Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 214

When the last guests finally left, the only ones remaining were the Osbornes.

"Mom."

Dawn walked over and held Sandra's hand. A sharp ache pressed into her chest, and she could not swallow it down. Sandra, instead of letting her sadness show, brushed a hand over her daughter's hair. "Sweetheart, you're grown now. One day you'll be a mother yourself. You need to hold steady and stay strong, do you hear me?"

Dawn nodded. "After you and Dad go back to Trifton, make sure you take good care of yourselves."

"We will. Your grandmother's still in good health. You don't need to worry."

Sandra's words came soft, but her eyes slid to the side. Jessica stood stiff, her chin lifted in that proud way of hers, yet her hand trembled as she wiped at her tears, thinking no one saw that.

The Osbornes had once been a family with name and standing. Now most of that pride had been stripped away. The children were few, and of the younger generation, Dawn was the only girl.

Her grandmother's reluctance to let her go was natural. Her attachment to her was expected.

Sandra and Dawn caught each other's gaze, sharing a smile that carried no strength, only helplessness.

"Grandma."

Dawn stepped forward and gently wrapped an arm around Jessica's shoulders. Her voice turned gentle. "You don't really have much waiting for you back home. Why not stay in Northville with me for a little while? That would be nice, wouldn't it?"

"It would not."

Jessica swiped her tears away in a single motion and tightened her face into something stern.

"You're married now. You need to live your life as a wife. What use would I be sitting in your house? I'm going back to my own place. I'm leaving tonight."

"Jessica ... " Sandra joined in, her voice coaxing. "If you don't want to part from Dawn just yet, then stay another couple of days. We aren't rushing back."

Jessica gave a bitter laugh. "Two more days won't change anything. Staying longer won't make me less reluctant.

"I'm old now, and no matter where I go, I just feel in the way. The only place I can rest is in my own home."

"Grandma ... "

"That's enough. I've already decided. There's no use arguing."

Dawn's words, the ones she had carefully lined up in her head, caught and stuck in her throat. Before she could even think of how to answer, Jessica spoke again, turning the subject. "Are you sure there's been no word from Austin?"

It was clear she had been weighing that question for a long time before asking it.

The room turned silent.

Dawn lifted her eyes. Her grandmother's gaze no longer carried its sharp gossiping gleam. What filled it now was the raw worry of a mother searching for her son.

Dawn pressed her lips tight and spoke softly. "He came to see me this morning."

Jessica released a breath she had been holding. Relief softened her face.

"That boy vanished for over a month without a word. I thought something had happened to him. Dawn ... " Her reddened eyes fixed on her granddaughter with heavy helplessness. "I know you don't care for your uncle anymore, but he ...

"He's been lonely his whole life. From the start you were the only one who stayed by him. You could—"

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