Crossroads

After hanging up the phone with Oscar, Stephanie sat in a daze on the couch. It wasn't until the clock on the wall chimed that she snapped back to reality, realizing it was already late at night.

There were only a few hours left of Christmas, and Stephanie wished the time would pass quickly. A beautiful day had turned messy, and as she watched others celebrate, she wished today was just an ordinary day. She glanced at the roses on the coffee table and remembered something.

Stephanie left her apartment, holding a basket of roses in her right hand. She took the stairs up to apartment 502, her footsteps heavy as she approached. She bent down and placed the basket of roses in front of the door. Then, she straightened up, turned, and walked away. This was how it should be. She planned to mysteriously leave the roses and walk away coolly, just like countless enigmatic figures who always remain calm and calculated, But as soon as she turned, Stephanie couldn't hold back. She turned around and kicked the door hard.

She thought, Screw your mysterious act.

"You bastard," she yelled angrily at the door. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she finally turned and walked back down. to her apartment at 402.

The sound of Stephanie kicking the door was so loud that it startled the neighbors. They came out of their apartments. looking around nervously. But she calmly opened her door, walked in, and slammed it shut. It felt like she had let out some pent-up frustration.

Stephanie admitted to herself that she wasn't cool and composed or strategic. Kicking someone's door was pretty childish, but she was really annoyed today and needed to let it out. If she had run into Dominick earlier, kicking the door wouldn't have been the end of it.

Sitting in her small living room, she drank half a glass of water, trying to calm down....

But the ticking of the clock only made her more irritated.

During this festive holiday, being alone in her house felt incredibly lonely.

She browsed her phone for a while. Instagram was full of people showing off their love, couples being sweet, and families having fun on vacations. It made her envious. Slal*h the (lind)00vel.not website on Gøøgll to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Stephanie impulsively sent a holiday greeting to her few friends, something she usually wouldn't do. But now, she felt so lonely that she wanted to talk to someone, but no one replied.

Even Molly and Vincent were off having fun somewhere. She waited, feeling disappointed and a bit angry at herself.

It was kind of rude to bother others during the holiday.

She got up to find her nightgown, planning to take a hot shower and then sleep through the night.

In the bathroom, the sound of water was loud, and steam filled the small glass enclosure. Stephanie stood under the shower, raising her head as the warm water cascaded down her skin.

Stephanie didn't realize how enticing she looked standing in that glass enclosure.

But someone else did, and he knew it very well.

Dominick hadn't expected to walk into Room 402 and see this. He leaned against the wall, quietly watching her in the steamy mist.

Stephanie finished her shower, her skin warm and her cheeks slightly red. She sighed contentedly and reached out to grab the large towel next to her as she opened the glass door.

"Ah," as soon as she took a step out, she screamed loudly. "You jerk."

Stephanie rarely lost her composure like this, but now she was trembling with anger.

"There's nothing I haven't seen before... Dominick glanced at her quickly, speaking as casually as if discussing the weather, and then tossed a large white towel over her head. "Cover yourself with the towel."

His words made her even angrier. She was furious, her blood rushing to her head.

She yanked the towel off her head and wrapped herself tightly.

"Why are you in my apartment." She glared at him angrily, really wanting to throw the shampoo and body wash at him.

"You sent me a big basket of roses. Wasn't that an invitation for ree to come down?" He spoke with such confidence.

Stephanie ground her teeth and glared at him. How did you get in here? she demanded angrily, and then she immediately ran to the living room to check the door. It was still locked. "Dornick, tell me. Is the jerk I've been encountering every night you." Now that she caught him red-handed, she shouted and wanted an explanation. "Why are you sneaking into my apartment at night."

Dominick stood there, silently staring back at her for a long time

"Dominick, I'm asking you." Stephanie wouldn't let him off so easily. He was always mysterious and pretentious, but today. she wasn't going to let it slide.

Just a personal hobby" Finally, he gave a vague explanation in a low, deep voice.

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Stephanie was so angry that she clenched her fists. 'How did you get in here? I want a proper explanation."

Compared to her fury, Dominick remained calm, as if he didn't think he had done anything wrong. He asked. "Stephanie. if I remember correctly, we're still married. Is there a problem with me sleeping with my wife at night?"

Stephanie was stunned, perhaps because he spoke so confidently, or maybe because she had never expected him to say something like that.

Dominick, right under her nose, went into her kitchen, took some oatmeal she had cooked, sat down on her sofa, and started eating.

He really was familiar with the place.

He acted like it was his own home.

"Dominick, I haven't eaten all day," she shouted through gritted teeth. But he didn't even turn around, calmly continuing to eat his oatmeal. Dominick added,

"Be quiet."

She thought, 'Be quiet. All he knows is to tell me to be quiet. Quiet, my foot Stephanie couldn't take it anymore and ran up to snatch the bowl from his hands.

"Dominick, you'd better explain clearly why you're here. Why you... she angrily demanded. She had been holding back for so long.

But he remained expressionless as if he didn't feel the need to explain.

In fact, getting into Room 402 was simple for Dominick. He didn't need to unlock the door. With his skills, he could easily

climb down from his 302 balcony to 402 and just walk in.

As for why she slept so soundly at night, it was because he used some special incense.

Dominick thought she slept too restlessly.

"Stephanie, do you want me to give you a Christmas gift?" Dominick suddenly asked, probably annoyed by her noise.

Stephanie stared at him with an intense gaze, searching for any hint of emotion on his stern face. Shen couldn't tell if his disguise was too good or if she was too inexperienced, but she truly didn't know what he was up to. She hated the feeling of being played by so-called smart people, being kept in the dark.

"What do you want to give me?" she asked, her voice filled with anger but also with a trace of hope.

Seeing her interest, Dominick raised an eyebrow and joked, "How about I give you myself?"

"I don't want you, Stephanie retorted almost instinctively.

"If you don't want me, then who do you want?" Dominick probably didn't expect to get angry oven a joke. He ve had guessed her response and just wanted to tease her on this festive day, but her quick and firm rejection irritated him.

Sitting on the couch, with Stephanie standing beside him, he looked up at her. Despite her height advantage, his the deep eyes bore into her. "Stephanie, you have no other choice but me...

He swiftly grabbed her, pulled her down onto the couch, and kissed her on the lips.