Crossroads

Stephanie leaned back, casually glancing towards the restaurant entrance, her gaze tinged with boredom and mild curiosity.

In the next heartbeat, her eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by what she saw.

"Thank goodness you're you're here. The words rushed out from a figure sprinting towards her breathlessly.

Stephanie struggled to comprehend the situation. Hayley appeared before her, drenched to the bone. Water dripped from her clothes, hair, and fingertips, painting a picture of utter disarray.

"What are you doing?" Stephanie asked, a hint of disbelief coloring her tone Hayley's voice trembled with urgency and regret as she gasped for air. "Stephanie, I'm so sorry, I used Dominick's phone earlier, but I shouldn't have answered your call just now..." Her complexion, pale from the torrential rain, betrayed her distress. "We were worried sick about you. Please don't be angry with Dominick. I'm really sorry about this.

"She was sorry? What for? Stephanie wondered.

"Stephanie, why are you being so willful!"

From beyond the restaurant's glass doors, a figure strode purposefully towards them, his voice laced with biting frustration

"In this pouring rain, you run off and then shut off your phone. Are you deliberately seeking attention, Stephanie?"

Vincent's anger flared, his e Leyes narrowing as he observed Stephanie seated calmly while Hayley stood before her, soaked and apologetic. He fought the urge to reprimand her on the spot.

He had cautioned Dominick countless times against indulging women as it only fostered unnecessary drama.

The atmosphere in the small restaurant, which was not more than a thousand square feet in size, tensed noticeably with the arrival of these prominent guests.

The few waitstaff huddled in a corner, if their memory served them right, recognized the man with brown hair as Vincent, the most popular among women in the city. The other man, though unfamiliar to them, seemed even more formidable and less approachable based on his demeanor.

Clearly, these were important individuals Stephanie's face remained impassive, unmoved in her seat.

Ignoring Vincent's chastisement completely, she sat in silence. Yet, she couldn't ignore Dominick's intense gaze, which spoke volumes.

"What have I done wrong this time? Stephanie thought.

Dominick remained expressionless, his gaze finally settling on Hayley, who stood before him, drenched from the rain.

In the early autumn evening, Hayley's attire, a white, semi-transparent dress, clung to her damp skin, revealing her delicate shoulders and the faint outline of her legs beneath the skirt. The soft lighting of the restaurant wasn't bright, but it highlighted her red lace bra beneath the soaked fabric.

It was rare for Stephanie to remain silent, Despite the restaurant being a public place and it being dinner time with many patrons around, an uneasy silence settled among the group.

"Dominick, when you go back, please don't scold her. This is all my fault," Hayley said, her voice tinged with guilt She needed to leave quickly in her drenched state. Outside, Dominick and Hayley spoke quietly, with Hayley looking remorseful. He handed her his coat, which she gratefully accepted and offered a small smile before slipping into the car, As the car drove through the rainy night, Hayley looked back frequently with a yearning gaze.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

A waiter approached with a tray, carefully placing a small pot of soup on the table. Stephanie turned her attention away from the scene outside the window, imitated by the display of affection

"Your appetite is impressive," Vincent remarked sarcastically, seating himself opposite Stephanie.

Stephanie didn't react angrily. She calmly picked up her spoon and began eating, treating Vincent as if he were invisible.

Vincent grew more agitated. "Hey, Stephanie, have some self-awareness. Hayley was worried you'd turned off your phone because of jealousy, so she ran out into the rain to find you. Do you have any idea how guilty she felt Stephanie continued to ignore him.

"Do you think I'm wrong to reprimand you?" Vincent persisted, sensing something unusual in Stephanie's behavior.

"No," Stephanie replied after eating about half the soup. Finding it bland, she set the spoon down and said calmly, "It's all my fault" With that, she stood up and walked towards the restaurant door with a blank expression.

Vincent stared after her in bewilderment. Usually, if Stephanie said, "It's all my fault", it was said in a fit of anger. But tonight, her calmness was unsettling.

What was wrong with her!

Back at Wellington Villa, Sandra was waiting at the entrance. As soon as they got out of the car, she hurried over to them.

"Mrs. Wellington, are you alright?" Sandra's voice quivered with concern. But the woman stepping out of the car seemed oddly composed, her first words demanding. Td like some soup, please Sandra paused, momentarily taken aback by the request before turning to Dominick who had also emerged from the car. "Mr. Wellington, earlier on the phone, you mentioned. He mentioned that Stephanie was not at the hotel and that she had gone missing Dominick remained silent, striding past Stephanie without so much as a glance and headed directly upstairs to his study Stephanie's expression remained impassive as she watched the man move heavily beside her, his steps echoing with anger.

In the past, during their arguments, he would have surely reprimanded her immediately. But now, she couldn't pinpoint when it had started; the dynamics between them had shifted. For instance, they were silent on the entire way home without talking to each other.

The silent treatment was, in fact, worse than an argument.

Sandra glanced at them, a chill settling in her heart as she wondered. Did they fight?"

She spoke softly to Stephanie, trying to console her. "Mrs. Wellington, in truth, Mr. Wellington is worried about you.."

"Who asked for his concem!"

Tonight, Stephanie was seething with frustration. Unable to contain it any longer upon their return home, she vented her anger, slimming the door shut behind her.

"If it's the silent treatment he wants, then that's what he would get. He better not talk to me for the rest of his life! She berated him in her mind.

Stephanie was incensed, grabbing her nightclothes and rushing for another bath. She lay in the tub, the warm water soothing her frayed nerves.

She idly splashed the water in the large bathrub, the droplets shimmering in the soft bathroom light, wetting her hair and face The bathroom, expansive with its ventilation systems in every corner, offered her a sense of security as she soaked..

She lost track of time in the soothing warmth, the full-length mirror on the right wall obscured by a haze of steam, enveloping the Tranquil mix.

"I can't let my sons go hungry. Her thoughts wandered, realizing she hadn't eaten enough for dinner and promptly got up.

Just then, the bathroom door swung open, startling the naked Stephanie and causing her to almost slip on the slick tiles.

by times do I have to tell you to not soak in the bathtub for too long? Get up!"

"How many times space In a

Stephanie was startled but unharmed as she steadied herself against the man before her. It h sudden all been so She hadn't expected Dominick to burst in like that, and his wokding had caught her so off guard that she forgot to retort.

Dominick deftly removed his scarf and bundled her up in his arms.

His strength was impressive, effortlessly carrying her as if she weighed nothing. Stephanie's cheek pressed against the left side of his chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat that she couldn't ignore, as well as the distinct scent that belonged uniquely to him- cool, yet strangely comforting. instilling a sense of security in her.

He seemed perpetually formidable as if nothing could faze him.

"Dominick, what's wrong?"

Stephanie didn't know what had come over her; she screamed suddenly, clinging rightly to his neck in fear Unexpectedly, Dominick bumped into a coffee table as he walked, his body momentarily swaying There was a split second of disorientation as he struggled to keep them both from falling.

Stephanie lifted her head to look at him, momentarily stunned.

His face, usually so composed, was now pale. His eyes flickered with a hint of something akin to fear-an emotion foreign to Dominick It was as though he had suddenly lost sight of something, causing anxiety to grip at Stephanie's heart. Chapter 100

What was happening!

Dominick she called out in a low voice carefully.

Stephanie had never seen him like this before. She felt bewildered, with tears threatening to well up in her upinther eyes. She sensed him strąceling to regulate his breathing fighting to stand tall like he was doing his best to pretend everything was fine.

"Dominick, put me down." Tearing up, she pushed against his chest, wanting to stand on her own. In this state, she felt like a burden to him It was a feeling she had always hated.

'T'm fine His grip lightened on her, like he was determined to keep her He remained steadfast and graceful, walking steadily step by step. He finally released his firm hold only after ensuring she was safely on the bed. Stephanie fell silent. It seemed like everything just moments ago had been a fleeting illusion of hers.