Chapter 17 Do You Really Think You’re So Great?
Chapter 17 Do You Really Think You’re So Great?
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Dawn changed into a new outfit, but the thought that Sydney would rush to Austin to tell him about what had happened only made her already foul mood worse.
She decided to text Sandra, letting her know she wanted to go for a walk. With the broken onyx pendant in hand, she left the house. She visited severalrge jewelry stores in the mall, but they all gave her the same disappointing response–repairing it just wasn’t possible.
“This onyx is in such a state that even if we manage to fix it, it won’t look the same as before. Would you consider turning it into a bracelet? We can do that for you.”
“Sorry, but this onyx is too valuable for us to take on.”
“Miss, perhaps you should try another shop…”
After going around in circles, Dawn gave up hope.
Standing at the street corner, she felt an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. She didn’t know what to do next.
<i>Mom</i>… what <i>should </i>I <i>do</i><i>? </i>
<i>Is </i><i>it </i><i>really </i><i>impossible </i><i>to </i><i>fix </i><i>this </i><i>Virgin </i><i>Mary </i><i>pendant</i><i>? </i>
Just as she was sinking into her thoughts, her phone buzzed.
Dawn carefully ced the onyx pendant back into her bag and pulled out her phone. It was a message from Ethan, asking what she was up to.
She sniffled and sent him a voice message. <fn189e> Official source is Find[?]ovel</fn189e>
“Not much. I’m just standing on the street, lost in thought.”
Her voice sounded fragile, almost like she was pouting. Ethan immediately caught the tone.
“Lost in thought or crying?”
Dawn wiped her eyes instinctively and muttered, “I’m not crying.”
“Right, of course you aren’t. You’re the bravest kid I know.”
There was a brief silence before Dawn spoke again, “It’s probably the middle of the night for you, isn’t it? Why are you still awake?”
22:02 Sun, Sep 14 <b>d </b>
Chapter 17 Do You Really Think You’re So Great?
Ethan paused for a second before letting out a soft sigh. “I can’t sleep.”
“Why not?”
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“The quantum entanglement between us is too intense. I can sense that you’re a little upset, so I can’t sleep.”
Though Dawn was used to his yful teasing, she couldn’t help but smile. “I wasn’t happy earlier, but I feel better now. You’re right, nothing can really defeat me.”
“”It’s just a broken Virgin Mary pendant, right? You can always find someone to fix it. If not, I’ll learn how to fix it myself. I’m pretty good at picking things up … ”
Hearing Ethan’s confident words, Dawn’s mood lifted a little, and Ethan smiled as well.
His assistant knocked on the door. “Mr. Jackson, we-”
Ethan ced a finger to his lips in a quiet gesture, then spoke softly into the phone, “There’s no problem that can’t be solved. Just calm down. Everything can be fixed.”
Dawn smiled. “Okay!”
“Have you eaten yet?”
“No.”
“Don’t think about anything else for now. Go eat something. In a few hours, everything will be sorted.”
Dawn figured he was just trying tofort her, but it still made her feel better. She agreed to eat something and told Ethan to get some rest before hanging up.
Feeling a bit better, Dawn grabbed a quick meal before heading home.
Sandra and Jessica weren’t there, but Harry was sitting by the window downstairs, sipping tea.
“Hey, Dad,” she greeted him. “Where are Mom and Grandma?”
“Your mom said you didn’t sleep wellst night, so your Grandma insisted on going to a church to pray for you. They should be back soon.”
Dawn froze for a moment<i>. </i>It’s <i>true </i><i>that </i><i>I </i><i>didn’t </i><i>sleep </i><i>well </i><ist </i><i>night</i><i>, </i><i>but </i>how <i>did </i><i>Mom </i><i>know</i>?
A warm feeling spread in her chest, and she didn’t know what to say.
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Chapter 17 Do You Really Think You’re So Great?
Harry smiled. “Where did you go this morning?”
“I… just went for a walk.”
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“Austin was asking about you when he got up. Why didn’t you tell him you were leaving?”
Sounds like <i>he </i><i>just </i>wants <i>to </i>lecture <i>me</i><i>. </i>
Dawn didn’t want to exin. Besides, even if she did, he wouldn’t believe her.
She bit her lip and quickly changed the subject. “I’m going upstairs, Dad. I’lle down when Mom and Grandma get back.”
It was almost afternoon by the time the others returned.
Sydney was walking slowly, clearly sore from her injuries, and after changing clothes, she had to go to the hospital nearby to get her bandages changed.
As Dawn came downstairs, she ran into Sydney, who was about to leave.
Sydney’s eyes flickered for a moment before she turned to call out, “Austin, are you ready?”
Austin replied with a “Yeah” as his tall figure appeared in view.
When their eyes met, Dawn braced herself for another lecture. But Austin didn’t say anything. He just raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why didn’t you say anything before you went out this morning?”
“I told Mom.”
Austin seemed to hesitate for a moment, but in the end, he only gave her a long look before walking downstairs with Sydney.
Dawn was taken aback.
<i>I </i><i>pped </i><i>Sydney </i><i>yesterday</i><i>, </i><i>but </i><i>Austin </i><i>didn’t </i><i>scold </i><i>me</i><i>? </i>
<i>Or</i><i>… </i><i>maybe </i><i>Sydney </i><i>hasn’t </i><i>told </i><i>him </i><i>what </i><i>happened</i>.
Either way, it was a relief not to have to exin herself.
Dawn felt a little lighter, and as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw Jessica sitting on the sofa. As soon as Jessica saw her, she waved her over. “Dawn,e here.
“This is from me and your mom. We got you a charm for safety and another for good luck in
Chapter 17 Do You Really Think You’re So Great?
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love. We heard great things about the charms. Keep them with you no matter where you go, okay?”
Jessica seemed worried that Dawn wouldn’t like the charm’s design, so she had thoughtfully ced them little heart–shaped cases.
Dawn was touched. She held the charms in her hand, studying them, then said, “I appreciate the safety charm, but the love charm… doesn’t seem too reliable.”
“Silly girl, why wouldn’t it be?”
Jessica pretended to be angry and lightly swatted at her.
“It’s totally reliable. Who knows? You might find love around the corner today. You’re not getting any younger. It’s time for you to fall in love. We’re all rooting for you.”
Dawn couldn’t argue with that. She reluctantly ced the charm in her bag, promising to keep it with her at all times.
After dinner, Sydney suddenly invited Dawn to go for a walk.
Dawn immediately sensed something was off and declined, saying, “I have a paper to review, so I’m gonna have to pass.”
Austin, who had been watching his phone, furrowed his brow and muttered, “You can review a paper any other time.”
Dawn froze. <i>Do </i><i>I </i><i>really </i><i>need </i><i>to </i><i>spell </i><i>it </i><i>out </i><i>that </i><i>I </i><i>don’t </i><i>want </i><i>to </i><i>go </i><i>with </i><i>her</i><i>? </i>
Dawn considered saying exactly that, but when she looked up, everyone’s eyes were on her.
If she said it out loud, it would only make things awkward.
She sighed and reluctantly agreed, “Fine, I’ll go.”
As they left the vi, the sound of a distant dog barking echoed through the quiet neighborhood.
Dawn crossed her arms and kicked at the fallen leaves, her expression indifferent. “Sydney, whatever it is you want to do, hurry up. Once this is over, I want to go back and sleep.”
Sydney smiled at her. “You know, Dawn, if it weren’t for you always hanging around Austin, I think we’d make great friends.”
“Did my p fromst night cause permanent head damage?” Dawn snapped.
22:02 Sun, Sep 14 …
Chapter 17 Do You Really Think You’re So Great?
Sydney froze, shocked by her tant sarcasm.
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“I prefer you give me your worst, Sydney. You saying we’d make great friends really makes me question myself.”
Dawn wasn’t in the mood to y games. She said coldly, “I don’t know what game you’re ying, but let me make one thing clear again–I’ve got no feelings left for Austin. If you’re really in love with him, you’d better keep up the act and never let him find out the real you. I don’t think any man would be happy being made a fool of.”
Her sharp words were a stark contrast to the shy girl she once was.
Sydney sneered, “Dawn, do you really think you’re so great? Aren’t you just putting on a show too?”