Crossroads

Chapter 207 

As night fell, the bustling streets lit up with rows of streetlights on either side. 

A silver–grey Porsche quietly parked by the sidewalk, and the driver opened the rear door, waiting. Dominick and Stephanie got into the car, turning their heads to gaze out their respective windows. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

The car was enveloped in silence. 

“Mr. Wellington, Brad asked me to inform you that the Wellingtons had an early dinner tonight. If you and Mrs. Wellington have other plans, there’s no need to rush back,” the driver reported nervously, glancing cautiously at the rearview mirror. Dominick seemed to be in a bad mood tonight. 

“Take us back home,” Dominick said calmly in the backseat, his expression unchanged. 

Beside him, Stephanie stared at the swiftly retreating streetlights outside the window. She had no objections and thus remained silent. 

The Wellingtons knew she and Dominick hadn’t been getting along well lately. Brad probably wanted to give them more alone time together, but there was just silence between them. 

Returning to Wellington Villa would take at least half an hour. This eerie silence made everyone uncomfortable. 

Stephanie leaned against the window, her right hand supporting her chin. 

She noticed the driver’s nervous expression when her gaze swept past the driver’s seat. It seemed the Wellingtons‘ servants were particularly wary of Dominick. 

“Is Grandpa still busy preparing for the baby’s one–month celebration since they had an early dinner?” she suddenly asked. 

Dominick was stunned and contemplative, turning to look at her face for a moment. 

The driver was slow to react. When he realized she was talking to him, he quickly answered in a fluster, “Yes, yes. Mr. George Wellington and Brad have been busy preparing for the kids‘ one–month celebration. I heard Mr. George Wellington even wants to postpone his 80th birthday celebration next month to combine the two events on the same day.” 

“So, is Grandpa planning to hold the celebration at Wellington Villa or at a hotel?” she asked naturally, without any airs. 

“It’s been decided. The celebration will be held at Wellington Villa. Mr. George Wellington said the family hasn’t hosted a celebration in many years. So, it must be grand. Everyone is looking forward to it.” 

This exchange lightened the atmosphere in the car considerably. 

Dominick remained silent, staring straight ahead but inadvertently noticing Stephanie’s subtle expressions. 

In truth, his wife could be considerate and attentive, even caring for a driver’s feelings. 

Thinking of this, a trace of gloom appeared on Dominick’s face. 

“How many tables does Grandpa plan to set up? Doesn’t that mean we’re hosting a lot of guests?” Stephanie was chatting excitedly and leaned over to ask the driver questions. 

“I’m not sure about the exact guest list,” the driver admitted. The car drove smoothly and soon arrived home. 

“The Reeds are Stephanie’s family. They should be notified personally in advance.” George’s commanding and vigorous voice was heard as soon as they stepped out of the car and approached the main house. 

“And remember to invite Stephanie’s aunt, Diana, as well,” George continued. 

“The Reeds are not…” Stephanie walked closer, nearly instinctive distaste for her family. 

George, who was enthusiastically writing the invitations, glanced up at her. Stephanie immediately clammed up. 

“I’ll inform Diana myself,” she said, knowing better than to argue. George had been eagerly looking forward to the birth of his great–grandchildren and wanted the world to know about the Wellingtons‘ adorable heirs through this grand celebration. 

But thinking of Diana, Stephanie felt a pang of worry. 

She couldn’t care less about the feelings of the rest of the Reed family, but Diana was different. Due to Diana’s illness, Stephanie hadn’t dared to tell Diana about her remarriage and pregnancy. 

Brad approached and set a stack of invitations on the large coffee table, allowing George to continue writing. He then turned to Stephanie and asked, “Mrs. Wellington, I heard Ms. Clark has been cured?” 

Thomas had two daughters. The eldest, Madison, had married Gary from Caelorium. The second, Diana, now nearly forty and unmarried, was often called “Ms. Clark“. 

“She is. The surgery was a success, and there should be no aftereffects,” Stephanie replied, feeling relieved when mentioning her aunt’s recovery. 

“This is indeed wonderful news. The Wellingtons had sent people everywhere to find a suitable heart for Ms. Clark. The experts said a heart transplant was necessary, but who would have thought that conservative treatment and a heart stent surgery would suffice.” Brad was curious, so he looked into Diana’s surgery. 

“Mrs. Wellington, who was Ms. Clark’s doctor?” 

Stephanie started to respond, but her expression changed, and the name got stuck in her throat. 

The room’s lighting was dim and slightly ambiguous. Standing by the bar, Vincent downed a glass of whiskey and grumbled, ““Oscar. Oscar personally performed the surgery on Diana. I always thought it was strange. Oscar was supposed to study business, so why did he end up getting a medical doctorate? Turns out it was because of that witch, Stephanie.” 

It was 1 AM, and Dominick had been invited over for a drink but hadn’t said a word all night. 

Tonight, he wasn’t interested in drinking. His long fingers idly spun a crystal glass on the bar, his expression thoughtful. 

Some names, neither he nor she mentioned, but that didn’t mean they could be ignored. 

“Dominick, what are you planning to do?” Vincent, half–drunk and suddenly anxious, leaned over and shouted at him, “With Stephanie and Oscar’s messy relationship, are you planning to dump that witch after the baby is born?” 

Scott, seeing his drunken antics, immediately called a few ladies over. “Go drink with Mr. Hayes over there.” 

In high spirits, Vincent yelled at his two friends, “Hey, are you really going to pretend nothing happened? I can’t hold it in today. 

anymore. I have to say it 

“That witch Stephanie is like a femme fatale reincarnate. First, she got some mysterious text messages, then random food deliveries, and she even claimed someone almost suffocated her in the hospital. She’s always causing trouble. Last time, she dared to snap at me, saying Oscar would never harm her. I’m not biased, but Oscar has changed a lot since he woke up.” 

Vincent choked on his drink, hiccupped, and squinted at Dominick’s and Scott’s dark expressions. He sighed, “Did you know what my girlfriend told me? Something weird is going on with the Pearsons. Shane, who has always been healthy, suddenly got seriously ill and almost died from a brain hemorrhage. 

“Whether or not the incidents Stephanie talked about are true, it’s strange that she always comes out unscathed. We all know Hayley isn’t capable of that. Who could it be if it isn’t Oscar stirring things up?”