17:27 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>18 <b>N </b>
Chapter 111 Past
Chapter 111 Past
“Even though the Osbornes have always treated me well, Austin … ”
Dawn stopped when his name left her mouth.
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A soft smile touched her face, as if she had already epted the truth. “Compared to my godparents, he feels more like my real dad. He keeps everything in my life steady, and he never lets anything slip through the cracks. I honestly owe him more than I can say.”
Her voice shifted, lighter yet sharper.
“But… I can’t stand him either.”
Her hands tightened as she went on. “He knows I depend on him. He knows I lean on him more than anyone else. But he never lets me breathe. He has to control everything, and he refuses to let me out of his sight.”
Saying it out loud felt strange. Only then did she realize her chest no longer ached like it once did. The storm inside her had already passed, leaving her calm.
She smiled faintly. “Ethan, maybe I still have some growing up to do. Give me a little more time.”
<i>If </i><i>you </i><i>can </i>wait <i>for </i><i>me</i><i>, </i><i>then </i><i>I </i><i>give </i><i>you </i><i>this </i><i>promise</i>.
I’ll walk into tomorrow with <i>you</i>.
Not just as your wife, <i>no</i>.
But as a clean, honest, <i>loyal</i><i>, </i><i>partner </i><i>unlike </i><i>anyone </i><i>else</i>.
Ethan’s hand curled tightly around his phone. His throat locked up, and heat burned under his ribs like fire trying to escape.
He couldn’t answer her. Not right away. Dawn frowned when she noticed the silence.
She pulled the phone back to check the screen, then lifted it to her ear again. “Did you fall asleep?”
Her voice turned light and teasing.
“Hey? Mr. Jackson? Hello, are you still there?”
17:27 Thu, <b>Sep </b>18 <b>N </b>
Chapter 111 Past
Her yful rhythm made his lips twitch in spite of himself.
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He leaned against the seat, lifted one hand to cover his eyes, and let out a low, steady breath. “I’m here.”
Relief slipped into her tone. “I didn’t talk too much, did I?”
“No.” <fn095b> Updates are released by FindN0vel</fn095b>
He paused, then added, “Say whatever you want. I’ll listen.”
Her thoughts stilled, her mind drifting nk. A yawn escaped as sleepiness took hold.
“Okay, I’ll stop now. When I get home, I’ll head straight to bed. You’re drinking tonight, aren’t you? Then you need to call it an early night as well. I’ll wait for you.”
The words sounded simple, but they hit Ethan like hooks sinking deep, pulling at something he couldn’t shake loose.
“Mr. Jackson … ” a voice cut in from outside the car. Oliver leaned toward the window but froze when he spotted the phone at Ethan’s ear.
Ethan shot him a warning nce and spoke back into the receiver with a softer tone. “Alright. Goodnight.”
The call clicked off.
Oliver caught the look on his boss’s face and felt unease crawl over him.
Still, he forced himself to speak. “Sir, Mr. Osborne and his assistant have been waiting for a while.”
Ethan’s eyes flickered cold. “What, he can’t spare a few minutes?”
Oliver froze where he stood.
Ethan slid his phone into his pocket, his face smooth and unreadable. “If he came all this way, he’ll wait as long as I decide. If he can’t have at least some patience, he’s always wee to leave.”
Oliver bowed his head and opened the door.
Ethan stepped out into the night air.
“Just him and his assistant?”
<b>17:27 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep 18 <b>N </b>
Chapter 111 Past
“Yes.”
Ethan’s mouth tilted in a cold smile. “Confident of himself, isn’t he?<b>” </b>
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The private club rose ahead, one of the most exclusive spots in Trifton. Guards stood at the doors in ck suits, their earpieces catching the faint light, every one of them stiff and alert.
A hostess in a sleek dress guided them through the hall. “This
way, sir.”
The suite door opened. Warm, dim light spread across the room, hazy and close, thick with a strange intimacy.
Ethan’s eyes locked on the man in the center–ss in hand, a hostess leaning close,ughter fading the instant Ethan entered.
The noise died.
Austin waved the woman away, brushed his suit straight, and rose with a practiced smile. “Mr. Jackson. Long time no see.”
Ethan’s gaze swept over him. Their hands met for a single heartbeat, Ethan’s grip tight enough to send a message before he let go. His voice came slow, smooth, and steady. “Mr. Osborne. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Austin’s brow lifted, a faint smile on his lips.
For a second, he thought Ethan’s tone carried something sharper, like the edge of a knife.
Is he<i>… </i>hostile toward <i>me</i><b><i>? </i></b>
The idea flickered in his eyes, but he only gestured for the women to pour fresh drinks. “Strictly speaking, our families <i>go </i>way back. We just didn’t cross paths after yours moved away.”
Ethan leaned into the sofa, one leg crossed over the other. His presence filled the room like a weight pressing down.
“It’s been a while,” he said.
“But Mr. Osborne, you act like you don’t know me.”
Austin blinked, caught off guard. “We’re a few years apart. And we went to different schools, Makes sense we didn’t hang out.”
Ethan’s mouth curved, faint and unreadable. “That’s not what I meant.”
17:27 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>18 </b>N
Chapter 111 Past
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Austin opened his mouth, but his question trailed off when Ethan lifted his ss and drank slowly, offering no answer.
“Mr. Osborne, you didn’t call me here just to catch up. Why don’t we cut the small talk and get
to business.”
Austin had invited him three times that same day. Now, the real reason waited on the table.