Chapter 15 What Are You Two Doing?
Chapter 15 What Are You Two Doing?
Sydney’s back injury hadn’t fully healed, so she was unable to go anywhere.
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After walking around the vi for a bit, Austin grew worried that sweating might worsen her wound. He decided to take out some photo albums from his room to look through with her.
Sydney seemed genuinely intrigued. After admiring each picture of Austin, it appeared as though something suddenly urred to her.
“You must have a lot of childhood photos of Dawn. She’s so beautiful now; she must’ve been adorable when she was little.
Austin paused for a moment before snorting lightly. “What’s the point of being adorable as a kid? Now that she’s all grown up, she’s just stubborn and rebellious.”
Though he said this, Austin wasn’t eager to share any photos of Dawn with Sydney.
Sydney clenched her fingers tightly, nails digging into her palm.
“Every girl has her own charm. Austin, just show me already!”
Unable to resist her persistence, Austin pulled out a few albums.
The albums were thick, filled with pictures documenting nearly every milestone of Dawn’s life after she turned eight, and most of the moments featured Austin in them.
The more Sydney flipped through, the harder her breathing became.
<i>This </i><i>girl </i><i>… </i><i>she’s </i><i>been </i><i>plotting </i><i>since </i><i>she </i><i>was </i><i>young</i><i>! </i>
<i>In </i><i>these </i><i>photos</i><i>, </i><i>she’s </i><i>probably </i><i>14 </i><i>or </i><i>15</i><i>, </i><i>and </i><i>she </i><i>still </i><i>shamelessly </i><i>threw </i><i>herself at </i><i>Austin</i><i>! </i>
Suddenly, Sydney mmed the album shut.
Austin, confused, looked at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Sydney forced a smile. “I just feel like my eyes are getting a little tired. I want to rest for a bit.”
Austin checked the time. “Alright, you rest here. I need to take care of some work. Call me if you need anything, okay?”
Sydney nodded.
22:01 Sun, Sep 14 <b>d</b><b>… </b>
Chapter 15 What Are You Two Doing?
“Okay.”
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As evening approached, Sandra instructed the maid to prepare a guest room for Sydney to stay in.
She didn’t have strong feelings either way about the girl–her impression of her wasn’t that bad, but she wasn’t particrly fond of her either. Still, she was Austin’s girlfriend, so Sandra tried to be respectful.
When Harry returned after a long day of socializing, he saw Sandra carrying a humidifier toward the guest room.
“Who’s staying here?” he asked, puzzled.
Sandra sighed, clearly worn out from her day. “Dawn came back today. Jessica could tell she had a disagreement with Austin, so she called him back too.” She nced toward the room where Austin was still with Sydney. “But I didn’t expect him to bring a girlfriend.”
Harry’s eyes widened. “Could it be his first love?”
Sandra shrugged without answering.
In her opinion, Austin’s feelings for that girl probably weren’t as deep as they seemed–just a youthful infatuation mixed with nostalgia.
But she figured it wasn’t really her ce toment.
Once the guest room was ready, Sydney came out of her room.
“Sandra,” she said, shing a warm smile as she walked over to stand beside her. “Austin showed me some old photos earlier, and I have to say, you look amazing–you haven’t changed a bit.”
Sandra shook her head with a sigh. “No matter how well you take care of yourself, time marches on. We all age eventually. By the way, Ms. Peay, I’ve prepared your room. If you’re tired, you should get some rest.”
“Sandra, you don’t have to be so formal.”
Just like Dawn, Sydney linked her arm with Sandra’s. “Just call me Sydney. I don’t have many friends in Trifton, and I feel sofortable around you. Can I consider you like an older sister?”
Sandra met her gaze but didn’t know how to respond.
She felt a slight unease about getting too close to her.
22:01 Sun, Sep 14 …
Chapter 15 What Are You Two Doing?
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Sydney, sensing the hesitation, smoothly changed the subject. “By the way, where did Dawn and the others go?”
“She’s in the kitchen with Jessica, making soup.”
Sandra rxed and smiled politely. “Well, I’ll just call you Sydney then. You shoulde over and visit Austin whenever you’re free. Our whole family would love to have you.”
The words were polite, but there was an underlying sense of distance.
<i>Why </i><i>is </i><i>Sandra </i><i>so </i><i>close </i><i>to </i><i>Dawn </i><i>but </i><i>not </i><i>to </i><i>me</i>?
Sydney’s eyes turned cold for a brief moment, but she kept up the warm exterior and followed Sandra downstairs.
Sandra, noticing how distant Jessica had been, decided it was her turn to be a little more weing to the guest.
Once downstairs, Sandra invited Sydney to walk the dog with her. “The neighborhood is really peaceful at night. How about we go for a walk together?”
Sydney, surprised but pleased, paused before smiling. “Sure!”
“Dawn, do you want to join us?” Sandra asked, ncing toward the kitchen.
Dawn had overheard their conversation. She figured since Sydney was going, she didn’t need to join them. “I’ll pass. I’ll stay and help Grandma with the recipes.”
Sydney took Sandra’s invitation as a gesture of goodwill. Feeling encouraged, she turned to Jessica and asked, “Mrs. Jessica, why don’t you join us too?”
Jessica raised an eyebrow. “Bailey sees my face every day; I’m sure she’s sick of me now. You’re a new face. Go ahead and spend some time with her.”
At first, thement didn’t seem strange, but the more Sydney thought about it, the more it didn’t sit right.
Her smile faltered slightly, but she kept herposure. “Alright then, we’ll head out.”
Once their footsteps faded, Jessica let out a frustrated sigh. “When will they leave? I really can’t stand that girl.”
Dawn didn’t quite understand. Jessica wasn’t the type to lose her temper, but she had never been so open about disliking someone before. <fnf1f3> Read full story at find?novel</fnf1f3>
Chapter 15 What Are You Two Doing?
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Jessica didn’t exin further and instead started talking about handling the ingredients.
When the soup was nearly ready, shedled a bowl and ced it on a tray, handing it <i>to </i>Dawn.
“Austin’s still working. This soup is good for his health, but I’m getting a little tired of him right now. Can you take it up to him?”
Dawn almost said the same thing about being tired of him, butpared to how Jessica felt, it seemed kinder to just let Jessica off the hook.
She took a deep breath before carrying the tray upstairs.
The study was at the end of the hallway on the second floor. The dim light cast long shadows as she approached the door. She paused for a moment before knocking softly.
A voice from inside called, “Come in.”
When the door opened, Dawn’s eyes met Austin’s.
She briefly looked at him before averting her gaze. “Grandma asked me to bring you some soup.”
Austin grunted in acknowledgment but didn’t look up, still focused on his video conference.
Noticing he wasn’t going to say more, Dawn ced the tray on the desk and turned to leave. However, Austin’s peripheral vision caught her, and he added, “Wait until I’m done drinking before you take the bowl away.”
Dawn stopped, thought for a moment, and then sat down nearby.
He was busy with a meeting, and she didn’t feel like engaging further.
Austin noticed her quiet obedience and raised an eyebrow but continued with his work.
Half an hour passed, and the once–steaming soup hadpletely cooled.
Dawn finally spoke. “Should I get you a fresh bowl?”
“No need,” Austin replied.
Without hesitation, he picked up the cold bowl and drank the soup.
He didn’t mind it cold, so Dawn said nothing. She then quietly took the empty bowl, preparing to leave.
22:02 Sun, Sep 14 <b>d </b>
Chapter 15 What Are You Two Doing?
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Austin noticed she hadn’t even looked at him, and the bitter taste of the herbal medicine lingered more sharply in his mouth.
“Dawn.”
Dawn didn’t stop or respond.
Austin moved quickly, grabbing her wrist. In the sudden motion, Dawn stumbled backward and fell directly into his arms.
She froze, just as Austin was equally surprised.
The study door suddenly opened, and Sydney’s voice rang out in disbelief. “What are you two doing?”
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