Cross Roads

Chapter 262 "Dominick was at the hospital last night" The morning sun was warm, and the bustling streets of the metropolis were already filled with vehicles. Commuters were rushing to their offices to clock in. Hayley skillfully drove her car towards the Innovate Group building She wore a Bluetooth earpiece in her right ear. Early in the morning, a colleague from the company had urgently reported snews to her. She thought it was just a work-related matter, but her expression darkened as she listened.

"You're saying Dominick spent the entire night at the hospital with Stephanie?" Her voice was filled with complex emotions.

"It's true. Around I AM last night, the president suddenly called and askedto bring sproject documents and his laptop to the hospital. 1 thought he might be sick, but then I saw that woman in the ward and understood. Stephanie was on an IV drip..." Hayley had always been tactful at work, and her clever colleagues knew she had a special relationship with the Wellington family. As a result, many people within the Innovate Group volunteered to pass on information to her, especially private matters concerning their president.

"Hayley, you said that the president had forgotten Stephanie. What's going on now! Did he remember her?" a colleague inquired on the other end of the phone, eager for gossip Hayley's face darkened. "Which hospital is beat? Sendthe address. With that, she hung up the phone. She reached the T-junction ahead and made a sharp turn, heading straight for the hospital 'Has Dominick remembered Stephanie? Hayley drove fast. Her good mood from earlier in the morning turned to irritation. The news had caught her off guard.

"Why would Dominick go to see her It was Yvonne's birthday yesterday, and they had dinner together at Wellington Villa. Scott mentioned that Stephanie hadn't disappeared and that Vincent had left fint. Dominick didn't show any reaction at the time. Hayley furrowed her brow. She thought he had lost interest in Stephanie, but why would he seek her out? Has he really remembered her? The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became.

Dominick was in Serenburg for treatment of a bullet lodged in his skull. The surgery had caused memory loss and confusion, which was a golden opportunity for her. In the past, she'd even pretended to be Oscar's girlfriend to get close to him. Now, she was practically the only close female figure in his memory... She couldn't let him remember Stephanie The white Bentley screeched to a halt outside the hospital entrance, Dressed in a sharp black suit, Hayley ran her hands through her slightly disheveled hair, stepped out of the car, straightened her back, and strode towards the ward her colleague had given her. She exuded the confidence of a high-powered executive.

But she couldn't find anyone in the ward.

Standing outside, she pulled out her phone and dialed Dominick's number. It went straight to voicemail, moment's besitation, the dialed another number.

1, and she hung up in frustration. After a This time, the call connected quickly. Hayley immediately adopted a more casual tone and greeted, "Stephanie, I heard you're hospitalized. How are you..

"Ms. Isaac, we're not exactly friends" Stephanie was surprised to receive her call. Her voice was raspy, her tone chilly, and she clearly wasn't in the mood to be polite.

Hayley picked up on the congestion in her voice and figured she might actually be sick.

M Reed, we all know you haven't been well lately. Take care of yourself, Hayley said, matching Stephanie's formal tone. Her tone was laced with sarahim. and Stephanie reached for the end call button, seemingly tired of the conversation.

"Ms. Reed, there's something you should know. Dominick can't stay up late after surgery. The doctor was very clear about that" Hayley was was quick to anticipate her move, her voice dropping to a low, almost taunting tone. "Don't think you're so pitiful that everyone will sympathize with you. Think about Dominick ton. He needs to be taken care of You don't know how to take care of people, so don't harm him." Stephanie, as always, held the phone and listened quietly.

As a senior 118 executive in the group, Hayley was a master of using words to manipulate and shothers. But today, things had changed Hayley, cut the crap. If you want Dominick, go fight for him I couldn't care less about a man you can easily snatch away, But I doubt you've got the * Stephanie's voice cthrough the phone, calin and indifferent, causing Hayley's expression to darken amly 10 37 AM Chapter 262 Stephanie continued, "Dominick has forgotten me. You think he'd even give you a second look? You lied to him about being Oscar's girlfriend. When he found out, he didn't punish you. Do you think it's because he has a soft spot for you, or is it that he just doesn't care about you?"

Hayley gripped the phone nightly in anger. She'd never expected m Stephanie, the pampered heiress, to be sa vicious with her words. When Stephanie said Dominick didn't care about her, it truly infuriated her. "Stephanie, no matter what happened in the past, your only reliance is gone. Dominick doesn't need you, but I can help him in his career. accompany him, wait for him. I love him more than you do!"

Hayley had waited an eternity for this love. How could she be any less worthy than Stephanie? Why did that woman get to have Dominick's love so effortlessly! Was it just because of the child? Now that the child was gone, he would surely see her devotion. This was the first tStephanie had heard her confess her feelings so openly. Her rival was challenging her, but she suddenly fell silent She and Dominick were from the sworld. Hayley had used underhanded tactics to get close to him, clinging to him, waiting for him...

"Hayley, do you know what he really wants!" Stephanie said softly. Her tone was calm, and she was neither fighting nor grabbing, so she just hung up the phone.

Hayley stood outside the hospital ward, staring blankly at her phone.

She had expected Stephanie to explode in anger, but she was surprisingly calm. Maybe Stephanie had changed due to a recent event... Or maybe she had underestimated Stephanic all along "Ms. Isaac, the person you're looking for has already been discharged, a young nurse approached her and said, bringing her back to reality.

Hayley quickly regained her professional smile. “Excuse me, could you tellwhen the man left? Did they leave together, or did the woman on her own!"

Hearing this, the nurse started to vent her frustration. "Are you a friend of the patient? That woman was a real piece of work, yelling and screaming about leaving the hospital. The only thing that kept her from totally losing it was the guy sitting by her bed, keeping an eye on her. But as soon as the man left at 5 AM, she pulled out the IV needle and ran off. When our doctor cdown for rounds, she was nowhere to be found. Hayley remained silent, the smile on her face stiffening- She wasn't Stephanie's friend, but she understood Stephanie. She understood how this woman repeatedly rejected Dominick without hesitation and how he still spoiled her as usual, even with his memory loss.

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