Crossroads

Around nine in the evening, Stephanie picked up her phone and headed to the bedroom.

She opened the door and found that Dominick was already awake.

But he seemed a bit off.

"Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat? Sandra made some oatmeal," she asked in a low voice.

Standing at the door, she looked uneasy.

"Yes," he hummed in consent. He got up, walked past her, and left the room.

The door was closed.

Stephanie went to the closet for her pajamas a complicated."

and then went into the bathroom for a bath. She couldn't help grumbling, “Men are Dominick had a bit of oatmeal downstairs and felt more awake. He decided to head back to the bedroom to grab some files and read them in the study room.

The sound of running water from the bathroom accompanied by Stephanie's humming of a song indicated Stephanie was taking a bath:

"Is she in a good mood?" he w wondered as he walked toward the coffee table and picked up the files.

On his way out, he paused and glanced at the bathroom door.

From what he knew, Stephanie would hum a tune while bathing when she was in a good mood.

"Has she been with someone else lately?' he thought.

Just then, his phone vibrated on the coffee table, catching his attention. A notification popped up with a new message on WhatsApp.

[Babel]

Dominick frowned, trying ignore the message. At the same time, he wondered who was calling Stephanie that way.

Dominick gazed at the phone with popping messages, his eyes showing some hesitation, while the woman in the bathroom didn't seem to hurry out of the bathtub. If he wanted to know what was going on, he could send someone to investigate rather than check her phone.

Dominick felt funny. He had his principles.

Gripping the documents, he walked away, But another message came.

[Babe, I'm not feeling well.]

Dominick felt helpless. If he cared, there would be no principles to talk about. In the end, he couldn't help but glance at the phone screen.

"Who's Sleeping Beauty?" he muttered.

Suddenly, the bathroom door opened.

Stephanie stepped out in a white bathrobe. She was just grabbing some lotion when her eyes met Dominick's

"Is something wrong?" she asked, wondering why he was standing there.

Dominick stared at her, contemplating for a moment. Without answering, he walked past her and left the room.

"Make sure to dry your hair."

Stephanie heard him say when he was closing the door.

Stephanie was puzzled. Her long hair was still dripping wet.

Maybe because of Dominick's reminder, Stephanie took her time drying her hair in the bathroom before stepping out.

Dominick was working in the study room as usual.

But Stephanie felt like something was different about him.

Since she was pregnant, she didn't stay up late and fell asleep quickly. She wasn't sure when Dominick returned to the bedroom, but she did feel someone lifting her hair, as if checking on something during the night.

When she woke up at seven the next morning, she was surprised to find Dominick still in bed. He usually got up by live in the morning,

"Good morning!" she said.

Inching away from her, Dominick suddenly opened his eyes. Stephanie's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly got up.

"Morning!" Dominick said, following her to get up.Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.

Dominick didn't talk much usually, but he seemed particularly quiet these past few days.

'What's going on with him?" Stephanie wondered. She wanted to ask him, but she didn't know how to begin.

She washed up absentmindedly, and they had a simple breakfast downstairs. Then, they walked together toward the main house.

"Grandpa was worried about you yesterday."

As they walked side by side, Stephanie felt the corridor was so long. The air was awkward, and she tried to break it.

Dominick glanced at her and remained silent.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

SnugglePig: [Stephanie, are you awake yet? You wouldn't be busy in bed with your lazy husband, would you?]

Stephanie couldn't help but smile at her friend's eagerness, and just as she was about to reply, Mally sent more messages.

SnugglePig: [I'm going on a business trip to o Caelorium today. Anything you want me to bring back? I'll stay in the best hotel and eat all I can before coming back. My boss is driving me crazy.]

Stephanie read Molly's rant about her boss and her envy of Stephanie's life without a job.

'I'd rather have a job," Stephanie thought. Women without financial independence are the most foolish."

"Who's that?" Dominick asked, narrowing his eyes.

Her absorption in her phone aroused his suspicion.

His sudden voice startled Stephanie. She quickly put her phone away and replied, "A friend."

Dominick hummed flatly.

He seemed not pleased with her answer, so Stephanie quickly added, "It's Molly Sriuggleton, my high school classmate.

"Speaking of which, she is working at the headquarters of the Innovate Group."

"Molly Snuggleton?" Dominick raised an eyebrow, having no impression of this minor employee.

But then, he added, "The one who used to sign in for you at school?"

Stephanie stopped in her tracks, surprised. "How do you know?"

She wondered how Dominick learned about this. Even if he had investigated her, he wouldn't care about such trivial things.

Dominick gazed at her for a while and continued his way forward without saying anything.

The morning sun shone down on Stephanie as she watched him walk ahead. For a moment, she felt as though his back seemed familiar and wondered if she had seen it before.

Meanwhile, her phone kept buzzing in her hand.

SnugglePig: [Stephanie, when will you introduce me to your o your husband? Tell him I'm your best friend and he En should treat me to a meal.]

Stephanie sat down in the corridor and laughed, typing back. [You might have already met him.]

SnugglePig: [You mean I know him?]

StephForce: [He's at the same company.]

Molly immediately became excited. [He also works at the Innovate Group headquarters. Give a hint. Which department?]

StephForce: [He's your big boss.)

Stephanie e was about to tease her friend when she noticed she had received some new messages from last night.

"Sleeping Beauty?" she was surprised.

That person sent her two messages at around ten the previous night. The content was short and weird.

[Babel]

[Babe, I'm not feeling well.]

"Am I that close to him?' she thought.

His tone was odd, like whining or trying to be cute.

Stephanie quickly typed a reply. [Hello, are you one of my classmates?]

[Yes]

Stephanie was stunned by the quick response. Either he just happened to have his WhatsApp open, or he was waiting for something.

It was Stephanie's first time chatting with this person. She recalled every time she posted on her how

Ο

moments, he would reply immediately. She found it a little intriguing.

StephForce: Who are you? What's your name? Sorry, I don't remember you.]

Her words were frank, straightforward, and proper.

Seeing her message, the man tightened his grip on his phone.

He sat in a chair by the window. The morning light highlighted his om handsome but pale face. His brows furrowed, and he clutched the chair to endure the pain.

He had endured years of pain in Aurorastra, thinking he had become accustomed to it. But now..

[Babe, you've forgotten me.]

His deep blue eyes looked empty, devoid of life.