Crossroads Confessions by Deirdre Augus novel Chapter 232

Chapter 232 

“I love 

chimi 

Diana stood frozen, caught off guard, listening to Stephanie’s helpless scream of these three simple, direct words. 

Diana knew her niece was never a weak woman. She was headstrong, stubborn, and rarely complained. But seeing her like this, sobbing uncontrollably, Diana Felt deeply conflicted and distressed. 

Due to the heavy rain, traffic on the highway ahead had come to a standstill. Many people curiously looked at them through their car windows, with the sounds of rain, thunder, and muffled conversations filling the air. 

The scrutiny made Diana uncomfortable. She looked at Stephanie, who was drenched and appeared weak, especially with her visibly belly. She really shouldn’t be out in the rain like this. 

“Tim doing this for your own good. Let’s go home now…” Diana softened her voice, trying to calm her down. 

pregnant 

The woman in front of her remained silent, refusing to move. Diana knew her temperament well and dragged her towards the gate of their place, gripping her wrist tightly enough to leave marks. 

want to go back to Wellington Villa, Stephanie insisted, standing her ground against Diana’s attempts to move 

her. 

No matter how much Diana persuaded or reasoned with her, it was useless. Frustrated, Diana finally snapped, “You say you love him, but do you even know what love is, Stephanie? I’ve known you since you were a little girl. I know you better than anyone. You don’t even understand your own feelings. When Kevin chased after you because his mother told him to, you felt you owed him and agreed immediately. You gave everything, waiting patiently. And what did you get in the end? Claire came in and wrecked your marriage, and you were left out in the cold.” 

Indeed, she had lost everything. 

Stephanie’s jaw clenched as she listened to Diana. Everything Diana said was right. 

Her three years of sexless marriage to Kevin, years of cold neglect, had taken a toll. She was more guarded, more hesitant around men than ever 

before. 

Diana knew her well and understood how to persuade her. I’ve told you before, gratitude isn’t love, but you won’t listen. You think you owe him….. You jumped into this engagement because of the trauma of your family falling apart. You just want a home, and you’re being selfish,” 

“Yeah… I just want a home. Is that so wrong? 

It was as if her hidden secret had been exposed. Her stubborn voice sought an excuse for herself. Everyone made mistakes, and everyone had their own desires. 

Diana’s voice hardened. That house isn’t yours. What did your grandfather always say? “If you don’t get something, it’s because you didn’t ask for it. And if you asked but still didn’t get it, it was never meant for you! We Clarks don’t take what doesn’t belong to us. Wanting a house to hide in is not just cowardly, it’s foolish.” 

Stephanie fell silent, unable to find the right words. Unlike Hayley, she wasn’t quick–witted or sharp–tongued. All she wanted to say was, “Dominick is different. He’s not like the others!” She was sure of it. 

“Different how?” Diana’s eyes bore into hers, her words laced with harsh sarcasm.. 

“Kevin told you be saved you on your high school graduation trip, so you agreed to marry him. Dominick told you he was the one who saved you, and suddenly, you were in love with him. You’ve been living in a bubble, sheltered by the Reed and Clark families your whole life. But then your grandfather died, your father cheated, your mother committed suicide… Deep down, you couldn’t handle it. You put on a brave face, but you’ve been clinging to some fantasy of a happy ending 

“Stephanic, please, just listen to me. You don’t owe them anything. You were abducted by those thugs on your high school graduation trip. Kevin just happened to be passing by, and the bullet in Dominick’s head wasn’t your fault. Even if he hadn’t saved you, Oscar would have gotten there in 

time 

The bullet Stephanie’s mind echoed her words. 

The near–death experience was hazy in her memory, but she knew those bastards had fired guns. 

The angry voices around her blurred together, her thoughts slowing down as people began opening car doors and approaching. “What are you arguing about! Go home. It’s pouring outside,” 

“Hey, she’s pregnant. Don’t drag her out in the rain. Have some decency” 

The murmurs swirled around Stephanie, adding to her growing contusion. 

The word “bullet” stuck in her mind, a foreign and terrifying word. Her body went rigid. “What happened to Dominick?” she managed to ask. “Dominick’s not 

not going to make it. There’s a bullet fragment lodged in his brain. 

11:41 AM 

Chapter 232 

Diana’s harsh words cut through her shock. “Stephanie, you can’t keep running from the truth. This is reality. Just like that traumatic high school trip you’ve blocked out because you’re scared to face it. Reality doesn’t allow you to mess around or fantasize. Dominick isn’t meant for you! 

“He’ll only drag you down, make you feel guilty, trap you in this mess with no way out. You need to face reality. The reality is that Dominick made his own bad choices. You have nothing to do with him. You didn’t ask for this. He brought it on himself. 

“Oscar rushed him to the hospital that day after the accident. Dominick pulled through, but Oscar… He was in a coma for six years. They’re even now. No one owes anyone anything. If it weren’t for Oscar, Dominick would be dead. That bullet in his head? That’s his own damn fault, his burden to bear. He wants to drag you down with him, trap you in his misery.” 

Stephanie remained silent, letting the cold rain pour down. 

He wanted to drag her down and trap her… 

Yes. Dominick was indeed such a domineering person. 

But a strange sense of calm washed over her. Maybe Diana was right. She had been hiding from the truth, afraid to face her