Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 45

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Chapter 45 He Really Does Like It

When Dawn got home, Ethan wasn’t back yet.

Should I call him and ask?

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She paused, phone in hand, but thinking he might be out with clients, she decided not to call. Instead, she went to shower and sleep.

Meanwhile, Ethan was sitting alone in the corner of a private booth, drinking.

He had canceled the team event, only to find out that a certain woman hadn’t gone home either. She had posted photos on Instagram of dinner with colleagues.

Just then, his phone buzzed with a call from friends pulling him out. But once he got there, he realized…

He was just there to be the joke.

“Man, it’s been forever, and you still haven’t locked down your fiancée? We all thought you’d nail it on the first try. Never saw this coming … ”

“Seriously. Hey, who was the one talking big before?”

“Yeah, didn’t he say Dawn would definitely fall for him?”

“Exactly-”

Before Alex Kinney could finish, a throw pillow flew across the table from Ethan’s corner, his face cold as stone. “That’s enough.”

Alice set her wineglass down, bent slowly to pick up the pillow, and said in a low, teasing voice, “See? They’re all laughing at you. I’m the only one really on your side, trying to give you ideas,”

Ethan shot her a glance. “What kind of ideas?”

“Seduction.”

Alex and Brogan Langley exchanged knowing smiles and clinked their glasses.

Alice had only arrived in Wornellston that afternoon, so this hangout doubled as a welcome for her. As the only woman in the group, nobody ever interrupted her.

“I’m serious,” she went on. “You’ve got that face. If you turn up the charm even a little, what

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18:16 Tue, Sep 16

Chapter 45 He Really Does Like It

woman could resist?

“Hell, even I couldn’t.

:

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“Take a shower, spray some of that knockout cologne, and Dawn would be dizzy for you in no time.”

Alex added, grinning. “Facts. Flash those abs casually–bro, forget women, even I might cave.”

Ethan was dumbfounded.

Not a single person around me is actually reliable.

He shut his eyes, took a deep breath, then finished the rest of his glass in one go.

“I’m out.”

He stood and headed for the door, his friends‘ voices still following behind. “I’m dead serious. Think about it! If you keep stalling like this, when are you ever gonna win your fiancée over?”

Ethan waved a hand without looking back.

He called a driver to take him home.

He leaned against the back seat, one arm draped across his forehead, the veins in his hand standing out under the alcohol’s flush.

Seduction.

The word kept spinning in his head.

The fact that he was actually thinking about it made a crooked, self–mocking smile appear. But… if it works, why not?

He arrived at the villa at 11:30 p.m.

The light by the front door was still on.

My fiancée… is slowly getting used to leaving the light on for me.

Ethan’s mouth softened into a smile as he slung his suit jacket over his arm and walked inside slowly, relaxing like a tired bird finally flying home.

He figured Dawn was asleep, but as he passed her room, the door cracked open. A sleepy–eyed girl poked her head out, rubbing her eyes. “You’re back? I bought you a cake–want some?”

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18:16 Tue, Sep 16

Chapter 45 He Really Does Like It

Ethan froze for two seconds.

So, there’s no talking my way out of my “cake obsession” now.

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Maybe that’s a good thing. After all, who wouldn’t want their fiancée to remember even small details about them?

His lips curved into a smile. “Yeah.

“I’ll eat it now. You go back to sleep.”

Dawn tilted her head, smiling, then went back and closed the door.

Ethan stood there for a moment, tongue sweeping the roof of his mouth. He’d never been into sweets, but right then, he kind of wanted cake.

Dawn had stayed awake, waiting until he got home, just to make sure he wouldn’t forget.

She figured if he didn’t finish it, she’d save the rest for breakfast. But in the morning, the table was empty.

So he really does like it …

She stared for a moment, then noticed a Post–it next to breakfast, neat handwriting, classic Ethan style. “Early meeting at the office. Heat this up in the microwave if you’re hungry.”

Her lips lifted in a smile she couldn’t stop, and she sat down to eat.

At the office, the usual meeting went on, going over quarterly design themes.

When it ended, Wendy walked a few steps out before turning back and saying in a casual tone, “By the way, Marketing needs two people at a dinner meeting tonight. Janice, Dawn–you two don’t have much going on, so come with me.”

Janice and Dawn exchanged a glance, then nodded.

“There’s makeup in the office, right? Let’s touch up a little before we go.”

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