Crossroads

The atmosphere in Roberts Villa had been heavy lately. It was mainly because Andy had fallen out with his father.

With a voice still childish. Andy yelled at his father, "Why did you pick on Molly!" His eyes turned red like rabbit's as he got more agitated. "I saw her crying! I ran after her and called out to her, but she ignored me. She never ignored me before. You need to apologize to her. I won't talk to you anymore. I don't want you as my dad!"

"Andy, watch your mouth!" If it hadn't been for the fact that Scott's parents were at home that day, the argument would have never ended.

In the end. Andy clutched his giant box of dominoes and threw himself into his grandmother's arms. The proud little brat actually broke down in tears and wouldn't stop, no matter how much the elders tried to comfort him.

"You sure have a lot of patience for a little brat," Molly remarked

"Of course," Andy replied, turning shy as his face blushed.

"If I gave you a lot more, you'd lose your patience and wouldn't finish," Molly teased.

"I would finish it for sure!" Andy knew that silly Molly was just trying to provoke him.

"Well, you and your dad are both so stubborn. Even if there were ten thousand dominoes, you'd set them all up just to knock them down with one flick and watch them fall, feeling that rush Molly knew very well about their quirky habits.

Hugging his gift, Andy grew sadder as he thought about it. With loud voice, he cried while declaring to his dad. This is my gift. Why did you throw it away? From now on, you are not allowed to touch my things. They're mine!"

In reality, Scott was innocent. He never intended to throw away t the gift. slath the FindNovil.not website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

It was late at night, and the bar was alive with loud music and a lively crowd.

"How did you manage to upset your own son?" Vincent, who had rushed over after getting a call from his good friend, found Scott, the usually refined man, drinking alone at the bar.

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"Isn't Andy always very obedient? Is he going through his rebellious teenage years already?" Vincent ordered a v the rocks.

Scott downed his half-full glass in one go. He rarely drank, so the alcohol hit him hard, making his mind fuzzy. He shook his head and muttered. That little rascal, after all I've done for him, he turned against me."

"Turned against you? How?" Vincent asked, intrigued, But, looking gloomy, Scott just grabbed another drink and continued drinking, clearly not wanting to talk about it.

Vincent frowned at him, seeing the state he was in. "Hey, if you can't handle the alcohol, then don't drink?

Scott's cheeks were flushed red plus ghostly pale, making it unclear how much he had already consumed.

Concerned for his friend's well-being. Vincent grabbed his glass. Usually, Scott was very sensible and never overindulged, even at social events.

But now, Scott angrily pushed him away, annoyed by his meddling. "Vincent, I called you out to drink with me, not to control me. You really have become a busybody, just like Stephanie said."

At the mention of Stephanie, Vincent's temper flared. "Scott, don't you remember? Back when your brother wasn't around. you drank so much that you ended up with gastritis. The doctor said if you kept it up, you'd get stomach cancer!"

"Shut Vincent!" Something in those words struck a nerve. Scott trembled all over, yelling through gritted teeth as if he were trying to escape from something.

Realizing he'd said too much. Vincent didn't dare bring up his brother again. Everyone had their own painful past, wounds that were too raw and bleeding when reopened.

Christmas was supposed to be joyful, but it seemed like everyone was in a bad mood.

Vincent idly shook the ice in his glass, trying to break the tension. "Do you know what Dominick has been up to lately?"

The last time he was in Harlington, he'd had a phone argument with Dominick and hadn't reached out since. In all their years of friendship, this was their first real falling out.

Vincent, with his own temper, figured he had plenty of friends. What made Dominick so special, anyway?

A few days ago, George actually called Vincent. Stubborn as he was, the old man couldn't bring himself to express his concern for his grandson directly. Instead, he beat around the bush, trying to find out what Dominick had been up to.

Vincent asked. "George said Dominick hadn't been back to Wellington Villa for a long time. Do you know where he's staying?"

"I have no idea," Scott replied honestly.

His stomach ached, a familiar sign of his gastritis flaring up. For some reason, this made Scott think of that silly Molly. Probably because she used to buzz around him like a bee, constantly reminding him to take his medicine and forbidding hiny from drinking alcohol or coffee.

Scott gripped his glass tightly, his expression growing more complicated.

Finally, he slammed the glass heavily on the bar and didn't reach for it again.

"Dominick seems to be at odds with George. It looks like he has no intention of going back to Wellington Villa for Christmas. I wonder whom he'll be spending Christmas Eve with Vincent mumbled out of boredo He reminisced about past Christmases when he was quite the playboy. He'd be out with his latest girlfriend, swiping his card left and right for jewelry, luxury cars, and partying on yachts with friends for three days and nights.

As Christmas approached, his rowdy friends were already pestering him about where to go next.

Vincent sighed, "I don't know if I'm getting old, but I find them annoying now."

Scott, who had been somber, suddenly laughed at Vincent's serious tone. "If you feel old, you should get a wife and settle down. Follow the trend and have a quick wedding Vincent shook his head earnestly. "No way. If I get married, it has to be for true love."

"Your so-called 'true love' is just a slim waist and ample bosom, Scott quipped, his spirits lifted as he mocked him.

Vincent glared at him, frustrated.

"Scott Roberts, not many people know about your sharp tongue. You usually come off as refined. If I didn't know you so well, I'd never guess it. You always manage to charm those innocent young girls."

Scott's teasing expression faded into a moment of silence.

Vincent studied his friend with a knowing look. 'Don't tell me that Andy giving you a hard time is because of that shrew Chloe?"

Of all the women in the world, there were few Vincent despised, and Chloe was one of them because of her disgusting tactics

"What's really going on? Vincent asked, his curiosity mingled with genuine concern.

"Nothing much, Scott replied nonchalantly.

"What underhanded tricks did Chloe pull this time? She shamelessly said she wanted to marry you, and you' put up with it. Now that she's had her fill, what's her demand this time? I've never seen a woman as disgusting as her." Vincent ranted.

"It's really nothing serious, Scott sighed, seeing his friend more worked up than himself) "Two days ago Chide went to a toy store to buy a gift for Andy. She ran into Stephanie, and they had a bit of a spat and then got into a fight."

Vincent was stunned. "Chloe and Stephanie got into a fight?"

Scott found it both embarrassing and amusing in hindsight. "Strictly speaking, it was Stephanie beating Chloe up."

Considering Stephanie's skills, anyone who dared to fight her was asking for trouble.

"I see." Vincent nodded in agreement, then hesitated. "But why did Stephanie fight Chloe?" Despite her fierce nature, Stephanie wouldn't start a fight without a good reason. Scott didn't continue, seemingly intentionally omitting Molly from the story. Vincent, in a grand gesture, ordered another round from the waiter. After taking a sip, he sighed, "Do you think Dominick knows about Stephanie getting into a fight?"