Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 231

Ethan pulled out his phone and checked. There was nothing special on the news. He squeezed Dawn's cold fingers and showed her the screen.

"Nothing's out yet."

Dawn didn't relax until she saw it herself. She let out a breath.

"Okay. It's fine. Let's go."

Sydney had probably said all that earlier just to scare her.

She was about to leave, but the figure walking toward her made her freeze again.

Austin had just finished signing Sydney's papers. With Dawn and Ethan standing their ground, Sydney wasn't getting out of jail this time.

Sydney had no family left here. And on paper, she and Austin were still engaged. If he completely abandoned her, it would look heartless.

Austin lifted his head and spotted Dawn and Ethan standing not far away.

The sight stung like a knife. His eyes darkened as he walked over.

"Are you two done talking?"

"Yes."

Dawn's face was calm, her voice even. "Uncle Austin, I've already met with her. If there's nothing else, we'll head out now."

Austin's brows drew tight. His eyes were full of emotions he could barely hold back. He glanced at Ethan, then said stiffly, "I want a word with Dawn alone. Mr. Jackson, could you give us some space?"

Before Ethan could answer, Dawn spoke first. "There's nothing he can't hear. If you have something to say, just say it."

The distance in her voice was obvious.

Austin felt a sharp pain in his chest, so sharp it spread through every nerve in his body.

"It's ... nothing, really."

He forced down the bitterness and made his voice steady.

"I just wanted to tell you I'll be heading back to Trifton soon. Take care of yourself while you're here. If you ever need anything ... call me."

But Dawn knew she'd never call him again. No matter what happened, Austin would never be the one she turned to.

She gave a polite, distant smile. "Okay. Safe travels."

Then she took Ethan's hand and walked past Austin without slowing, without pausing, just as she had when they came in.

She only let go of Ethan's hand when they reached the car. The breeze lifted her hair, brushing against her cheek, and finally carried away the cold in her eyes.

"Ethan, did I handle that wrong?"

She wondered if she had been wrong from the start—whether it was about Austin or Sydney.

She had thought letting go meant it was over. But the truth was, the bond of adoption wasn't so easy to erase.

Austin didn't turn his head. He drew in a deep drag. The nicotine numbed his nerves for a second.

Dawn hated his smoking. No matter how much stress he had, he had never lit one up in front of her before.

But now it didn't matter. Nobody cared anymore.

He took another drag, then crushed the cigarette in the trash can beside him.

The two men didn't look at each other. Both tall, both sharp, both good-looking in their own way. Ethan carried a wilder edge. Austin was colder, more polished, the aura of a businessman hanging over him.

After a long silence, Austin finally spoke. "Mr. Jackson, you've been planning this for a long time. Aren't you afraid Dawn will be angry when she finds out?"

Ethan chuckled softly. "Mr. Osborne, are you talking about business?"

Austin pressed his lips together and said nothing.

"Then I'll have to disappoint you," Ethan said. "I don't hide things from Dawn. Not now, not ever. But you ... "

He narrowed his eyes, his smile cold. "Your company's thriving, yet you keep using that uncle title to press her down. Do you expect her to be trapped by your so-called kindness forever, chained to the Osbornes?"

"That's between her and me."

"We're married."

The light words hit harder than any blow. And Austin had nothing left to say.