Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 261

Dawn tugged at the corner of her mouth. "People I don't care about can't hurt me."

Ethan freed one hand and held hers, his voice gentle as he asked, "So, are you mad at me, babe?"

"No."

"How could you not be?"

Ethan was dumbfounded.

Dawn turned to look at him. That handsome face showed complete seriousness, no hint of joking.

She couldn't help but smile. "Why would you want me to be mad? You seem unhappy that I'm not."

"If you're mad, I can coax you. But if you're not even upset, that means you don't care at all."

Ethan glanced back at her, his deep gaze like a whirlpool that drew her in.

Dawn's heart trembled as she looked straight ahead again.

"Just focus on driving."

It was neither early nor late. Not knowing where else to go, they headed home.

He parked the car in the driveway.

Looking out the window, all the plants Hannah had been growing were sprouting new shoots. The climbing roses on the fence had already formed buds, swaying back and forth in the sunlight, full of life.

This house was what Dawn imagined a home should be.

"It's not that I'm not upset. I just know you have nothing to do with her."

She turned back and squeezed his large hand. "But she likes you. That business partner you mentioned, it's her, isn't it?"

Ethan hummed in acknowledgment and leaned forward. "But I'll absolutely avoid dealing with her whenever possible. Aren't I great, honey?"

Dawn fell silent.

He had that proud look, asking for praise.

Dawn looked at his face and couldn't help reaching out to squeeze it. "You're great, but you were so vague about it and didn't even tell me her name. When she brought me there today, I almost lost it. You ... "

"I was wrong."

Ethan admitted his mistake actively and decisively. "My fault."

What is love?

Love is being careful.

Even though she hadn't reacted much, he'd already rehearsed countless scenarios in his mind, terrified she might misunderstand.

He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it, his voice very low. "Dawn, you don't know how afraid I am that you'll leave me."

Dawn, you don't know how afraid I am that you'll leave me.

Those words hit Dawn like a ton of bricks.

What had she done to deserve this kind of devotion?

"I ... "

When she opened her mouth, she found her throat tight. She said softly, "I won't."

Stole what? His clothes?

But Ethan gave her an affirmative look and said, "She's insane. Sometimes she has an obsessive side. Only medication can control it."

Theoretically, her condition should be easy to control.

But sometimes she chose not to control it.

Dawn gasped. "So she's like one of those obsessed stalker fans who follow celebrities?"

"Yeah." Ethan didn't elaborate, only saying, "So don't confront her directly. If something feels off, find me immediately or call the police."

Dawn nodded, though it felt unrealistic.

Whether it was Jackson Group or Dreammaker Studios, Roxanne had single-handedly connected them both.

For a long time to come, things probably wouldn't be peaceful.

You couldn't just break the contract for no reason.

Dawn only thought this, but Ethan was actually planning to do exactly that.

That afternoon at the office, seeing him prepare to go upstairs with her, Dawn asked in confusion, "Do you have business up there?"

"A meeting." He adjusted his cuffs, his serious expression showing no hint of joking. "And have finance estimate how much the penalty would be to break the contract now."

"Break the contract?"

Dawn was stunned. "With Roxanne?"

Ethan turned to look at her. "We both know Roxanne has bad intentions. This partnership won't be pleasant if it continues. Better to end it early."

Roxanne was clearly targeting Dawn.