Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98 Sleep

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Ethan sat at the edge of the bed. A pair of slender fingers smoothed the crease between Dawn’s brows.

Her brow furrowed again.

He repeated the motion.

After several tries, Dawn shifted in her sleep. Her forehead relaxed, but her cheek pressed into the mattress, leaving a soft imprint.

Ethan’s lips curved into a small smile. He tapped her nose lightly, then dimmed the lamp to the lowest setting and slipped quietly out of the room.

The scene shifts to the study.

Tony stood stiff by the desk. His chest barely moved with each breath.

He had never seen his boss angry before, but he knew if Ethan actually lost control, nothing could put out that fire.

Ethan crossed the room in long, confident strides. He tugged at a shirt collar that blocked his movement, revealing the firm line of his neck.

“Explain the whole thing to me,” Ethan said.

The low, steady voice made Tony straighten instinctively.

He felt ten times more nervous than during his first annual report. He spoke carefully, word by word, recounting the events and ending with a summary. “It ended without serious harm. The kidnappers are still at large. I will track police progress in real time. Report complete, Sir.”

Ethan didn’t speak. He didn’t look at Tony.

Somehow, he held a pen now, twirling it slowly between his fingers.

On the battlefield, straightforward enemies are never the most dangerous. The ones you cannot read are the ones that strike when you least expect it. You think they are calm, lazy, harmless. Then they hit like a storm.

Ethan was that kind of man.

Within seconds, a cold sweat formed on Tony’s forehead

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18:02 Wed, Sep 17

Chapter 98 Sleep

Finally, Ethan spoke. “Is that all?”

“Y–yes, all of it,” Tony stammered.

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His eyes flicked nervously, trying to read the expression of this terrifying man. “The 30 million ransom the kidnappers demanded was paid by Ms. Porter’s uncle. He said it was compensation for years of neglect toward Ms. Porter, so I didn’t mention it again.”

The pen stopped spinning. Ethan lifted his eyelids. His dark, sharp eyes pinned Tony in place.

But the question he asked was different.

“Do you really not know who is behind this?”

“I … I don’t!”

“You can, if you want to.”

Tony froze.

I can, yes, but…

Wait. How’d he find out?

Ethan watched Tony’s face shift and felt a spark of satisfaction. He leaned back lazily but his eyes stayed sharp. “In for a penny, you know. Keep going. If you quit now, I’ll just waste time finding someone else.”

Tony opened his mouth, ready to argue. “Mr. Jackson, I … ”

“What is it?”

“I… I can do it.”

Ethan’s gaze pinned him in place. Tony swallowed and spoke carefully. “Give me five days. I’ll track down the mastermind for sure.”

Ethan said, “Make it three.”

“Mr. Jackson …”

“Another word out of you, and three becomes two.”

Tony swallowed again.

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18:02 Wed, Sep 17

Chapter 98 Sleep

The deal was settled.

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Ethan had never dug into Tony’s background. He didn’t need to. From the way Tony worked and carried himself, he already knew his assistant was capable. The man has something more than meets the eye.

The kidnapper had found Dawn’s exact location more than once and even moved her out of the neighborhood without anyone noticing. Every step had been planned.

Yet even when he was presented with that challenge, Tony found Dawn anyway. Speed like that wasn’t luck.

Ethan leaned back and stared at the ceiling, eyes closed.

Austin… Lucas … Dawn.

He felt a weight pressing slowly on the calm life he had built, like an invisible hand creeping over everything he cared about.

Morning came. Sunlight stabbed through the window and Dawn woke up, shielding her She reached out and let the warm light spill over her fingers.

A new day had begun.

eyes.

Ethan was right. Everything would

“Dawn, are you up yet?”

pass.

Hannah’s voice drifted from the doorway, soft and patient. “I made roast fruit. You should eat them while they’re hot. If you want to sleep in, I can keep it warm for you.”

It was a workday. Dawn should be heading to the office.

“I’m getting up, Hannah,” she called back.

She moved quickly, washing her face and changing clothes.

In the mirror, she saw herself awake and alert, though her cheeks still carried a pale tint.

A little makeup would help.

She added a few light strokes.

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Chapter 98 Sleep

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Satisfied, she smiled at her reflection and headed downstairs.

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Ethan sat at the breakfast table as usual, phone in hand, sipping coffee while scanning the stock market.

“Morning.” Dawn said with a smile.

“Morning,” he replied.

He looked up and noticed her made–up face. His eyes lifted slightly. “Looks like you slept well last night.”

“Thanks to you, Mr. Jackson,” Dawn said. She picked up her fork and dropped an egg onto Ethan’s plate. “This is your reward!”

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