Chapter 104 Whispers
+20 Free Coins
Dawn shook her head as if she could shake the images away. They clung to her regardless. She lifted the Virgin Mary pendant that hung from her neck. The little figure’s face carried a smile carved with mercy that felt endless, like it could forgive anything.
“Mom, I’m going to marry him,” she whispered.
“He really is a good man.
“You’ll bless us, won’t you?”
The room stayed still. No voice answered. Yet somehow, silence itself felt like one.
Dawn held the pendant higher and snapped a photo. She opened Instagram, an app she hadn’t touched in forever. After staring at the screen for a long moment, she typed a caption.
“To write a book of memories with you is my wish ever since the day you picked up my soul.”
She didn’t bother hiding the post from
The notifications came quick.
anyone.
Janicemented, [Wow, first time our designer shows some love. Must be something biging soon.]
Tonymented, [This love is heavy. I’m full just looking at it.]
Sandramened, [When are you bringing him over so I can meet him?]
Zachmented, [Dawn … you’re dating someone?]
Ethanmented, [Good.]
Her breath caught when she saw thatst one.
Ethan,
She couldn’t stop the smile from tugging at her lips. She stayed in that glow for a few minutes, then closed the app and checked her messages. A new one shed on the screen. Sydney.
“Dawn, can we talk?”
Dawn hesitated before typing back, “Talk about what?”
Chapter 104 Whispers
:
“I saw your Instagram post. So you really are in a rtionship? Congrats.”
“What are you trying to say?” Dawn answered.
56
+20 Free Coins
“Not much. I just wanted to apologize for acting on impulse. I did things that hurt you. I’m sorry.”
“Austin has always treated you like a niece. When I marry him, we’ll be family. I hope we can let the past go. I don’t want old fights to ruin the bond.”
Bond? Between them?
Not in a million years.
Dawn let out a sharpugh. She didn’t bother replying.
Ten minutester another message came.
“I’m getting engaged to your uncle soon. He raised you. You’lle to the wedding, right?”
Would she?
Dawn thought about it and figured she couldn’t think of a good reason not to.
If Sydney hadn’t stirred up so much trouble, if Austin hadn’t condemned her without even asking questions, maybe none of this would have happened.
Her answer was short. “Yeah.” <fndf4b> This text is hosted at find[?]ovel</fndf4b>
More Instagram notifications rolled in.
She tapped on a few, gave quick replies, then shut the phone off and crawled into bed.
Hourster, at three in the morning, her ringtone split through the dark.
Dawn groaned and pulled the phone from under her pillow.
“Hello”
No words.
There was just the drag of someone’s breathing, heavy and uneven.
Her pulse quickened. She could guess who it might be. She could guess who this might be. Then she nced at the caller ID. Austin.
17:25 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>18 </b>
Chapter 104 Whispers
She remained silent.
Finally his voice cracked through, rough and low.
“Dawn.
“Why do you always fight me?
“Life would be easier if you just behaved.
56
+20 Free Coins
“You even invented some boyfriend just to tick me off. Soul? Please. What soul? You’re still a kid, and all you do is dream about things that don’t exist.”
He wasn’t asking. He sounded like a man mumbling to himself in the dark.
Dawn listened without a flicker of feeling.
Austin must have seen her post and convinced himself she wrote it for him.
She wasn’t going to y along.
“You’ve been drinking, haven’t you?” she asked tly.
“Yeah. I have.” His voice sank even lower.
“Dawn, one day you’ll crawl back to me and admit you were wrong.”
The call ended.
She stared at the screen and almostughed.
She couldn’t believe Austin’s confidence was higher than the sky,
Did he really think she was still ten years old?
She rolled onto her back and sighed at the ceiling.
Maybe Austin hadn’t done everything right, but the truth was he had raised her.
That debt was carved into her life. She couldn’t be entirely cold to him until it was paid.
<i>But </i><i>how </i><i>do </i><i>you </i><i>ever </i><i>pay </i><i>back </i><i>something </i><i>like </i><i>that</i><i>? </i>
The question slipped away as sleep pulled her under.
17:25 Thu, Sep <b>18 </b><b>N </b>
Chapter 104 Whispers
56
+20 Free Coins
By morning, the house was quieter than usual. Hannah had gone to visit her rtives out in the country, so breakfast was up to Ethan.
When Dawn stepped out of her room, she saw him untying an apron. He wore a silver–gray shirt tucked into matching cks, his sleeves rolled to his forearms. His calm face carried warmth, but the loose strands of his hair gave him an edge that felt untouchable.
His eyes were deep, alive, like they could hold anything.
She froze, staring so long that she forgot to say hello.