Crossroads

Today was the Winter Festival. After having breakfast with the elders, Stephanie returned to Wellington Villa and sat on the living room sofa, looking somewhat dejected.

She muttered to herself, "So today is Dominick's birthday..."

Yesterday, they had attended a class for expecting parents together. Stephanie had noticed that Dominick seemed to have mixed feelings about the Winter Festival as if he didn't want to mention it..

She mumbled under her breath, "Does he not want me to know about his birthday?" Stephanie then wondered if it was because he feared she might bother him.

Since running into Jessica yesterday, Stephanie had felt rather downcast..

Jessica had deliberately mentioned the tie Dominick had left behind after staying there overnight, which was clearly trying to show her up.

Compete? Stephanie knew she had no grounds to..

Just then, a teasing voice came from outside the door. "Stephanie..."

Stephanie looked up toward the front door and was somewhat surprised.

"Vincent, what are you doing here? Dominick isn't home. He probably went to the office.

Vincent spake with certainty. "Dominick wouldn't be at the office on a special day like today..."

He then stopped talking, and his eyes widened as he looked at the living room table. "Stephanie, did you buy this birthday cake?!" Vincent's tone was as if he were shocked.

Stephanie looked down at the birthday cake on the table and sighed.

Vincent sat down across from her and seriously asked, "Stephanie, did you know today is Dominick's birthday?"

"Yeah." Stephanie responded dully.

In fact, she had only accidentally heard the butler mention Dominick's birthday that morning, so she had picked up her phone and ordered a cake. But when Stephanie brought the cake back, the faces of the butler and the staff at Wellington Villa were quite grim.

Stephanie pointed at the birthday cake on the table and curiously asked, "Hey, Vincent, do you know why this is..."

"The Wellington family never celebrates the Winter Festival," Vincent replied gravely, raising an eyebrow slightly as he looked at her.

Stephanie looked somewhat astonished.

Vincent continued, "Dominick doesn't like others celebrating his birthday. It's best he doesn't see this birthday cake. I suggest you throw it away quickly."

He remembered six years ago when he and their friends had tried to celebrate Dominick's birthday, and it had been a disaster.

"I got it," Stephanie murmured, not pressing further since Dominick didn't want her to know too much.

She hung her head low and held the one-pound delicious tiramisu cake as she walked up to the second-floor bedroom, planning to eat it in her room.

"Stephanie, do you know why Dominick hates women so much?" Vincent watched her dejected figure and suddenly called out, "It's not that Chapter 46

he hates your cake, but he despises..."

"Despises who?" Stephanie turned around sharply and stared intently at him.

Vincent then looked troubled and hesitated to say the rest.

Eventually, he half jokingly teased Stephanie, "Every year on his birthday, Dominick never goes to the office. He might be at the club or the bar. Do you want to go look for him, Stephanie?"

kay," she readily agreed.

Vincent was surprised when Stephanie agreed so readily, as he had only asked her casually. "Stephanie, are you really that concerned about Dominick?" he asked with a hint of gossip while moving closer to her.

She looked somewhat embarrassed and quickly denied, "No! I'll go upstairs to change my coat..." Afterward, Stephanie hurried upstairs.

When Vincent saw Stephanie come downstairs, she was dressed in a light pink foreign-style coat and skinny white pants. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and her delicate features were accentuated by light makeup. Stephanie looked youthful and radiant, though she still wore a scarf around her neck.

The two of them then walked toward the door together. Upon seeing how bundled up Stephanie was, Vincent couldn't help but tease her, "Stephanic, you don't need to dress up like a mummy."

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"I need to dress warmly. I'd get scolded if I caught a cold," she replied nonchalantly. Stephanie then pulled out her phone from her pocket and dialed a familiar number.

Vincent watched her dial the number and joked, "Oh, do you need to ask Dominick's permission to go out?"

Stephanie nodded seriously. "Yes, he said I must call him before going out."

Vincent was surprised, thinking. "Dominick usually doesn't care about anything...

However, no one answered Stephanie's call.

She then was suddenly on edge and looked at Vincent with a cunning glance. "If he scalds me, I'll tell him it was your idea to take me out."

"Stephanie, can't you be reasonable?!" he retorted.

Vincent frowned as she shoved her into the car, regretting bringing her out. The car drove smoothly, and about 30 minutes later, it stopped at Flaming Bar in Havencrest's bustling Number 9 Lanc.

He then led Stephanie through the VIP entrance. It was her first time in such an upscale bar. As Stephanie looked at the luxurious decor, she felt like a country bumpkin in the city. "It's quite lively here."

Surprisingly, there was a huge triangular pool filled with a light blue mist adorned the center of the second-floor open lobby. Beautiful women with long legs were sitting by the pool. Their laughter and banter blended with the misty ambiance. Stephanie marveled as she glanced around curiously.

"It's even livelier around midnight," said Vincent, who was a regular VIP here. He then flashed her an ambiguous smile. "Stephanie, did you know your husband owns this place..."

Stephanie's eyes widened slightly, and she pondered, "Dominick owns this place?! No wonder he's so rich!"

Upon seeing her surprised expression, Vincent teased her, "The women here would do anything to get into your husband's bed. Stephanie, be smart. Don't always butt heads with Dominick. A woman should learn to be obedient and sweet sometimes. It's more endearing..."

"I don't know how to," Stephanie replied, her expression stern as she ignored him.

Vincent knew her stubborn nature well and tried to scare her. "Oh, you're done for then, Stephanie. After you have the baby, you'll definitely be despised and kicked out of Wellington Villa,"

"I don't need him to kick me out. I'll leave on my own," Stephanie replied firmly. Vincent noticed her obvious imitation and wondered if she cared.

Just as he was about to soothe Stephanie with some facts about Dominick, the VIP elevator stopped on the 12th floor, and two guests came in. Upon seeing Vincent, they immediately smiled pleasingly, "Mr. Hayes, long time no see."

"Mr. Hayes, is this your new girlfriend? She's really pretty... But she looks familiar," another man said as he scrutinized Stephanie.

Vincent's usual playful demeanor vanished, and he said coldly, "This is my best friend's wife."

One of the guests wondered, Vincent's best friend's wife? Vincent doesn't have many close friends, and his few childhood friends are all influential, especially that one from the Wellington family!

People in the business world were slick, so they quickly played dumb and apologized with a smile, "We've had drunk too much, Mrs. Wellington. We're really sorry, so sorry....

One of them seemed to have important business with Vincent. Stephanie listened as they talked about stocks and investments. When the elevator reached the 22nd floor, Vincent exited first with a serious expression. "Stephanie, go to the top floor with the waitress; I have some business to discuss with them, I'll join you shortly." Vincent called a female waitress to escort her to the top floor.

Stephanie nodded at him. Upon seeing Vincent had serious matters, she didn't bother him.

As the elevator doors closed, Vincent didn't forget to remind her, "Remember, don't wander off!"

The 36-floor Flaming Bar was actually the largest nightclub in the city. Those who came frequently were either affluent or influential, with many A-list celebrities and models making appearances, adding to the glamour and allure of the place. It was a world of glitz and glamour where indulgence knew no bounds.

The Flaming Bar was chaotic, but the top floor was completely different. It was comfortable and quiet, and not just anyone could enter.

Stephanie behaved herself as she stood in the elevator, watching the floor numbers tick upward rapidly. However, just as the elevator doors opened on the 35th floor, she stepped out hurriedly.

The female waitress behind her called out somewhat helplessly. "Ms. Reed."

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"I'll go up to the top floor myself in a bit. Don't worry about me." Stephanie replied, hurrying away as if something had caught her attention, and she soon disappeared around the corner.

She thought, 'That woman just now...

Stephanie stood sideways in front of the luxurious private room, her right hand quietly turning the doorknob as she stealthily peeked inside.

She pondered, "I think I just saw Jessica..."

After Stephanie peeked inside the private room, she confirmed it was indeed her.

It seemed a party was taking place in the private room. Apart from Jessica, several other famous movie stars were present. They were Chapter 46

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toasting and having a great time together.

"Today, we invited Jessica to have a blast with us. How could we forget the star of the show..."

"Jessica, this drink's for you. Last week, you spoke to the director and immediately project.

had Lily pulled off the Nstill laugh out loud when t think about that old hag's furious face."

Stephanie saw Jessica sitting in the center of the sofa with her legs crossed and a cigarette in hand! With ap air of cold arrogance, Jessica exuded the demeanor of a queen bee while the others around her kept flattering her.

Jessica looked utterly arrogant as she spoke coldly before exhaling a puff of smoke. "That is nothing."

Stephanie pulled back and inwardly criticized, "Dominick actually likes this kind of woman?"

Women in the circle were rarely innocent. Most just put on an act. Stephanie felt this strongly because her stepmother, Courtney, was also a master of the game.

Stephanie's expression was a bit awkward as she wondered, 'Why am I eavesdropping here?" She had to admit, she was a bit jealous. Dominick was always cold to her, so Stephanie was curious if Jessica had some kind of personal charm.

Afterward, Stephanie decided to head back to the top floor. Just as she was

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about to close the door her om expression gloomy as she prepared to leave, she suddenly heard some ambiguous voices coming from inside.

She curiously took a quick look and was shocked to see two couples inside were unabashedly indulging. "They are actually doing drugs here..."

Just then, someone inside shouted toward the door, "Who's out there!"

The shout made everyone inside immediately alert. They were all public figures, and such incidents absolutely could not be leaked.

Stephanie was stunned as she watched the two burly men inside, shirtless and grim-faced, charging toward the door angrily. Immediately after, the door was flung open with a bang.

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