Chapter 20 Do You Want to Move in with Me?
Chapter 20 Do You Want to Move in with Me?
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<i>This </i>isn’t <i>the </i><i>first </i>time something <i>like </i><i>this </i><i>happened</i>, Dawn thought, almost feeling amused. “Uncle Austin, would you believe me if I said I had nothing to do with Sydney falling?”
Austin paused briefly, his voice cold. “I saw it happen with my own eyes. Do you seriously think you can deny it?”
Dawn didn’t feel like arguing anymore. “She can call the police if she wants.”
“What are you-”
“I didn’t push her. I trust the police will make an impartial decision.”
Dawn had no more expectations. Surprisingly, she didn’t feel sad at all. In fact, a sense of relief washed over her. Her voice remained calm and even. “If that’s all, I’m hanging up now. When Ms. Peay calls the police, just have them reach out to me. I’ll cooperate with whatever they need.”
The line went silent, and Austin’s face darkened with fury.
“Austin …”
Sydney weakly called out to him, “What’s going on? Did Dawn make you angry again?”
Austin slipped his phone into his pocket and walked back to her bedside, his expression grim. “That girl’s been spoiled for far too long. Don’t worry. This time, I’ll make sure she understands her mistakes and apologizes properly.”
<i>Dawn </i><i>is </i><i>rebellious</i><i>, </i><i>always </i><i>testing </i><i>the </i><i>limits</i>. <i>On </i><i>the </i><i>surface</i><i>, she </i><i>seems </i><i>obedient</i><i>, </i><i>but </i><i>behind </i><i>the </i><i>scenes</i>, <i>she’s </i><i>always </i><i>plotting </i><i>her </i><ieback </i><i>against </i><i>anyone </i><i>who </i><i>crosses </i><i>her</i>.
<i>It </i><i>was </i><i>fine </i><i>when </i><i>she </i><i>was </i><i>younger</i><i>, </i><i>but </i><i>now </i><i>that </i><i>she’s </i><i>an </i><i>adult</i><i>, </i><i>it </i><i>was </i><i>getting </i><i>harder </i><i>to </i><i>deal </i>with.
The more Austin thought about it, the angrier he became. Without hesitation, he grabbed his phone again. “That girl thinks I won’t do anything about her … I’ll have the property manager pull the security footage. Let’s see what excuse she’ll make.”
“Don’t!”
Before he could dial the number, Sydney grabbed his hand, stopping him.
Austin stared at her, confused. “What’s wrong?<b>” </b>
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Chapter 20 Do You Want to Move in with Me?
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Sydney knew very well that watching the footage and calling the police would only make things worse for both her and Dawn. It would only drive them further apart.
“Austin, if you really do that, how will it help my rtionship with Dawn?”
She forced a bitter smile, shaking her head. “I’m not really angry with her. You care about her, and she’ll be my family soon. We should show her some understanding … Don’t you think?”
When Austin saw the softness in her expression, his frustration softened a bit, though his anger toward Dawn grew.
“Even if we don’t call the police, she still needs to apologize.
“We’ll wait for the report this afternoon, and then we’ll confront her,” he said, his tone firm.
Dawn couldn’t help but admire Sydney’s resilience, having seen her go in and out of the hospital so many times over the past ten days.
She couldn’t understand how someone could hurt themselves just to frame someone else.
Ethan responded tly, “Human nature could be more sinister than you think. She’s doing this to gain something, and she thinks it’s worth the pain.”
Dawn wasn’t naive, but she never expected someone like that to be in her life.
Still, she smiled, letting it go. “It’s fine. We won’t have to deal with her anymore. It’s just one of those life lessons.”
Ethan didn’t respond, simply watching her in silence.
This was the type of woman he admired–someone who could face her emotions and, when realizing the other person didn’t care, move on quickly and without regret.
Maybe Dawn didn’t realize it, but as the sunlight filtered through the windows, Ethan saw the same determined little girl from years ago.
She seemed fragile, yet incredibly strong.
Back in Trifton, Ethan first dropped Dawn off at Southbay Residence.
“You should get back to work or whatever. I still need to take care of a few things.”
Ethan paused for a moment before speaking quietly, “Do you want to move in with me?”
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Chapter 20 Do You Want to Move in with Me?
“What?” Dawn asked hesitantly.
“I mean, I have a ce here in Trifton.”
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Seeing her shock, Ethan couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “I’ll probably be here for a few more days. If you don’t want to stay here, you cane stay with me. My mom’s already set up a room for you.”
Dawn thought it over for a moment. It made sense. After all, they were getting married, and Ethan wasn’t a bad guy.
“Okay. Send me the address. I’ll pack up and take a cab over.”
She nced around her ce, deciding that, aside from a few books and clothes she no longer wore, everything else could be sent to recycling.
She contacted the staff to pick up the donations, and once everything was taken away, she called the cleaning service to tidy both the upstairs and downstairs, making sure nothing was left behind. After that, she carried her bags out of the vi.
She stopped for a moment to look at the house, a wave of mncholy sweeping over her.
<i>From </i><i>this </i><i>moment </i><i>on</i><i>, </i><i>I’ll </i><i>be </i><i>living </i><i>without </i><i>Austin </i><i>in my </i><i>life</i>.
A small smile tugged at her lips as the wind lifted her hair.
“Goodbye.”
No one answered her words. Without hesitation, she turned and walked away.
She had nned to hire a moving service, but just as she pulled out her phone, a ck Porsche Cayenne pulled up nearby. Oliver Foster, Ethan’s assistant, was behind the wheel.
“Ms. Porter, Mr. Jackson sent me to pick you up.”
Dawn blinked in surprise. “How did he know I was finished packing?”
“Well…” Oliver smiled. “Mr. Jackson might have some kind of sixth sense.”
Since the ride was free, Dawn didn’t protest. Oliver helped her load her things into the car, and they headed to Ethan’s ce.
Southbay Residence was in a quiet, remote area, whereas Ethan’s apartment was in the heart of the city–an elegant high–rise with windows offering a panoramic view of Trifton’s skyline.
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Chapter 20 Do You Want to Move in with Me?
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Oliver had the building staff assist, and he pressed the elevator button. “Ms. Porter, you can head up first. We’ll take care of everything else.” <fnf383> Newest update provided by Find~Novel</fnf383>
Dawn didn’t refuse. She took her bag and made her way upstairs.
The ride to the 58th floor was slow, and in the elevator, Dawn took a deep breath, adjusting her hair and clothes.
Looking at her reflection in the mirrored walls, she couldn’t help but feel a little regretful. <i>Why </i>didn’t I <i>shower </i><i>before </i><i>leaving</i>? <i>Will </i><i>Ethan </i><i>think </i><i>I </i><i>look </i><i>messy</i><i>, </i><i>showing </i><i>up </i><i>like </i><i>this</i><i>? </i>
Before she could dwell on it, the elevator dinged and stopped.
Dawn took a moment to steady herself. <i>Who </i><i>cares </i><i>if </i><i>I </i><i>look </i><i>a </i><i>little </i><i>disheveled</i><i>? </i>
<i>If </i><i>Ethan </i><i>doesn’t </i><i>like </i><i>it</i><i>, </i><i>he </i><i>can </i><i>just </i><i>look </i><i>away</i>.
As she was mentally preparing herself, she forgot that the building only had one apartment per floor.
Before she knew it, she was already standing in the middle of the living room.
Looking over at the man seated in the chair, it took her a moment to notice.
She looked down at her feet.
She hadn’t changed her shoes.
From the moment she stepped inside, Ethan had been watching her with an amused smile, quietly observing her every reaction.
He set the book he had been reading down, stood up, and walked over to the entryway. Slowly, he picked up a pair of slippers and, with a soft smile, said, “I know you’re eager to see me, but next time, please remember to change your shoes beforeing in. I’m not going anywhere.”
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