Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 221

Ethan sensed something unsettled in the woman beside him, though he could not say what it was. A crease tightened between his brows as his eyes stayed on her for a few seconds. Then he reached for her hand and guided her toward the couch, urging her to sit down.

"The boss wasn't supposed to make it," Ethan explained, his tone casual. "But he had a last-minute business trip to Southeast Avoria. He decided to stop by, though he'll be gone again tomorrow."

The five of them had grown up side by side, their pecking order decided by who could throw the hardest punch.

Jonathan always came first, Ethan took second, and Brogan was third.

The spots for fourth and fifth were never steady, often shifting depending on the day.

Dawn's lips lifted faintly, though her smile carried no spirit. She stayed quiet.

"Since we finally got everyone in one place, we need to celebrate!" Alex, the one who always filled the room with energy, yanked open a bottle with all the flair of a ringmaster at a circus. His grin carried a spark of mischief as he declared, "And on top of that, Ethan just tied the knot. Dawn, you don't get to escape without a drink for us."

Dawn blinked, confusion clear in her eyes. "Why?"

"Why are you even asking?"

Alex widened his eyes and threw his arms up as though shocked. "Didn't you notice how well-behaved we were yesterday? Ethan told us not to mess with you, and we stayed in line. Don't you think you should raise a glass to us for that?"

Dawn faltered, uncertain. Her hand lifted without thought, ready to accept the glass he held out.

Before her fingers reached it, another hand came from the side and pressed hers firmly back down.

A voice, careless yet sharp, cut through the noise. "You haven't toasted us yet, and you want Dawn to toast you?"

The room stilled, and the words sank in.

Alex's jaw worked as he yanked the glass back. He shoved it at Brogan, filling another cup.

"You heard that. Go on and toast her already."

Brogan smirked, his tone laced with teasing. "They want you to do it, not me. I'm older than her, so she can be my little sister."

"You son of a—"

Their voices collided, banter turning into a loud scuffle that lit up the room with laughter.

Dawn forced her shoulders to ease, willing herself to feel calm. Yet no matter how she turned her gaze, she could not escape it. That stare followed her, hot and sharp, pressing against her back until her skin prickled.

Her breath slipped out slow, and she whispered, "I'm going to the restroom."

Ethan's hand found hers, cold against his palm. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No. Stay here and have fun. I'll be right back."

The second she left the private room, the air rushed around her. It was far from fresh, yet it felt like a weight lifted straight from her chest.

She followed the signs along a narrow hallway, the dim lights casting her shadow long and stretched across the walls.

After washing her hands, she wandered onto a balcony and lowered herself into a chair with no thought in mind.

Her phone slipped into her hand. She typed a quick message to Anna, asking why she hadn't come.

Anna replied with a voice message. The sound of honking horns and rushing footsteps swirled in the background. "I wanted to be there, but I couldn't. Something urgent came up and I have to fly to Unkerston. What's the matter? Do you already miss me, sweetheart?"

She had been avoiding him.

Jonathan's dark eyes searched her, steady and unblinking. Years had passed, and she was not the girl he remembered. The recklessness was gone. What stood before him was a woman whose beauty carried depth and grace.

His brow shifted, just slightly, and then he stepped forward. He lowered himself into the chair beside her.

Dawn's body reacted before her mind caught up. She stood at once and slid to the side, widening the space between them.

The air thickened. The silence pressed down like smoke curling in her lungs. Her hands clenched together, and her eyes flicked everywhere but toward his face. "Jonathan, maybe we should go back inside. If Ethan notices I'm gone, he'll get upset."

Her words were a reminder. She was Ethan's wife.

Jonathan's lips curved faintly, a rare smile softening the edge of his coldness.

Dawn kept her head bowed, unwilling to let him speak further. "I should ... "

She took a step forward, but his hand reached out quick as lightning, catching her wrist.

Her breath caught, yet before her shock found a voice, he released her.

"Talk with me."

Her chest tightened as if caught in a vice. She had managed to pretend before, but she knew she could not anymore.

She forced the air into her lungs, lifted her eyes, and asked, "What do you want to talk about?"