Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24 A Very Skilled Onyx Restorer

Chapter 24 A Very Skilled Onyx Restorer

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“And he’s a good guy, not a ‘wild man.’ We’re dating, and when the time is right, I’ll bring him home to meet you all,” Dawn said calmly, her voice steady and untroubled, without a trace of bitterness or anger.

For the first time, she realized she had completely let go of Austin.

So…

“Bye, Uncle Austin.”

With that, Dawn ended the call.

Austin, still processing her words, didn’t immediately notice the silence on the line. It took him a few moments before he realized the call had ended. By the time he snapped back to reality, the phone was already silent.

His neck tightened with irritation as his anger flared up. He almost threw the phone across the room. “That damn girl, keep hanging up on me!”

He threw the phone onto the passenger seat and slammed his foot on the gas, determined to go home and confront Dawn.

By the time he reached Southbay Residence, it was nearly 10:00 p.m. The house was completely dark, not a single light visible.

Austin parked in the driveway and walked inside. As the entryway light flicked on, something felt wrong.

Dawn has always stayed up late. Is she already asleep at this hour?

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. He switched on the living room lights and froze.

The Southbay Residence was a house Austin had bought years ago, decorated in a minimalist style with black, white, and gray tones. Since Dawn had moved in, she had slowly transformed it into a warmer, more inviting home. But now… the living room seemed to have gone back to the way it had been years ago.

The soft plush stuffed animals were gone from the couch, replaced by cold, gray leather.

The small knick–knacks on the coffee table had disappeared.

Even the plants by the floor–to–ceiling windows were missing.

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Chapter 24 A Very Skilled Onyx Restorer

The house felt hollow–unsettlingly empty.

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Austin wasn’t sure how long he stood there. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, the headlights of his car casting a shadow over him in the dark room.

Suddenly, he jerked his head toward the second floor.

“Dawn!”

The silence in the house was so thick that her name echoed back at him.

He rushed up the stairs in two strides, but as soon as he opened her door, he stopped. The room was dark, wide open, and eerily empty, like a vast, empty void.

His eyes burned as he flicked the light on.

Nothing…

She wasn’t there.

Even the clothes in her wardrobe were gone.

“Dawn! Don’t play these stupid games with me. Come out now!”

Austin searched the entire house, but there was no sign of her. She had vanished without a trace, as if she had never lived there. No sign of their years together–just emptiness.

The weight of the emptiness hit him like a ton of bricks. His heart skipped a beat as he fumbled for his phone, his hands trembling so badly he almost dropped it.

He could still access her social media. He had her number too.

He let out a deep breath, relieved, and dialed her number.

No answer.

He tried again.

Still nothing.

On the third attempt, the phone didn’t even ring–his call was rejected. Dawn had blocked him.

Austin gritted his teeth, a wave of anger surging within him, but it quickly faded into an overwhelming sense of helplessness. He collapsed back onto the couch, staring blankly at the

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Chapter 24 A Very Skilled Onyx Restorer

ceiling, his eyes unblinking for what felt like an eternity.

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Dawn had slept soundly through the night. When Austin continued calling, she didn’t answer. She had already made her stance clear. Continuing the conversation would only lead to more arguments, so she chose to let him cool off and think things through on his own.

After a quick shower, she stepped out of her room to find that Ethan had already prepared breakfast.

Pancake and eggs–her favorite.

“How did you sleep last night?” he asked, watching her take a bite.

Dawn stuffed a pancake into her mouth, making her cheeks puff like a hamster’s. She quickly shot him a glance and swallowed, washing it down with a large sip of milk.

“Great. How about you?”

Ethan’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he handed her a napkin. “I’ve never slept so soundly in my life.”

Something about his words made Dawn’s heart skip a beat.

She lowered her head, burying her face in her bowl.

What does he mean by “never slept so soundly“?

Is it because of me?

Dawn couldn’t help but indulge in a moment of self–flattery, but quickly brushed the thought aside. With someone like Ethan, who could have any woman he wanted, it doesn’t seem likely.

She took a deep breath and focused, finishing her breakfast quickly.

Ethan studied her face with a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Get ready. I’m taking you to meet someone.”

Dawn looked up. “Who?”

“A very skilled onyx restorer.”

Ethan took a slow sip of water and spoke softly, “Before he retired, he worked at the National Museum restoring artifacts. He’s a legend in his field. He might be able to fix your mother’s

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Chapter 24 A Very Skilled Onyx Restorer

Virgin Mary pendant.”

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