Crossroads

Chapter 43

Dominick's face darkened with each passing second.

Then, without another word, he turned and strode off.

Stephanie watched him leave, her expression filled with confusion.

She couldn't understand what had upset him, only that he seemed deeply angry. "What is he angry about?' Stephanie murmured under her breath.

She began to follow him, then remembered his recent issues with Jessica and stopped, her heart heavy. "Never mind!" she thought.

Dominick, indeed furious, walked briskly as he pulled out his phone and said in an icy tone, "Sendthe Whatpasswords for the artists under your company..."

Vincent, on the other end, could tell Dominick was in no mood for excuses, and hesitated before replying, "Dominick, why do you need those Whatpasswords? That doesn't sound right..." After all, it was about privacy.

"Then I will find someone to hack them," Dominick retorted sharply.

Hearing this, Vincent immediately tensed up. "Has something happened?"

"SendCourtney's Whatpassword..." Dominick's tone was laced with impatience.

Upon hearing Courtney's name, Vincent narrowed his eyes, lost in thoughts.

Courtney was indeed an artist under his company, but she had recently lost a leading role to Jessica, and she was a member of the Reed family...

"Dominick, you and Stephanie just got married, and Courtney is part of the Reed family. Jessica's star is on the rise. Getting this year's award is just a piece of cake for her. There's really no need..."

Vincent spoke hesitantly, trailing off as Dominick gave no response, seemingly uninterested in explaining.

With a sigh, Vincent opted to simply have someone send Courtney's Whatpassword to Dominick rather than risking him trying to hack into it and possibly blowing up his company's database.

But Vincent couldn't figure out why Dominick would suddenly need Courtney's Whatpassword. Dominick didn't even seem like someone who used WhatsApp.

Stephanie sat in the gazebo in the garden for quite a while, her expression sullen. "How could he be angry? I'm not even angry yet!" She was really annoyed just thinking about Dominick's cold face.

He went out, messed around, and dared to cback to be mad at her!

But the way Dominick had looked at her earlier was...strange.

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Frustrated and confused, Stephanie was about to go to the stusly to confront Dominic when a tall figure apponias had her rapidly As Stephanie tumed, she locked eyes with her father Gary's piercing gare, and a sense of wariness surger

*Do you even have any shtett?" he scolded, his voice shipping with scornful reproach.

Stephanie was used to such scolding from her father. She kept a stern face, her fists clenched, and walked away if he didn't eve

"Stop right there!" Gary sounded furious. "Why didn't you tellyou have married Kevin three years ago? His tone was cold as he accused.

"Why should I inform you? The day my mother died was the day I left the Heed family, all have nothing to do with you anymore!" Stephanie couldn't help but tum back and retor

"Did you ever care about me? Where were you when I was hungry and cold? Would you care to know?"

He didn't care, and she didn't either.

Gary glared at his only daughter, yet now they stood facing each other like enemies,

"Nothing to do with me? George calledover because you are using the nof the teed family's lady. Everything you de reflects on the nof Reed. Don't embarrass us!

Stephanie retorted furiously, "Marrying into the Wellington family has nothing to do with my status, The Wellingtons only letin because I'm pregnant. Don't think your Reed family is all that impressive, Fin not interested at all"

"You have the nerve to bring this up! You climbed into Dominick's bed just to marry listo a wealthy family!" Gary's expression was equally grim.

"Yes, I'm a gold digger. I got into Dominick's bed, and it's all my plant" Stephanie hit her lip and snerteil

"What makes you think you can lecture me? When my mother helped Courtney and her sister go to college, Courtney was only 20, and she had already climbed into bed with you, a 50 year old man! When you were fooling around with her, why didn't you lecture her about decency?".

"Shut your mouth!" Gary's face darkened as he raised his hand to strike her cheek,

"What else can you do besides hittingand lecturing me!"

Stephanie stood her ground without flinching, her eyes red and defiant as she stared at the man in front of her, her ruthless father.

Gary's hand paused inches from her cheek, his expression suddenly frozen.

He lowered his hand, his voice cold and commanding. "I'm warning you. You better behave yourself from now on Stop causing trouble!"

"Your stepmother already toldeverything about three years ago. You used Kevin's situation to force him to marry you and drove Claire out of the country. You broke in as the other woman just because you want to revenge. tion't spend your days scheming and stirring up trouble, or I won't forgive you!"

11:29 Fri, 21 Jun Chapter 43

"I'm not the other woman!" Stephanie held back tears in her eyes and shouted in anger.

"Claire's daughter is already over three years old. How could you argue with that?"

Stephanie fell silent suddenly, a heavy mix of suppressed grievances and resentment brewing inside her.

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She took a deep breath, controlling her emotions. "I helped Kevin, and I don't regret the choices I made then. I loved him and was prepared to face anything for him. I don't need his gratitude, nor would I stoop to such dirty tactics to compete..."

H Stephanie was bold in both love and hatred. Even if she had fallen in love with the wrong person, she was ready to accept her fate.

"You're bringing this up because you're worried about the Peterson sister, aren't you? What are you scared of? That I might compete with Claire for a man? What else has my stepmother been telling you? That I'm disgraceful, that I've tarnished the Reed name? Who really counts as your kin?"

Stephanie couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She just hated them so much!

She didn't want to speak to him anymore, didn't even want to see his face. Pulling herself together, she stood up and walked away firmly, her proud and lonely figure carrying her last shred of dignity as she strode past him and left.

Surprise flickered in Gary's eyes. He knew his daughter's prideful nature seldom allowed her tears to fall

'Does Kevin really not know about what happened that year?' he pondered.

Three years ago, his stubborn daughter actually knelt before him, offering her mother's inheritance in exchange for his help. It was only then that he agreed to help Kevin avoid jail tsecretly...

"Who's lying here?" Gary's expression grew darker.

Using her mother's inheritance to beg Gary to help Kevin... Stephanie held back tears in her eyes. These people weren't worth her tears.

If there was anything Stephanie regretted most, it was this matter. She had wronged her deceased mother and her grandfather.

Kevin, that ungrateful man, had secretly gotten involved with Claire behind her back, and now she was the one being blamed. Everyone was accusing her.

The more Stephanie thought about it, the angrier she became, and she decided to head back to her room. She didn't want to see these people anymore. However, just as she was passing the main villa, a familiar little figure excitedly ran past right in front of her....

Dressed in a cute pink bubble dress and sporting two little braids, that little girl was... Stephanie's face darkened, recognizing her as Claire's daughter.

She wondered why Joyce was there.

"Great-grandpa..." The child's voice loudly called out.

With a rigid posture, Stephanie turned towards the hall and watched as a little girl ran up to George, sweetly calling out.

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George had always had a soft spot for children. Caught off guard by the sudden appearance of this adorable little girl, he was stunned. "Who is she?"

This question made everyone's faces turn awkward.

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Kevin, in particular, looked furious. He glared at Claire, who had shown up unexpectedly, and hissed in a lowered voice, "Why did you chere without telling me?"

Claire ignored him and looked timidly towards George. "Her nis Joyce. She's mine and Kevin's daughter. She's three years this year."

George's sharp gaze swept over Claire and then lingered on the child in front of him, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

Even Gary and Courtney were taken aback by Claire's unexpected arrival with the child in tow. All eyes shifted to Stephanie standing in the doorway, and the room fell silent.

"Grandma!" The little girl ran to Stella's side and playfully nuzzled by her side.

Stella had taken the child for a DNA test, confirming she was indeed Kevin's daughter. Thus, she treated the child a bit more tenderly, rubbing her little head. "Dad, meet my granddaughter from the Nelson family." She openly acknowledged the child's identity.

Stephanie watched the harmony in the hall without showing any emotion. It felt as though the Reed family's union with the Wellington family was supposed to bring blessings, yet it seemed that Kevin and Claire were the ones truly receiving them.

Her lips curled into a bitter smile. She had always been seen as the other woman.

Whether it was Kevin or Dominick, Stephanie always felt like an outsider, shunned by other women, never able to compete. Stephanie turned away, ignoring the people in the hall But just as she was about to step forward, she heard George's stern voice from behind. "Now that the child is growing up, it's tto get married..." George was actually urging Kevin and Claire to marry personally, which Stephanie found laughable, Inside the hall, Claire looked surprised yet very excited, clutching Kevin's arm and asking, "Kevin, when are we getting married?" Kevin's face was dark, and he clearly didn't want to talk. Courtney turned, lowering her voice to whisper in Kevin's ear, "Don't forget, you nearly went to prison for that rape case years ago, and it was my sister who helped you..."

At the mention of the case from three years ago, Kevin's face turned solemn. Meanwhile, Joyce was coming over, calling out in a sweet voice.

Kevin glanced up involuntarily toward the door, but Stephanie had already left.

"I understand."

old

11:29 Fri, 21 Jun Chapter 43

His eyes were flickering with resentment, but facing George's authoritative gaze, he could only nod in agreement.

"Claire and I will register our marriage Pnce done tomorrow..." Kevin murmured softly. He had once done everything possible to divorce Stephanie, thinking he would be happy marrying Claire, but now...

Things were not as he had imagined. It felt like smatters had been meddled with, manipulated.

When Claire heard they were registering the next day, her face lit up with excitement. She walked over to Courtney, and they headed to the restroom together.

Holding her arm, Claire was very grateful. "Courtney, I really owe you this time."

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"For what?" Courtney looked puzzled. After thinking, she asked, "By the way, why did you suddenly bring the kids to Wellington Villa?"

Claire's smile froze on her face at the question.

She nervously pulled out her phone. "But didn't you just senda message on Whatabout an urgent matter, tellingto bring the kid over to Wellington Villa immediately..."

"I didn't send you a message!"

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