Crossroads

Chapter 44

"How could that be possible? This is clearly your WhatsApp..."

Claire handed her the phone, and Courtney's face tensed up immediately as she looked at the screen.

"I usually let my agent handle my Twitter and WhatsApp," Courtney said, sensing someone was tampering behind the scenes, and she quickly called her agent, who confirmed he hadn't used Whattoday.

Panic was building in Courtney's eyes.

She suddenly thought of something. She knew that speople could easily get her passwords....

"Courtney, are you saying you didn't send these message, then who did..."

Claire was puzzled, but just as she finished her question, a tall figure strode by in the corridor to their left.

Claire locked eyes with the man's deep gaze and froze.

Dominick glanced at them coldly, his hand clutching a stack of documents, and walked past without a word.

Claire and Courtney shivered under his icy glare. It was a clear warning.

"Is it him?"

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Claire's voice shook as she clutched Courtney's hand. "Courtney, what do we do? Does he know about the twe abducted Stephanie?"

She quickly tried to reassure herself, "It can't be. Jessica just got back, and he hasn't paid any attention to Stephanie since..." If Dominick had known, he would've acted by now.

But just now....

Courtney's mind was in turmoil. It was obviously Dominick who had sent Claire a message on WhatsApp.

"Why has he suddenly askedto bring the kid over to Wellington Villa?" Panic gripped Claire.

Courtney's face was also tense with anxiety. "I don't know."

They wondered if Dominick wanted Claire to marry Kevin. But there was no reason he would orchestrate such a thing...

'What is he really up to?'

Meanwhile, Stephanie was murmuring, "Who knows what's going through his head, he's so moody and hard to please, that damn Dominick..."

Her day had been a series of frustrations. Soaking in the hot bath, she slapped the water angrily, causing bubbles to splash around. Gary and Kevin had already left, but Stephanie had lost her appetite, skipping dinner and sulking alone in her bedroom for the evening.

She had hoped a bath would soothe her anger, but instead, she found herself growing more agitated.

Kevin and Claire were close to getting their marriage license, Gary was blatantly favoring the Peterson sisters, and Dominick was angry her without reason.....

with

"Why is it always my fault? Why is this so unfair? Whyl" Her cheeks flushed with irritation as she vented in the bathroom for quite stime.

10:34 Sat, 22 Jun G Chapter 44

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Stephanie didn't even realize how long she had been soaking until her head started to feel heavy. As she tried to get up, she found her limbs weak and lacking strength.

With a thud, she fell back into the bathtub.

The water softened her fall, avoiding any injuries. Just as she was about to call for the maid, the door swung open abruptly.

"Can someone helpup? My legs are weak..."

She lay limply in the tub, absentmindedly swirling the bubbles around her.

"You! Have you been soaking since the afternoon?" The voice was cold and seething with frustration.

Stephanie was a bit slow to react, lifting her head with a blurry gaze towards the figure above her, Before she could get a clear view, the per person seemed frustrated and quickly pulled her out of the bathtub...

His actions were urgent, and Stephanie's nose bumped against his muscular chest. "Hey! Slow down! Can't you be a bit gentler..." she complained, rubbing her nose.

The man was s on the verge of scolding her when she muttered unexpectedly, "It's a bit cold..."

"Stephanie, if you catch a cold, I will...

His icy threat had barely left his lips when Stephanie suddenly shivered and looked up, finally realizing that the man was none other than Dominick.

Dominick's face turned sullen as he saw her daze. He quickly grabbed a towel from nearby, wrapped her up, and carried her out of the bathroom in his arms.

"Don't move!"

He carried her to the edge of the large bed, intending to toss her onto it, but then he noticed her hair was wet!

Stephanie had been in the water too long, her body limp and weak, unusually compliant as he adjusted her position.

Finally, she sprawled across him, resting her head on his shoulder, comfortably settling in. Every now and then, she would murmur, "Dominick, don't pull my hair so hard. It hurts a bit."

Dominick frowned, glancing down at her slightly flushed face, his right hand reaching for a towel to dry this demanding woman's hair.

The high and mighty Dominick Wellington had never pampered a woman before, let alone blow-dried one's hair.

As a result, it took Dominick significant effort to properly dry her long hair.

"Stephanie, turn over!"

Her forehead was still damp, and she clung to him like a koala, too lazy to move an inch.

With no other option, Dominick picked up the hairdryer and directed it at her forehead...

"Ah! Why are you blowing hot air on my face with that hairdryer? It's burning me!"

Stephanie shrieked, her hands flailing as if she were under attack. Dominick's expression darkened as he fought to keep his composure. "Be quiet!" he snapped.

But Dominick really had no talent for blow-drying hair. As he directed the hot air fiercely at Stephanie's scalp, she reached her limit.

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Chapter 44

"I don't want this! I can't!"

Outside, the maid's face tensed with anxiety. She wanted to enter but hesitated, the sounds inside sounding somewhat...dirty.

Suddenly, a loud thump cfrom the room.

The maids looked at each other, fearing the worst, and immediately pushed the door open. "Mr. Wellington, is everything alright..."

Before they could finish, the maids who burst in stood frozen in shock.

rld is this What in the world is this situation?'

"I don't want it!" Stephanie's mind was a bit slow, and sensing the ominous tone in Dominick's voice, she hastily flipped, shifting away from him.

Truth be told, Dominick's physique was too firm, uncomfortably so, and even his hair felt rough. Now sprawled on the soft, expansive bed, Stephanie sighed contentedly, unwilling to move.

"I want to sleep," she murmured, eyes closed.

It could be said that she was telling him not to disturb her. Dominick's lips were tightly pressed as he stared at her resentfully. He had married her and brought her ha month ago, and his patience had certainly been tested.

Yet, despite his anger and the grim expression on his face, Dominick pulled the blanket over the sleeping woman to cover her, ensuring she wouldn't catch a cold and beceven more of a nuisance.

"You're such a handful, Stephanie..."

"It's itchy..." Stephanie mumbled, feeling an intense gaze on her. She shifted slightly, turning her face away to avoid his touch.

Dominick's expression darkened as he looked down at her.

T

"Stephanie, is Kevin getting married soon?" he asked, propping his head with his right hand, his eyes still fixed on her profile, his tone unreadable.

"I'm not going to his wedding!" Stephanie seemed to hear him and retort, clearly agitated by the mention of Kevin's name.

"What's the matter? You care too much to face it?" Dominick's voice grew colder instantly

"I don't want to see them," she mumbled, perhaps a bit out of sorts. "I don't want to see the Reeds or any of them..."

Suddenly, a surge of painful memories overwhelmed her, dragging her mood down.

"They bullied me..." Stephanie rarely spoke with such a tone. Usually, she masked her vulnerabilities with a facade of strength, bearing her loneliness and exhaustion alone.

Her words struck him deeply.

Dominick had known her for a long time, but this was the first the had seen her so vulnerable.

"Who bullied you?" He moved closer, wrapping his arm gently around her waist, his voice soft as if coaxing her.

"That old man from the Wellington family is just too overbearing!"

10:34 Sat, 22 Jun Chapter 44

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Stephanie wasn't one to wallow in sadness. She would drift away from those painful memories, forgetting those she hated. Suddenly, she thought of the Wellington family again.

"And that damn Dominick!" she muttered the nme with a tou a touch of anger.

Dominick was frustrated. The woman in his arms seemed very dissatisfied with him, constantly complaining.

Normally, he would have shaken her awake and given her a stern warning, but today...

Well, Dominick decided to let it go today.

That damn woman must have been dazed by her bath. Otherwise, she wouldn't have nestled so obediently in his arms. Dominick gently stroked her hair, his gaze fixed intently on her....

Stephanie was utterly drained, ve especially after the visit from the Reeds today. She despised conflict, yet every encounter with Gary and Courtney dredged up painful memories of her mother, who had taken her own life.

Instinctively, she snuggled closer to Dominick, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest, seeking solace in his distinct, subtly cool scent.

Dominick suddenly chuckled softly for no apparent reason...

Stephanie slept soundly until dawn, enjoying a rare night of deep, undisturbed rest. When she opened bed rest om her eyes to find his handsface so close to hers, she was momentarily taken aback.

that she hadn't eaten anything the night before.

"Tto get up." Dominick had been awake for a while, aware th Startled, Stephanie immediately scrambled out of bed.

She rushed into the bathroom to wash up, her mind replaying the events of the previous night....

When she caught sight of her wildly disheveled hair in the mirror, Stephanie stormed out, fuming, "Dominick, what on earth did you do tolast night?"

Recalling her naughty behavior from the night before, Dominick snapped back irritably, "Stephanie, you were all overthe entire night!"

"All over him?" Stephanie's ears burned with embarrassment at his vaguely accusatory words.

She hung her head and returned to the mirror, her expression a mixture ve of frustration and angenas she tried to tNerunruly hair. "That jerk, he must have done this on purpose to get back at me, leavingwith this disastrous hairdo..."

Unbeknownst to her, Dominick had never helped anyone dry their hair, especially not a woman's hair. The skill required was far beyond his capabilities.

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