Chapter 18 I’m Back
Dawn stayed quiet, listening as Sydney went on.
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“You act all innocent in front of everyone, pretending to be scared the Osbornes might abandon you, don’t you? You’ve got Jessica and Sandra eating out of your hand, but deep down, you just want their money, don’t you?”
The more Sydney talked, the more convinced she became of her theory.
<i>If </i><i>my </i><i>theory’s </i><i>true</i><i>, </i><i>I </i><i>can’t </i><i>allow </i><i>Dawn </i><i>to </i><i>stay </i><i>in </i><i>the </i><i>Osbornes</i>‘ <i>house</i>.
A cold glint appeared in her eyes as her voice turned sharp. “You’re a kid nobody wants. You should’ve had the decency to leave the Osbornes when you turned 18. Instead, you’re hanging on, too shameless to go.”
Dawn stayedposed, her gaze steady. “That’s between me and the Osbornes, Ms. Peay. It has nothing to do with you.”
“You’re still after Austin, though. How is that not my problem?” Sydney’s anger was building, her eyes burning with rage.
Dawn hadn’t expected a woman could get this worked up over a man.
Her disdain for Sydney had deepened after the Virgin Mary pendant incident, but now, in a strange turn, she almost felt sorry for her.
Sydney’s entire life seemed consumed by scheming and maniption, leaving no room for her to simply be herself.
Dawn gave her a moment to breathe before replying quietly, “Sydney, the only thing I have against you is that you deliberately broke my Virgin Mary pendant. Other than that, there’s not reason for us to keep talking. I’m not wasting any more time or energy on this.”
<i>It’s </i><i>not </i><i>worth </i>it.
<i>Instead </i><i>of </i><i>continuing </i><i>this </i><i>argument</i><i>, </i><i>it’s </i><i>better </i><i>to </i><i>figure </i><i>out </i><i>how </i><i>to </i><i>fix </i><i>the </i><i>pendant</i>.
“As you’ve seen, Austin isn’t interested in me, so you don’t need to keep going after me. If we can just get through the next few days quietly, I’ll leave the Osbornes.”
Sydney didn’t believe a word of it.
“I’ll stop targeting you if you leave right now!”
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Chapter 18 I’m Back
Dawn gave her a look as if she couldn’t believe she was still having to exin herself.
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She turned to walk away, but Sydney suddenly yanked a handful of her hair. “You’re not going anywhere until you exin yourself! You heard me. You have to leave now. Go back and tell them you’re leaving the Osbornes!”
Dawn winced as the pain from her scalp spread. <i>This </i><i>woman </i><i>has </i><ipletely </i><i>lost </i><i>her </i><i>mind</i>.
“Sydney, let go!” she protested.
“Promise me!”
<i>Does </i><i>she </i><i>really </i><i>think </i><i>I’m </i><i>a kid</i><i>? </i>
Dawn didn’t waste any more words. With a quick move, she yanked her arm free and shoved back.
Sydney’s grip loosened, and before Dawn could do anything, she felt a force pushing her and saw Sydney lose her footing before tumbling down the nearby slope.
Her heart skipped a beat. “Sydney!”
Before she could react, a faster figure dashed toward Sydney.
Dawn froze, her breath shaky. For a moment, she almost wanted tough, but it caught in her throat.
<i>This </i><i>is </i><i>the </i><i>third </i>time<i>. </i>
<i>Sydney</i>… <i>and </i><i>Austin</i>.
Sweat dripped down Dawn’s face as she watched Austin carefully lift Sydney up. Sydney’s face was pressed into his chest, and Dawn couldn’t tell if she was unconscious or just dazed.
Austin’s face remained impassive. “What are you waiting for? Call an ambnce!”
Dawn bit her lip. She wanted to tell him that Sydney had brought it on herself, but she knew Austin wouldn’t believe her … He never did.
After making the call, she tucked her phone away.
She lifted her gaze, speaking matter–of–factly, “I didn’t push her. She fell on her own.”
“Last time, and the time before that, you said the same thing,” Austin replied coldly, a smile curling his lips, though there was something deeper in his eyes–disappointment, maybe?
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Chapter 18 I’m Back
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Dawn couldn’t tell. All she knew was the heavy finality in his voice. “This time, if Sydney decides to press charges, I won’t protect you.”
The ambnce arrived, and Austin, looking troubled, took off his jacket and draped it over Sydney.
Dawn stood on the side, watching the headlights vanish into the distance. <fnc29a> For more chapters visit find·novel</fnc29a>
Her scalp still throbbed where Sydney had grabbed her, and the spot burned with lingering pain. Her hair was a mess, and the sweat lingered on her face that was abnormally flushed.
She stood there, motionless, for what seemed like ages before turning around mechanically and heading home.
Inside, everyone was talking about the ambnce.
“Who could it be? An ambnce at this hour … Dawn! What happened to you?
Everyone jumped when they saw her. Sandra rushed over with a towel to wipe her face and check for any injuries.
“Sweetheart… how did a walk turn into this? Where’s Ms. Peay? Where’s Austin? He went looking for you earlier.”
Dawn lowered her gaze. “They went to the hospital.
“Sydney and I… we fell.”
Sandra spoke softly, “Since she’s at the hospital, why didn’t you go? You should at least get checked out, just to be sure!”
<i>I </i><i>didn’t </i><i>go </i><i>because </i><i>Austin </i><i>didn’t </i><i>care </i><i>about </i><i>me</i>.
Dawn replied quietly, “I’m fine. I just want to rest.”
She had nned to stay with them for a few more days, but it seemed like every day had been chaotic since her return.
<i>Maybe </i><i>it’s </i>time <i>to </i><i>leave</i><i>. </i>
<i>Perhaps </i><i>that’s </i><i>exactly </i><i>what </i><i>Austin </i><i>and </i><i>Sydney </i><i>want</i>.
As she packed her things, her phone buzzed with a call from Ethan. “What are you doing?”
Through the phone, Dawn could hear the distant hum of the city, and suddenly her eyes filled
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with tears. “Packing.”
“Packing?” Ethan’s tone shifted to concern. “Where are you now?”
“At home.”
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Dawn put the phone on speaker, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m leaving tomorrow morning. I’ll drop my things in Trifton to ship them off, then head to Northville.”
There was a brief pause before Ethan asked softly, “Did someone bully you?”
Dawn didn’t answer, but the tears flowed freely now.
Ethan sighed, his voice carrying both exasperation and gentleness. “Can’t you take better care of yourself?”
“I am taking care of myself.”
Dawn wanted to say that she was doing her best to stop caring about those two, but the debt of being raised by that family made it difficult to just walk away.
Ethan nced at the time, his voice steady. “In ten minutes, I’ll be waiting for you at the corner outside the Osbornes.”
“It’s sote…” Dawn hesitated, shocked. “You’re back?”
Ethan’s smile was softer as he gazed out at the familiar, yet strange, street. “Yeah, I’m back.”
Dawn jumped to her feet.
Her first instinct was to nce out the window, remembering that she was still at the Osbornes. “Wait for me!”
She hung up and quickly rummaged through her clothes.
What <i>should </i>I <i>wear</i><i>? </i>
<i>It’s </i><i>been </i><i>so </i><i>long </i><i>since </i><i>I </i><ist </i><i>saw </i><i>Ethan</i><i>. </i><i>Why </i><i>am </i><i>I </i><i>suddenly </i><i>nervous</i><i>? </i>
For a moment, she forgot her earlier sadness, her heart racing as she wondered what she should say when she saw him.
<i>Should </i><i>I </i><i>greet </i><i>him </i><i>first</i><i>? </i>
<i>Or </i><i>just </i><i>casually </i><i>pat </i><i>his </i><i>shoulder </i><i>like </i><i>an </i><i>old </i><i>friend</i><i>? </i>
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Chapter 18 I’m Back
None of it <i>feels </i><i>right</i>.
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Lost in thought, she found herself waiting at the corner, her heart pounding in anticipation.
Then, a deep voice called out behind her. “Dawn.”
She turned.
The man stood there in a ck coat, his sharp features standing out in the dim light. He grinned at herzily and spread his arms. “Come here.”
Dawn’s heart skipped a beat before thundering in her chest.
She grinned wide and rushed into his embrace.