Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 2

Dawn's back stiffened. It took her a long moment to turn around.

Austin had just finished showering. His hair was still dripping water, and he was only wearing a dark grey loungewear set. Yet even in such casual attire, he remained tall and striking. If one ignored the stern expression on his face, he could easily be every woman's dream man.

Dawn stayed silent and looked away.

Sydney's gaze flickered between the two of them. She feigned annoyance and shot Austin a playful glare before walking over to link arms with him.

"Why are you being so harsh with Dawn? She just woke up—of course, she's a little grumpy. Honestly, your temper isn't any better than hers most of the time."

Her tone carried a hint of complaint, but it was more of a coquettish banter.

Dawn's face turned pale, and she felt even more like an outsider.

Austin's expression remained grim, but the oppressive air around him eased slightly. He patted Sydney's shoulder in a comforting manner before turning to Dawn. "Come with me to the study," he said with a low voice.

Dawn bit her lip and silently followed him.

Sydney called after him worriedly, "You may be her elder, but you don't have to be so strict. Try talking to her softly."

Dawn scoffed internally.

They aren't even married yet, and she's already acting like the lady of the house.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice that the man in front of her had stopped walking. The next moment, her nose crashed into his back.

"What exactly goes through your head all day?" Austin asked.

When Dawn looked up, she met Austin's cold, piercing gaze.

"Don't you already know?"

She didn't know why she said that. Maybe it was the last bit of stubborn defiance in her.

Or maybe she just wanted to see his reaction.

Austin's brows furrowed even deeper. He stared at her for a long moment before saying, "Dawn, I've already told you—don't overthink on things you shouldn't. You're about to graduate. I'll arrange for someone suitable for you to be with, but that person will never be me.

"I'm your uncle. And Sydney will be your aunt in the future. You must respect her just as you respect me. Do you understand?"

Dawn had never heard these words from him before.

Not only did he not like her—he was actually planning to pair her up with someone else.

Ethan was right after all.

How foolish was I to have expected anything different?

He had it all planned out from the start.

Dawn took a deep breath. Strangely enough, she found that giving up on someone wasn't as hard as she thought it would be.

She obediently nodded. "I understand, Uncle Austin."

Austin was surprised. He hadn't expected this reaction from her.

In the past, she only called him "Uncle Austin" when she needed to be forgiven after causing trouble. During conversations like this, she would always argue back.

Thinking she had finally realized her mistake, his expression softened a little. "Look at how kind Sydney is to you—she even made you breakfast. Don't be so hostile toward her, alright?"

Even if Sydney hadn't made breakfast, Austin would have made it.

Besides, Dawn had no intention of having breakfast.

Without saying much, she simply nodded. "I understand. I'll get along with Aunt Sydney."

There was something strange about the way she spoke, but Austin couldn't put his finger on it. He studied her face with hesitation before finally asking, "Why didn't you come last night?"

Last night was his 28th birthday.

But, she no longer cared now.

Sydney's expression stiffened for a moment before she forced another smile. "I was just trying to show some concern. After all, Austin is a man—there are some things he might not be able to discuss with you."

Dawn wanted to argue that there was nothing she couldn't talk to Austin about and she had shared everything with him since childhood.

However, standing before her was the woman he loved.

So, she decided not to say anything.

She simply replied, "Yeah, I know."

A flicker of surprise crossed Sydney's face. She hadn't expected this response. After a moment's hesitation, she probed again, "You're a grown woman now. Isn't it inconvenient to still be living with your Austin? How about moving in with me instead? We could keep each other company."

Dawn had seen plenty of romance dramas filled with scheming and manipulation.

She used to think they were exaggerated, but now she realized they were real.

Sydney wasn't offering companionship. She just wanted to get Dawn away from Austin.

A lump formed in Dawn's throat. It felt like a thorn being lodged there which was impossible to swallow.

She couldn't help but take two steps forward and meet Sydney's gaze. "Should I be thanking you for your concern, Aunt Sydney?"

For a moment, Sydney felt oppressive pressure like the kind she usually only sensed from Austin. Instinctively, she took a step back. "N-no ... "

Her eyes flickered behind Dawn, and she softened her voice suddenly. "Dawn, you don't have to worry about me taking your Austin away. You'll always be important to him. I-ah!"

Before she could finish, Sydney stumbled over the threshold of the sliding door and fell backward.

Dawn instinctively reached out to help her. However, a strong force yanked her aside the next second, sending her crashing into the table.

Austin's cold gaze was filled with disappointment as he looked at her. "Dawn, you're becoming more vicious the older you get!"