Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 269

**Chapter 269 It Breaks My Heart**

“Seriously, what did Daniel say to you? How did he manage to convince you so quickly?”

Janice’s response was curt, her tone devoid of any warmth. “He didn’t say anything that mattered to me.”

“Then what does matter?”

With a bitter edge in her voice, Janice sneered, “Nothing matters, except for death. That’s the only truth that holds any weight.”

The air between them crackled with tension, thick and suffocating. This was their first real argument, and neither was willing to give an inch.

Just then, Margareth emerged from the back room, balancing a tray laden with steaming cups of coffee. Her expression was inscrutable, and her voice cut through the silence like a knife. “Enough of this pointless chatter. Drink your coffee, finish up, and then leave. Don’t waste my time—or you might as well die here.”

Silence enveloped the room, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.

Both women lowered their gazes, a shared understanding passing between them as they resumed their tasks, tidying up the clutter in the room.

Once everything was in its rightful place, Dawn washed her hands, the water cascading over her fingers, washing away the remnants of their confrontation.

“You should head back now,” she suggested, turning to Janice with a hint of finality in her voice. “This is my business with Margareth. I’ll think of something to tell Linda later.”

Janice’s eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn’t anticipated that Dawn would actually send her away.

After a moment of hesitation, she muttered, her frustration palpable, “Fine. I’ll go. Just don’t pull me into this mess.”

Dawn watched as Janice turned to leave, her heart sinking slightly.

“You could have just said you didn’t want her to get hurt,” she whispered, the words escaping her before she could stop them.

Dawn felt a jolt of surprise at the sudden appearance of Margareth behind her. The older woman’s tone was casual, but it dripped with dry sarcasm. “Offend your friend for an old lady like me… What’s in it for you?”

Dawn instinctively pulled out a chair for Margareth, her mind racing. “No need to explain,” she replied, trying to maintain a sense of calm.

It was evident to her that Janice had genuine feelings for Daniel. If this situation involved him, then staying here—whether Margareth realized it or not—would only complicate matters further.

“Margareth, everyone has their own path to follow. I understand her choices, just as I comprehend yours. No one is wrong in this.”

Margareth scrutinized her for a few moments, a soft snort escaping her lips, yet she remained silent, her thoughts hidden behind a veil of indifference.

Outside, the night air was alive with the gentle chirping of crickets, creating a symphony of sounds that filled the courtyard. The moonlight spilled over the space, casting a serene glow that pooled in the corners, creating a momentary illusion of peace and eternity.

Margareth took a sip from her coffee, her gaze drifting to the heavens, lost in the vastness of her thoughts.

A long, heavy silence settled between them, stretching out like a taut string.

Finally, Margareth’s voice broke through the stillness, aged and weary. “He was planning to quit.”

Dawn froze, her heart racing as she realized who Margareth was referring to.

“That night he came home and told me he’d discovered something monumental… something he couldn’t continue doing. I teased him, saying, ‘You’re an old man now. Who’s even paying attention to you?’”

“And then, the very next day, he was gone.”

Daniel. Her instincts screamed at her to distrust him.

“Seeing Margareth’s eyes just breaks my heart.”

An old woman, abandoned and alone. No family left to support her. Her only companion had vanished under mysterious circumstances, leaving her in the shadows of her own despair.

Later that night, as she wandered the dimly lit streets, the whispers of neighbors echoed in her mind. They spoke of how Margareth had once been vibrant and full of life, her spirit shining bright—but after her husband’s death, it was as if a storm had swept through, turning her hair gray overnight.

Dawn knew she could walk away from this. Of course she could.

Like Janice had said, there were countless artisans who could create silver jewelry.

If not this person, then that one.

The market was never short of skilled craftsmen.

But if Dawn chose to turn her back, Margareth might be left utterly alone, with no one to stand by her side.

“Then do it. Whatever you wish to pursue,” Ethan’s voice broke through her thoughts, low and reassuring. “I’ve sent Tony to assist you. No matter what happens, I’ll always be your support.”

Dawn chuckled softly, a hint of warmth returning to her heart. “So you’re not worried I’ll take advantage of your kindness?”

“Take advantage?”

Ethan’s laughter was light, cutting through the heaviness of the night. “Not everyone gets that honor.”