voluntarily wrapped her arm around his, and then looked over at Vincent, who wore a face of utter misery.

After glancing at the poker cards on the table, he quickly understood the situation.

Vincent was utterly frustrated at this point. He pointed at a clearly visible face card on the table and indignantly retorted, "Dominick, your wife is being unreasonable. She's claiming this is a wild card." Dominick looked at him and replied very calmly, "This is a wild card."

"What?!" Vincent and the others simultaneously exclaimed inwardly, looking utterly shocked and speechless..

He furiously thought, "Stephanie, you wretch!"