Crossroads

Around eight o'clock in the evening, Stephanie returned to the hotel from the milkshake shop. After taking a bath, she lay on the bed, but she could not fall asleep.

Jessica is Regina's biological daughter?" she pondered, clutching the quilt tightly.

Regina Smith, the owner of the milkshake shop, was a single mother with a daughter named Betty. However, Stephanie had never met Betty. All she knew was that Betty dropped out of junior high and often stayed out late.

It turned out that Jessica was Betty Smith.

It seemed that Jessica had undergone plastic surgery and also hid her true identity from Dominick. But why did she lie to him?

'Should I tell Dominick?' Stephanie hesitated, glancing at her phone.

However, Dominick was still away on his business trip to Paente, and he disliked others meddling in his affairs with Jessica.

Thinking it over, Stephanie's expression darkened. 'Forget it. I don't want to get scolded for no reason.'

However, there was another matter...

"At that time, you were working part-time in my shop. You're probably aware that many of your male classmates only came to the shop for you. But there was a man who was different..." Regina's words from earlier replayed in Stephanie's mind.

"No wonder there were always massive orders whenever I was on the night shift," she mused, remembering her high school days.

That year, she had just left the Reed family's care. Refusing to rely on them financially, she juggled school and her part-time job, where she often worked the night shift in her senior year due to the heavy workload of her classes in the morning.

But every time she worked the night shift, strange things happened. Salesmen would show up and order over a hundred cups of milkshakes, claiming it was for their company or charity events.

Regina would come over to help with the large orders, and afterward, she would ask Stephanie to return home to rest. Those night shifts usually lasted only two hours, yet she received the highest commission.

"Who sent those men to buy the milkshakes?' she wondered.

Too tired to dwell on it, Stephanie decided to let it go. Back then, she was focused on her studies and work, with no memory of that mysterious man.

She woke at five o'clock the next morning.

Stephanie sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, realizing the early rising habit she had picked up from when she stayed at Wellington Villa. Turning her head, she cast an awkward glance at the spot beside her...

Surprisingly, thoughts of Dominick crossed her mind.

Swiftly finishing her breakfast and packing her bag, she then prepared to visit her grandmother at the hospital. Strangely, she felt a growing sense of belonging with Wellington Villa, but she couldn't pinpoint when this feeling had taken root.

However, as she stepped out of the hotel lobby, she unexpectedly encountered someone familiar.

"Get in the car."

Awhite Bentley was parked outside the hotel entrance, seemingly waiting specifically for her, and the cold voice of a woman emanated from the car window.

Frowning slightly, Stephanie scrutinized the woman in the car, wondering, 'What could she possibly want from me?"

"What? Are you scared of me?" Jessica smirked in the car with disdain.

After a moment's hesitation, Stephanie opened the rear door and climbed in by herself. In response, Jessica's expression turned icy. She stepped on the gas and drove straight to a secluded restaurant, As the door to the restaurant's private room closed behind them, Jessica started, "Where did you get your plastic surgery done?"

Stephanie stared at her in bewilderment, completely caught off guard.

Seeing her confusion, Jessica sneered, "You're quite the actress..."

With disdain evident in her eyes, Jessica took out a cigarette from her bag, lit it, and arrogantly exhaled smoke toward Stephanie.

Coughing slightly, Stephanie quickly stood up from her chair, "Ms. Carter, just get straight to the point."

Even Dominick and Vincent refrained from smoking in her presence when she was pregnant. Now, faced with the arrogance of the famous star, she felt disgusted.

Jessica's gaze fell on Stephanie's abdomen and her jealousy grew as she said, "Name your price to get rid of the child."

"No," Stephanie replied, meeting Jessica's gaze firmly.

"Stephanie, you're making a mistakel" Jessica's voice grew cold, her gaze piercing. "You schemed your way into Dominick's life while I was away for three years. But let me tell you, Dominick is minel Who are you to fight over him with me?"

She slammed the table, rising to her feet. Donning a designer black leather jacket with flashy metal rivets on the shoulders, she looked utterly arrogant, which was a stark contrast to her demure image on stage.

"I may not have the right to fight with you, but the baby is mine..." Stephanie had a sense of self-awareness, but there were some things she wouldn't give up on.

"Stephanie, what are you planning to do? Do you think you can continue to cling to Dominick once you give birth to his child?" Jessica sneered, tapping her cigarette in the crystal ashtray on the table.

"To be honest, Dominick will kick you out of his house once you give birth. And then, as his stepmother, I will make sure to bully Her eyes gleamed with malice.

Stephanie's expression flickered with complex emotions upon hearing this.

child!"

"You should know that Dominick pampers me a lot. Now, no one in the media outlets dare to report any negative news about me," Jessica boasted proudly..

Then, she warned coldly, "Anyone who opposes me e will suffer the consequences. Ross Brown did, so Dominick ordered his men to break Ross' legs, and he ended up in the hospital. Stéphanie, if you dare to cross me, I'll complain to Dominick and make your whole family suffer in misery!"

Stephanie's right hand tightened slightly as she stared back at Jessica.

"I'm going to keep this baby. I won't interfere in your affairs with Dominick," she said in a small voice as she lowered her head slightly.

0:86%0

Jessica, as his former lover, forced her to adopt this submissive stance, but she never intended to compete with Jessica for Dominick's love.

Seeing her determination to keep the baby, Jessica's patience wore thin, her expression turning grim as she ordered, "Can't you understand what I'm saying? I want you to get rid of this nuisancel

"If Dominick wants kids, I can bear his children. Your child is only going to be a despicable illegitimate childi"

"Jessica, how dare you insult my child like that?" Stephanie looked up defiantly, her eyes blazing with anger. "You can say whatever you want about me, but don't involve my child. I'm not someone to be trifled with!"

"How dare you oppose me?" Jessica cursed angrily.

"Stephanie, you're just a shameless lowlife, while I'm a top actress! What do you have to compare with me? Don't think you can deceive Dominick just because you resemble me after plastic surgery. I'm his true lovel"

"I got plastic surgery?" Stephanie chuckled coldly as she looked at Jessica. "Betty Smith, I should be the one asking you why you've undergone surgery to look like me?"

Jessica's eyes widened momentarily at her words, before they were filled with fury. "What nonsense are you spouting? Who the hell is Betty Smith?" "You're the daughter of the milkshake shop's owner, aren't you? You know, the one opposite Elite High School in Caelorium. You had plastic surgery, and you also concealed your background from Dominick. You've deceived him in so many ways!"

"Shut up!" Jessica shouted indignantly.

"Stephanie, so what even if I had plastic surgery? Plastic surgery is common procedure in our circle. Even if Dominick finds out, he won't mind!"

Her eyes were sinister as she glared at Stephanie. "You also saw the photo in Dominick's pocket watch in the press, and you went for plastic surgery to look like the girl in the photo, right? But let me tell you, I once dated him for three years. So what if you look like her? I'm the only one he loves!"

'She was his true love... Stephanie felt uncomfortable as Jessica's words registered in her mind.

The door was pushed open forcefully, and Stephanie looked up instinctively in confusion.

It was him.

"Ms. Carter, we don't care who Dominick loves, but I'm taking Stephanie with me!"

Stephanie was caught off guard and the man grabbed her by the wrist, leading her away.

"Let go!" Stephanie felt a bit uneasy being dragged along However, the man held her tightly and only let go of her until he put put her in the car.

Stephanie looked at him, feeling a bit awkward. "Why did you come here?"

"Dominick, why did you come to Caelorium??

Meanwhile, Scott was driving in another car and looking suspiciously in the rearview mirror. "Vincent, why did come too?"

The Roberts erts family was based in Caeloriam, but Scott felt his two friends weren't here for a vacation.

"Dominick came to find his wife" Vincent smirked.

As for him, he just tagged along for fun. He was a member of the wealthy Hayes family and had nothing better to do at home anyway Dominick ignored them and looked out the window in silence, appearing deep in thought. His phone rested in his right hand, and he glanced at the screen inadvertently like he was waiting for a text from someone

"Stephanie always misplaces her phone. She might've missed your call or text,"Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Vincent said with a smirk.

Dominick looked up and looked at him coldly.

Vincent tensed up all over and quickly added, "It's just a guess."

Scott looked at Dominick through the rearview mirror and noticed his slightly furrowed brows as if he were pondering something

"Stephanie went to Reed Villa in Caelorium?"

gone to the cemetery to cry back then.

Dominick's face darkened slightly when he heard them mentioning the Reed family.

"We went to Reed Villa and the hospital, but she wasn't there, and she didn't answer her phone, Pdon't e know where she went," Vincent said calmly, then turned to Dominick "Do you want to send someone to look for her..."

"It's fine," Dominick said in a deep voice.

Scott and Vincent exchanged glances, not knowing what Dominick was planning on the other hand, Dominick leaned against the car seat, closing his eyes to rest

"Go to Elite High School," Dominick suddenly said when the car stopped at a crossroad.

Scott was momentarily stunned but quickly turned the steering wheel.

Elite High School, Caelorium.

They remembered Dominick ha