Crossroads

Chapter 24

Stephanie felt inexplicably downcast.

When she woke up the next day, she felt groggy and sluggish, and she didn't get out of bed until 10 o'clock, completely forgetting about the card game.

"Where is Dominick After waking up, she realized he was nowhere to be seen.

Just as she stepped out of the hotel suite, she bumped into Vincent. He was still holding a grudge against her for tricking him the previous night, so he said coldly. "You can go back to Reed Villa by yourself. He's not going with you,

"Dominick went to the cemetery. Today is Jessica's death anniversary."

Dominick was supposed to accompany Stephanie back to Reed Villa, but when she heard that he was going to pay respects to his deceased ex-girlfriend today, Stephanie couldn't help but think that he must have truly loved that woman.

The storm in Caelorium had finally stopped, yet she hesitated when she arrived at the hotel lobby, She didn't want to go back to Reed Villa.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from the hotel entrance. It was an elderly voice filled with excitement. "Steffi..."

Stephanie's expression flickered with disbelief as she quickly walked over, and her voice suddenly choked up with emotion as she said, "Grandma."

"Steffi, it really is you. You've really cback! Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you cback to visit us? Do you know how worried I've been?" said the elegant and dignified Samantha Reed with concern and frustration in her voice, her eyes brimmed with tears.

At that, Stephanie felt a pang in her heart and immediately embraced the elderly woman in front of her.

She hadn't expected her grandmother to cto the hotel to pick her up personally, it had been six years since they last saw each other, and Stephanie currently felt both guilty and conflicted,

"Mr. George Wellington from Havencrest called us a few days ago," Samantha said, her face lighting up with joy as she took Stephanie's hand and led har into the car. "I watched you grow up from a child, so I know you very well. If I hadn't cto fetch you myself today, you would have sneaked away. Now that you're back, you are not allowed to run off again, okay?

"By the way, where is Mr. Wellington?" Samantha asked as she excitedly looked around.

After getting into the car with Samantha and hearing the question, Stephanie looked conflicted. "He's busy with simportant matters today."

"That's understandable, as the sole heir of the third generation of the Wellington family, he surely has a lot to do," Samantha said, her face still beaming with excitement. "Steffi, I heard you've already gotten a marriage license with him. You've really done well to becpart of the Wellington family. I'm so happy for you."

Stephanie's expression stiffened at her words. She felt as if this family reunion had suddenly taken an unpleasant turn.

Meanwhile, the car smoothly headed toward Reed Villa. Along the way, Samantha excitedly asked Stephanie many questions about the Wellington family but nothing about how she had been over the years.

This realization then darkened Stephanie's expression. Just as they reached the entrance to Reed Villa, she could hear the excited chatter from inside the villa.

"It's been so many years since we last met. Oh my, you've lost so much weight. Samantha said we were expecting an important quest today, but I had no idea it was you, why didn't you letknow beforehand?"

12:50 Thu, 20 JunChapter 24

"Where is Gary? We've specifically brought a bottle of vintage wine for him to try, to thank him for the financing he helped with before."

"He's upstairs right now. We're family. There's no need to be to formal."

As the conversation continued, the villa was filled with laughter and cheerful voices Stephanie, on the other hand, stood frozen at the entrance as her hands involuntarily clenched into fists.

At this exact moment, all she wanted to do was turn around and leave.

"All those things from the past are years behind us now, Steffi, Don't hold a grudge against your stepmother anymore, Samantha said, seemingly having sensed her desire to escape. She immediately took Stephanie's hand and practically dragged her inside. "It looks like Claire has also cover. Let's go in."

Once they walked in, a servant announced, "Mrs. Samantha Reed has returned."

Immediately after, sounds of quick footsteps were heard, and Claire ran over to the door, eagerly saying, "Samantha, it's been so many years since we last saw each other!"

However, when she saw Stephanie next to Samantha, her smile froze and turned into a look of shock.

At that moment, Kevin, who was even more shocked than Claire, almost reflexively ran over. He stared at Stephanie incredulously and asked, "Stephanie, why are you here?! Are you following me?!"

Upon hearing him, Stephanie smirked coldly.

Samantha was the first to ask, "You two knew each other before?"

"Yes!" Stephanie spat out the word through gritted teeth.

It was only then that Kevin seemed to snap back to reality. Upon seeing Samantha and Stephanie arm in arm, he suddenly understood something, his expression turning complex and troubled.

Samantha noticed his strange look toward Stephanie, while Claire appeared conflicted and resentful by the side.

"Steffi, I'm glad you finally decided to cback. I want to apologize for what happened before. It was my fault, and I've truly felt guilty over these years. You can askto do anything. Just please don't be upset with your father, okay?" Courtney Peterson spoke with a concerned expression and gentle tone. She seemed to be begging for forgiveness, but she also implied that Stephanie had been stubborn and unwilling to return to Reed Villa all these years

"Oh, my dear, I'm sure Steffi wouldn't remember those little past issues,"

Samantha replied cheerfully, seemingly in a good mood. Afterward, she instructed Courtney, "Go call Gary down. He's always busy with work and forgets to care about his own daughter. You wouldn't believe how impressive Steffi is now...

As Samantha spoke, she led Stephanie toward the living room and warmly offered her fruits and desserts.

Stephanie then suppressed her irritation and chatted with Samantha. Just then, a little girl suddenly ran over and sweetly called Samantha "Great Grandma." "Oh, Joyce, you're such a good girl. This is Claire's daughter, Joyce," Samantha introduced Joyce to Stephanie with a smile. Stephanie, however, just remained silent with a grim expression. She then caught sight of the little girl cuddling up to Kevin's legs across the Eving room as Claire affectionately stroked the little girl's head. The family of three locked so happy together.

"Kevin, the child is getting so big. You really should hurry up and officially marry Claire..." Samantha suggested, and Claire then affectionately leaned on Kevin's shoulder, looking really shy. He, however, looked at Stephanie with a complex gaze.

12:50 Thu, 20 Jun 1 GD Chapter 24

With a dark expression, Stephanie turned her head away, not wanting to see them.

Upon noticing her unusual reaction, Samantha curiously asked, "Steffi, Kevin and the young Mr. Wellington are cousins. You two know each other?"

"We were..." Stephanie started, but her voice then trailed off, and she didn't finish saying that they used to be husband and wife.

Instead, she said, "Grandma, I need to go to the restroom."

Stephanie seemed unable to stand the oppressive atmosphere any longer. She quickly stood up and walked away without waiting for Samantha to respond.

Upon seeing her walk away without responding to her question, Samantha looked displeased.

Stephanie went to Reed Villa's backyard, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She despised the Reed family and wished she could avoid returning to Reed Villa for the rest of her life.

She then looked around with a mixture of emotions and saw that the greeneries here had long since been replaced. Everything had changed except the memories Just then, Kevin caught up with her from behind, his voice filled with shock as he asked, "You're Gary's daughter?"

He couldn't believe Stephanie was Gary Reed's daughter, the only heir of Caelorium's wealthiest family. But she had lived in an old apartment and led a frugal life...

Stephanie, however, ignored Kevin and didn't even turn to look at him.

Kevin hurried to her front, stared intently at her, and questioned accusatorily, "Why didn't you tellbefore?"

Stephanie found it ridiculous. "We were married for three years, and you didn't know? Now that you know, what difference does it make, Kevin? Since you're so grateful to Claire's brother-in-law for helping you, then you better hurry up and curry favor with him. After all, a poor person living in a broken apartment likehas nothing to do with the Reed family."

"Stephanie, you did this on purpose!" Kevin suddenly becagitated and grabbed her arm.

"I did it on purpose?" Stephanie asked as she shook off his grip and suddenly burst into mocking laughter. "You cheated onwith my stepmother's sister, and now you're questioning me, Kevin? Are you really that shameless?"

rai Kevin fell silent for a moment, finally understanding why his mother had told him not to divorce Stephanie back then. He pondered, 'Turns out it is because of this..."

"What are you two doing?!" Suddenly, a stern and sharp voice cfrom the second-floor study window. Gary looked at them sharply and ordered Stephanie, "You, cup here right now!"

She looked up and locked eyes with her own father with nothing but hatred.

"Get up here right now!" Gary's voice was cold as he repeated his command.

Stephanie, as if in defiance, stomped her feet and walked up to the second-floor study..

It had been six years since the father and daughter last saw each other. As soon as Stephanie entered, Garym lashed out what have you learned out there all these years? To hook up with every man you see? That's Claire's man, for heaven's sake! Have you no shame?"

"Hook up? Yes, I do indeed like to hook up with men, what about it? I have no manners, probably inherited it, but that's just who lam!Stephanie's face was dark with defiance, and she sneered coldly,

"But maybe it's true what they say about birds of a feather flocking together. Courtney was fooling around with you at 20, if we're talking about shamelessness, I can't compete with her."

Chapter 24

ZU JUI

"Shut your mouth! Courtney is your stepmother, show srespect!" Gary's face darkened with fury as he glared at his daughter.

"Oh, what's this?" Just then, Courtney entered with a worried look. "Gary, it's rare for Steffi to cback, don't argue with her. We're family, let's talk this out."

"Who's your family, you whord? Stephanie couldn't control her emotions and lashed out every tshe saw Courtney.

Just then, Gary raised his hand and slapped Stephanie hard across her face.

He yelled, "Don't think just because you are the Reed family's first heir you can be willful and disrespectful, Stephanie. You better behave!" Stephanie's eyes reddened with tears, her lips pressed together tightly, and she glared fiercely at her father. Meanwhile, her right cheek was swollen from the slap and was burning with pain.

Gary er gaze, growing even more displeased.

met her gaze, He then scolded Stephanie, "And another thing, I don't care how you seduced Dominick, but I do not approve of this marriage. I won't have you offending the Wellington family and causing trouble for me."

"Don't worry, I won't cause you any more trouble, because to me, my father had already died when I was 171" Stephanie shouted as tears swirled in her eyes. She then turned and ran out, unable to control her emotions.

As Gary stared at her retreating figure, his face darkened with anger.

Courtney stood beside him, smirking, and pretended to be concerned as she asked, "Gary, should we go after her?"

"What's all this? We haven't even had dinner yet and she has already run off." Samantha stood at the ground floor entrance and watched as Stephania hurried away, cursing. "She's just like her mother, willful and ill-mannered."

Kevin also watched Stephanie's frantic escape, feeling a surge of strange emotions, and instinctively started to follow.

At that moment, Claire coquettishly clung to his arm and said, "Kevin, dinner is ready."

Kevin stopped in his tracks, his expression still shocked and complex.

elf? Where is she now?" he asked coldly. Meanwhile, Dominick had just received a phone call at the hotel. "She went to Reed Villa herself?

The bodyguard on the phone hesitated before saying, "Mr. Wellington, Mrs. Wellington... She's gone missing"