Crossroads

"It's your fault my son's in this state?" the woman spat. "Get out of my face!"

The harsh hospital lights glared down, highlighting the red handprint on Stephanie's cheek. She was stunned by the slap, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions as she looked at the unfamiliar, elegant middle aged woman before her.

Her cheek, burned with pain, and she lowered her head slightly, tears welling up in her eyes...

This was Dominick's mother.

"...I just wanted to see him." Stephanie stood up straight, trying to speak in a calm tone.

"Who let her in here? Get her out of here!"

The woman's face was dark with anger. She didn't want to hear a word Stephanie said and shouted at the bodyguards beside her.

"Mary, I brought her here."

From the staircase, Vincent came running over, urgently explaining as he panted.

"Vincent?" Mary's face was still tight with anger as she glared at Vincent, who seemed to be taking the side of this so-called wife of Dominick's. "Get this woman out of my sight, now," she said, her voice cold and resolute.

Usually, Mary was considered dignified and graceful, but with her only son lying in a hospital bed, critically injured, her emotions had been all over the place these last few days.

"Mary, the car accident had nothing to do with Stephanie. She just came by to visit..." Vincent tried to persuade her gently.

Mary, in her forties, still exuded an elegant charm. She was a Fluviora mix, an international top-tier pianist in her youth. Her beauty and stunning figure were complemented by an innate grace, a trait she seemed to have passed on to Dominick.

"Vincent..." The commotion outside the door had drawn a delicate-looking girl in a college uniform out of the room. She had a somewhat shy demeanor as she softly called out.

Then, she looked at Stephanie. "Are you... Dominick's wife?"

That was Yvonne Wellington, Dominick's little sister. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she timidly hid behind Mary, peeking at Stephanie wife, Yvonne. Don't call her that!"

"She is not Dominick's wife, Mary kept a cold expression, her sharp gaze scrutinizing Stephanie as she sneered, "Women these days," she scoffed. "You snare Kevin, marry into his family, and then you turn around and climb into Dominick's bed, sleeping your way into the Wellington family. What a slut...

"Dominick's a bit green when it comes to women, so you managed to pull the wool over his eyes for a while. But don't get too cocky. There's a whole line of women willing to bear children for the Wellingtons. As soon as Dominick wakes up, I'll make sure he divorces immediately. Just looking at you makes me sick!" Her words were sharp and humiliating.

Vincent had never seen Mary speak so viciously to anyone before. "Mary, it's not Stephanie's fault what Kevin did..."

"Vincent, are you kidding me? Taking her side? She's the reason Dominick is in there, unconscious. He's never been hurt this badly before.

And for what? For a woman like her? What has she got?" Mary's anger grew more intense.

"First she marries a man, then his cousin. She's nothing but a skank! She should just get the hell out of here and don't dirty this place!"

Stephanie kept her head down and didn't argue back.

She stole a glance into Dominick's hospital room, where he still lay on the bed with a respirator, unconscious...

Vincent looked a bit troubled. our of the Wellington family's security guards had already surrounded them. It was obvious they were about to throw Stephanie out He urgently whispered to the woman beside him, "Stephanie, maybe you should come back another time..."

Stephanie didn't move. Instead, she raised her head and looked directly at Mary, stubbornly asking. "How is he doing right now?"

"That's none of your business!" Mary snapped at her with no kindness.

Vincent knew Stephanie's stubborn nature but also worried about Mary's forcefulness. He tried to persuade again. "Stephanie, let's go back to the hotel for now. There are doctors and nurses here. Dominick's going to be fine..."

"We don't need you here!" Mary glared at Stephanie, her voice cold.From NôvelDrama.Org.

'We don't need you here!' Stephanie stood under the fluorescent lights, her face pale, her body trembling slightly. For a moment, she felt so insignificant, overwhelmed by the urge to run away...

"Vincent, come here."

The elevator door dinged open, and a few specialists accompanied an authoritative elderly man out of the elevator.

Stephanie's face lit up with a flicker of joy as she recognized George's familiar voice.

But...

Perhaps it was the dim lighting, but the familiar figure seemed strangely distant.

Since George was here, Mary dared not speak out of turn anymore, and everyone fell silent.

and Geor Vincent hesitated, glancing between Stephanie and George. He noticed the old man's expression was even more fraught than when they'd first heard about Dominick's devastating car accident.

He quickly strode towards George, respectfully saying, "Mr. Wellington."

"Get Stephanie out of here." George's first words were a cold, stern command.

The distance made it hard for Stephanie to hear what he was saying, but Vincent heard every word clearly. He was taken aback. George rarely used such a stern tone, and it felt odd.

"Mr. Wellington, it's true Kevin hit Dominick and Stephanie while drunk. But we found out someone messed with Kevin's car. Given the recent attacks on the Innovate Group, I believe this is more than just a personal grudge..

Vincent always thought George was a reasonable person who wouldn't blame Stephanie for everything like an outsider would.

"I told you to get Stephanie out of here, now! Did you hear me?" om George's expression darkened as he repeated his command in a stern voice.

The loud, hoarse voice echoed through the cold hospital corridor.

Stephanie trembled slightly, her face turning pale.

She saw George's face, his aged eyes filled with a deep resentment.

George hated her... Maybe he hated that she brought trouble to Dominick.

It was her ex-husband, Kevin, who caused the car accident.

It was her fault.

Dominick had been severely hurt protecting her.

She could accept their resentment and hatred... But all she wanted was...

"Grandpa, I just want to know if he's okay..." she mustered the courage to shout towards George.

During the time they had spent together, George had always been kind to her.

She wasn't asking for much, just to see him.

"He'd be fine if it weren't for you!" George said through gritted teeth, his voice cold and deep his aged face contorted with mixed emotions as he tightly gripped the cane in his hand. That took everyone by surprise.

Stephanie froze, feeling his hatred washing over her. She felt utterly lost.

It was like she had been abandoned by a trusted family member. She stood in this unfamiliar place, her heart in turmoil.

The two bodyguards didn't hesitate any longer. They walked to her sides and forcefully escorted her out.

Stephanie took a step forward, glancing back at the hospital room.

Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she focused on George.

As she reached the elevator and passed by them, Vincent's face suddenly changed, staring at her in shock.

She had no idea what George had told Vincent...

Then, the metal doors of the elevator closed.

into th "I want you to dig into that car accident from six years ago...see if Stephanie was involved George's eyes fixated on the