Crossroads

After breakfast, Stephanie retreated to her bedroom, clutching her phone to catch up on the latest gossip about Jessica's hickey...

"Dominick must have had a wild night with her..." she muttered to herself as she scrolled through Twitter, her expression a mix of emotions.

Even Stephanie herself didn't understand why she cared so much...

It was as if she were jealous.

"Wait, jealous?' The thought stopped Stephanie in her tracks.

"How could I possibly be jealous? Dominick made it clear it was just a business arrangement..."

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, her phone vibrated with a new notification. A greeting message on WhatsApp.

"Who's this?" she murmured.

Stephanie's brows furrowed as she stared at the screen. A man named Vincent had just added her.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

Vincent seemed to be quite full of himself.

Stephanie simply ignored him, her face devoid of emotion.

Perhaps thinking she wouldn't reply to him, Vincent quickly sent another message: [I'm Vincent Hayes.]

[Vincent, that profile picture of yours is really flamboyant.]

Stephanie immediately criticized him and saved his number.

Vincent replied: [Still better than your 'Steph Force.' Stephanie, your nickname lacks depth.]

StephForce shot back: [Vincent, did you come to me just to pick a fight because you're bored?]

Stephanie thought her WhatsApp nickname was flawless, simple, memorable, and, most importantly, powerful.

When she saw Vincent's name pop up, she was instantly reminded that Vincent had warned her not to delude herself, that Dominick could never like her, and that she was just a stand-in for Jessica...

The thought sank Stephanie deeper.

StephForce: [Vincent, I'm tied up right now. Don't bother me unless it's urgent, and it better be.] She quickly replied, ready to exit WhatsApp Vincent responded: (Wait, Stephanie, I actually have something serious to talk to you about!]

Stephanie hesitated, wondering what this unreliable Vincent could possibly have that was serious.

Jun

Vincent said: [Look, Dominick's been really busy lately, probably won't have much time for you, and well, you know Jessica is still in the picture, so...).

StephForce replied: [I've told you. I know. Why are you so annoying? I'm not going to fall for Dominick. I know I don't have the right to even think about it. I won't cling to that position!]

Feeling provoked. Stephanie angrily sent him a voice message.

Vincent raised an eyebrow, sensing her irritation even through the phone screen.

She must have feeling after living with Dominick day in and day out... It was truly tragic.

Vincent texted: [Hey, Stephanie, don't be mad. I won't mention those things anymore. Actually, Dominick has been really busy lately, so he hasn't had time to be with you. He asked me to take some time to drive you to visit your aunt.]

Stephanie looked at the message he had just sent and thought for a moment. Since Dominick was busy with Jessica, he was probably too busy to bother with her anymore. She thought as she was editing her message, about to agree.

Just then, the maid knocked on the door. "Mrs. Wellington, Mr. George Wellington has asked you to come to the main hall. The Reeds are here..."

Stephanie looked up towards the door, her actions freezing upon hearing the Reeds had arrived.

Her phone vibrated again. Another message from Vincent: [By the way, Stephanie, did Dominick come back to Wellington Villa last night?)

Stephanie didn't reply to him. She straightened her clothes, her expression turning somber as she headed downstairs.

To Stephanie's surprise, she ran into Dominick as soon as she arrived at the main hall.

It wasn't just Dominick who had returned. The Reeds were with him..

"What are you doing standing around here?"

Dominick passed by her, casually wrapping his right arm around her waist and leading her into the grand hall of Wellington Villa.

Stephanie's mind was foggy as she glanced at Dominick beside her. Then, she turned to look back at Gary, wondering how they had ended up together so coincidentally....

"It's truly an honor that Dominick personally came to the airport to pick us up," said the stunning woman standing next to Gary, who was none other than her stepmother, Courtney Peterson.

'Dominick has gone to the airport early in the morning to pick up the Reeds? But hasn't he been out late with Jessica just the night before?" Stephanie believed it must be George who instructed Dominick to come home early.

Wellington Villa's grand hall, with its opulent 25-foot-tall crystal chandelier, sparkled brilliantly.

Stephanie sat quietly next to Dominick while Gary and Courtney were seated across from them. George sat at the head of the table, and everyone exchanged a few pleasantries while Stephanie remained silent, her expression complex.

"Now that the two of them are officially married, we're family now, so let's not stand on ceremony," George said authoritatively, his voice deep and commanding.

"As for the wedding, we'll plan it after Steffi has the baby..."

Gary's face remained expressionless, devoid of any joy, as he spoke firmly. "Mr. George Wellington, I have always held the Wellington family in high regard, but I don't believe my daughter is a suitable match for Mr. Wellington. I must disagree..."

Stephanie listened as her father belittled her, her head bowed, silently enduring.

Gary continued, "Plus, I've heard that there is no love between her and Mr.

Wellington. It was just an accidental pregnancy. They don't need to get married..."

"You're worried that Stephanie will be treated badly in the Wellington family, aren't you? That we might do something to her!" George said, his voice cold and unhappy as he questioned back.

"Mr. George Wellington, that's not what we mean at all. Please don't misunderstand..." Courtney quickly said, smiling as she tried to appease him.

Just as Courtney finished speaking, two figures strode into the hall from outside..

"Dad, who's visiting today?" Stella entered gracefully, laughing as she carried bags full of gifts, with Kevin walking beside her.

Gary looked up just in time to lock eyes with Kevin, both men's expressions a mix of surprise and complicated emotions. Kevin had previously visited the Reeds as Claire's boyfriend, but now...

Gary turned his head, his gaze shifting towards George, filled with complexity.

"My daughter has divorced once. She might not be a good match for Mr. Wellington. Besides, her ex-husband is Mr. Wellington's cousin. The whole situation is simply absurd and bound to be a laughingstock."

Gary was adamantly opposed as if the very idea of allying with the Wellington family through marriage was distasteful to him.

George's face darkened, his voice sharp and commanding as he retorted, "No one dares to laugh at the Wellingtons!"

The grand hall of Wellington Villa fell into a deep silence. No one dared to speak. Even Gary seemed uneasy, conscious of not wanting to upset George.

The air thickened with tension and an unsettling quiet.

Stella, with an inscrutable look in her eyes, had learned that the Reed family would be visiting today. She had intentionally come down with her son, as she was firmly opposed to Dominick's plans to marry Stephanie.

"Dinner is served." Dominick suddenly announced to the butler at his side.

His voice cut through the silence.

The other guests remained silent. George scowled, casting a glance at Dominick before he began making his way toward the dining room, leaning heavily on his cane.

11:29 Fri, 21 Jun Chapter 42

The servants presented the dishes in an orderly fashion, having prepared an elaborate menu to welcome the Reed family. It was a gathering George had initially hoped would be celebratory. Unexpectedly, the Reeds had not agreed to the marriage proposal.

Everyone sat down to a meal charged with a serious atmosphere. Occasionally, Stella lightened the mood with some talk about the company's affairs, and Courtney kept a smiling face as she discussed the mundane matters of the Reed family.

Kevin, the younger generation, didn't dare make a fuss. He ate politely, though his eyes often drifted toward Stephanie.

Stephanie had no appetite, and Kevin's persistent stare only added to her discomfort.

She kept her head down, feeling even more out of place with the entire Reed family around.

"Steffi, are you feeling alright? Is it because of the pregnancy?" Courtney feigned concern as usual.

Stephanie shot a glance at her stepmother across the table, her anger barely masked by a calm exterior. 'Such a perfect actress," she thought bitterly. "Feeling unwell?" Dominick, on the other hand, immediately thought of morning sickness and looked at her thoughtfully.

"No, not at all," she replied, but Dominick's stern face only added to her irritation.

Nonchalantly, Stephanie grabbed a large shrimp from the table, idly peeling the shell, and naturally lifted it to Dominick's lips. "Want some?"

Dominick's eyes widened slightly as he looked at the shrimp in front of him.

However, in the next second, Stephanie's ears turned red. "Hey, you..." Dominick casually lowered his head and ate the shrimp Stephanie was holding for him, but....

"Don't eat my finger," Stephanie murmured in a low, coquettish complaint. The warmth from her fingers felt embarrassingly intimate with so many eyes on them. She almost wished she could vanish in the thin air.

"Okay," Dominick responded calmly with a soft grunt, as if such flirtatious interactions were normal.

'How could this man be so shameless?" Stephanie's cheeks flared up in annoyance, and she quickly withdrew her hand.

Glancing up, she saw Stella, Gary, and a few others looking at her thoughtfully. Feeling conflicted, she said softly to George, "I'm full, please enjoy your meal."

Then, Stephanie quickly left the dining table and headed toward the back garden.

As she walked away, she faintly heard George's voice advising, "Let the young people handle their own matters..."

Stephanie dipped her hands into the white porcelain washbasin mounted on a stone pillar rubbing her fingers. Dominick's behavior earlier had been truly odd.

Alone, she walked toward the gazebo in the garden, her gaze drifting over the flowers, her thoughts in disarray.

She kept wondering if Dominick had been with Jessica the previous night. It just suddenly mattered to her.

Gary and Kevin were in the hall, and Stephanie had no desire to see them.

She chose to sit on the stone bench in the gazebo instead, pulling out her phone to scroll through some entertainment news, hoping to uncover something about Dominick's whereabouts the previous evening..

"What are you looking at?"

Suddenly, a familiar, deep voice came from above her. Stephanie, startled, looked up and found herself staring directly into Dominick's eyes. Dominick clearly saw what she was looking into the latest scandal about Jessica's hickey.

"Are you jealous?" he asked ambiguously, his voice casual as though the question was nothing serious, yet his right hand tightened slightly. "Not at all!" Stephanie didn't know why she nervously raised her voice in denial.

"I was just thinking about how you spent last night with Ms. Carter and then had to rush back early in the morning to pick up my father at the airport. I really appreciate it..."

Dominick looked down at her, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized her....

To him, Stephanie didn't seem to care about the hickes at al. Even if he deliberately showed off those hike ys, she didn't care at all.