Crossroads

"Stephanie, why were you suddenly at the hospital? Who saved you?"

"I don't know," Stephanie muttered sullenly.

She shrank back, burying her head under the covers, ignoring him.

"Are you jealous? Dominick was worried sick when he couldn't find you at Wellington Villa. All we found at the factory was Jessica...

Vincent started to explain, but the mention of Jessica clogged Stephanie's heart.

"You haven't had a knife at your belly. You have no idea how terrifying it is! You all think I'm so tough, not fragile like Jessica, but I get scared tool" Her voice, muffled by the covers, was raw with emotion.

She remembered trembling, desperate for someone to find her...

Vincent fell silent. Of course, she'd been through something traumatic after being abducted.

He turned and left, closing the door softly behind him.

Looking towards the corridor elevator, he sighed, "Where the hell is Dominick?"

"Dominick!"

Just as Dominick stepped out of the elevator, a woman clung to him.

It was Jessica, rescued from that abandoned factory and brought here for observation. She wasn't badly hurt, but...Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"Dominick, please!" She grabbed his arm, her face a mask of desperation. "Don't believe those doctors. My clothes are a mess, but I wasn't... They didn't do anything to me. Please, I swear..." Her voice was fraught with emotion, repeatedly emphasizing her point.

Dominick's expression remained cold as he looked at her and silently withdrew his hand.

"I don't care," he said indifferently.

Jessica froze instantly, struggling to explain, "Dominick, you're my only man. Trust me, I didn't let them..."

"I told you, it doesn't matter. Whether it's true or not, it means nothing to me." He looked into her eyes, cutting her off coldly.

"But, wait..." Jessica panicked, stepping forward and clinging to his arm again, her voice laced with desperation. "Dominick, we were in love. You're just angry, right? Angry that I left three years ago, upset I got hurt. That's why you saved me tonight...

"Let go!"

His eyes flashed with impatience as he shoved her away. There was no gentleness in his push, and Jessica stumbled back, barely catching herself against the wall Dominick didn't bother to explain further. "Ms. Carter, please stop bothering me," he said, his voice cold and warning.

"Why!" She couldn't accept it!

"Dominick, you used to love me and spojl me. I know you still love me, lam the one you love! Her face showed a mix of guilt and fear as she raised her voice and shouted at him.

He took a step closer to her. "Because it didn't work..." he said inexplicably. Jessica stared at his coldly handsome face, a face that could charm any woman, confused by his cryptic words.

"It didn't work? What does that mean?' she thought.

"Jessica, I don't care about you. Whether you're hiding something from me, I just don't care..."

Suddenly, Dominick reached out, caressing her familiar face. "I don't care even if you've had done something with your face."

Her eyes widened, the words hitting like a physical blow.

Dominick knew. He had known all along.

Dominick looked at her face, smirking as if mocking himself.

"I won't pry into your cosmetic surgery, your background, or whatever else you're hiding... Not because I'm spoiling you. I just don't care."

His words, low and soft, echoed next to her ear, yet they were mercilessly cold. Jessica's blood ran cold.

Just standing beside Dominick made her feel a suffocating sense of coldness.

He used to smile at her with tenderness. Now, his gaze was distant whenever he looked at her.

Jessica wasn't naive. She knew Dominick's kindness towards her wasn't purely for her, but she heart.

wanted more and more from him, like his Whenever he stared at that high school at Caelorium, the loneliness in his eyes was almost unbearable, making her want to hold him.

But he wouldn't let her get close to him.

Looking at her face, Dominick couldn't help but think of another woman upstairs.

His expression grew increasingly irritable. He glanced toward the elevator, hesitated for just a second, and walked back...

Jessica watched him leave, her eyes brimming with resentment, frustration, and jealousy.

"Dominick, I can... I can do better than her!" she yelled after his retreating figure in an imploring voice.

He gave no response as the elevator doors closed with a ding sound.

Dominick treated her indifferently like he treated anyone else, not even sparing her a moment's hesitation.

Jessica was at a loss.

She had lost Dominick's support now. Thinking of this, she glared at the closed elevator doors, her mind in turmoil. "Stephaniel" she murmured, wishing that woman disappear for good.

"Stephanie fell asleep inside." Seeing Dominick return, Vincent hurried over. "By the way, Stephanie got threatened by isaac at knifepoint. Seemed like she was genuinely scared..."

She was frightened, not for her own safety, but for the children in her belly.

Hearing this, Dominick pondered deeply for a moment. Then, he entered the room directly.

The woman in the hospital bed hadn't fallen asleep. At the sound of the door opening, she instinctively looked up.

She thought it was Vincent again and growled in annoyance You're really annoying. Hold you. My children need to rest."

But her annoyance froze as she met Dominick's gaze- those intense, deep eyes.

"What is he doing here again?'

Dominick locked eyes with her briefly before walking straight to the bathroom.

It seemed like he hadn't come specifically for her but more casually, as if he just needed a shower.

Soon, the bathroom filled with the sound of running water, leaving her strangely on edge.

She knew he'd been drenched, his hair disarray, and his clothes stained with dust. It was rare to see him in such a mess.

But...he could just go home for a shower, no need to be there.

Soon, he came out wearing hospital scrubs.

The VIP hospital room had a hairdryer, and the scrubs were om specially prepared, but here he was,

Ω

dressed just like her, standing by her hospital bed. Her feelings were complicated and messy.

"What are you trying to do..." She barely got the words out when he abruptly pulled back the sheet. "Move over!"

"What?"

she was slow to process what was happening.

Dominick lay beside her as if this were a bedroom in Wellington Villa.

"Night," he murmured huskily.

Since he didn't know how to express himself, he chose not to say anything instead, His arm snaked around her waist, pulling her close....

It was past 2 AM. The night was quiet and cold. Tonight had shakem m Stephanie to her care, and he...he was genuinely exhausted.

Sat, 22 JUT