Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 355

**Chapter 355: What He Deserved**

“That simply indicates that the forces backing her are far more merciless than you could ever imagine.”

Ethan’s lips curled into a humorless semblance of a smile, a fleeting gesture that barely masked the turmoil within. “That’s precisely why I consented to the engagement.”

To uncover the truth, he realized he needed to first earn Roxanne’s trust.

In his naivety, he had believed Jonathan would be a shield for Dawn.

He had thought that by agreeing to the engagement, Roxanne would refrain from laying a finger on her.

Everything had been meticulously orchestrated, every detail accounted for.

Yet, in the end, it was Dawn who bore the brunt of the suffering.

Ethan’s strikingly beautiful eyes—those warm, almond-shaped orbs—were now clouded with anguish, a pain so profound it felt as though it had seeped into the very fabric of his being. It was unbearable, a weight pressing down on his heart.

Three days later, Ethan was finally released from the sterile confines of the hospital.

Outwardly, everyone assumed he had reconciled with reality, that he was prepared to step back into the rhythm of normal life.

But that was merely a façade, a thin veneer that concealed the chaos within.

By day, he donned the mask of normalcy, trudging off to work as if nothing had transpired. By night, he succumbed to the numbing embrace of alcohol, drowning his sorrows in a haze of forgetfulness.

Whatever remnants of humanity he had left evaporated into thin air. His once-bright smile had vanished, leaving behind a hollow shell.

When Tara arrived at his apartment, she flung open the door, only to be assaulted by the overwhelming stench of stale alcohol. Her nose crinkled in disgust as she snapped, “Ethan, what on earth are you doing?”

Silence enveloped the room like a thick fog.

Hannah had returned to the Jackson Estate, leaving this place feeling desolate and cold, echoing with the absence of warmth.

Tara stepped inside, her heart heavy, and grabbed the trash can standing forlornly against the wall. As she moved through the disheveled house, she began collecting empty bottles that littered the floor, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. It wasn’t long before the bin was overflowing, a testament to her son’s reckless behavior.

Finally, she found Ethan, slumped in the middle of the living room, looking utterly defeated. He resembled a man devoid of any strength, chugging straight from a bottle as if he were a common drunkard on the streets.

“Drink, drink, drink—that’s all you ever do!” she exclaimed, her voice laced with anger and concern.

With a swift motion, she snatched the bottle from his grasp and tossed it into the trash with a resounding clunk.

“Ethan, has something sinister latched onto you? Should I call a priest to exorcise the demons that seem to have taken over your life?”

Tara had nurtured him with her own hands, and while she understood he was a hopeless romantic, she hadn’t realized he was a romantic devoid of any sense.

Her gaze bore into Ethan, disappointment and frustration swirling in her eyes.

But he remained motionless, not even granting her the courtesy of a glance.

Suddenly, Tara felt a stinging sensation in her nose, but she steeled herself, determined to maintain her composure. “Do you honestly believe you’re the only one suffering over Dawn? The Osbornes raised her as if she were their own flesh and blood. Sandra adored her like a true daughter—don’t you think they’re hurting as well? And what about her Uncle Austin? I heard he just returned from an overseas trip. For all you know, he could be at your doorstep tomorrow, ready to confront you, and here you are, wallowing in your own misery.”

She had only intended to deliver the news, never anticipating finding him in such a pitiful state.

Her son appeared like a washed-up old man, lost and broken.

Ethan slowly lifted his gaze, his voice raspy as he uttered, “Go, Mom.”

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