Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 278

**Chapter 278: Locked In**

“You creep!”

Dawn spat the words through gritted teeth, her frustration boiling over as she hastily changed her clothes. Every fiber of her being was seething with anger, directed not just at Jonathan, but at the entire situation that had spiraled out of her control.

A soft but firm knock echoed through the room, breaking her concentration.

“Ms. Dawn, Mr. Jonathan requests your presence downstairs for breakfast,” the housekeeper announced, her tone professional yet tinged with an underlying sympathy.

Dawn paced the confines of her room, her annoyance palpable. “Tell him that if he thinks he can keep me locked up like this, he can forget about me eating!”

The housekeeper, as if anticipating her defiance, added, “Mr. Jonathan mentioned that if you decline, he’ll personally bring the food up and feed you himself.”

Dawn’s heart sank. She had no retort ready, and worse, she realized that Jonathan was the kind of man who would follow through on such a threat. Locked door or not, he had a way of getting what he wanted.

What a jerk.

She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply to steady herself. Yet, despite her fury, she eventually found herself walking down the grand staircase. The villa was an expansive masterpiece, its open layout allowing her to survey the entire first floor from her elevated position.

At the long, sleek black marble table, Jonathan sat with an air of nonchalance, consuming his breakfast at a leisurely pace. His posture was impeccable, as if time itself bowed to his command.

Dawn cursed him silently again, her irritation flaring anew as she strode toward him.

With a decisive motion, she pulled out a chair and sat down, her eyes locking onto his with fierce intensity. “What do you want from me?” she demanded, cutting straight to the chase.

Jonathan lifted his gaze, his expression unreadable. He merely nodded toward the plate in front of her. “Eat.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, her glare sharp enough to cut. “Mr. Brown, don’t even think for a second that you can win me over by locking me up like some lovesick fool. Do you really think I’d fall for that?”

He continued to eat, his silence only fueling her anger.

Time stretched out, the air thickening with tension.

Finally, frustration boiled over. “Jonathan!”

This time, he responded—just a flicker of acknowledgment in his eyes.

“Dawn,” he said her name softly, but it held an edge. “Someone seems to indulge you too much.”

Her eyes flared with indignation. “Yeah, that someone is Ethan. He loved me deeply, and if he finds out you’ve taken me here against my will, he’ll make you regret it.”

Jonathan didn’t flinch or argue; instead, he let a few seconds of silence hang between them before calmly repeating, “Eat.”

Dawn was at a loss for words.

The more she tried to provoke him, the more it felt like her efforts fell flat.

She wasn’t one to wallow in self-pity, and even if she had to fight her way out later, her stomach growled in protest. She needed sustenance first.

Halfway through her meal, Jonathan’s phone buzzed, and he stood, heading toward the study. Before leaving, he instructed the bodyguards to keep a close watch on her.

Dawn continued to eat, but her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

After a moment, she turned her attention to the bodyguard stationed nearby.

“Did you eat?” she asked, her voice softer now.

If he had denied it outright, perhaps Dawn wouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.

But those two quiet seconds of hesitation were enough to sow seeds of doubt in her mind.

The last phone call she received before losing consciousness had been from Roxanne. If Roxanne hadn’t mentioned something happening to Ethan, Dawn would never have noticed the intruder entering her room.

The bodyguard, sensing her despair, instinctively stepped back, retreating to the entrance of the dining room as if trying to distance himself from the tension.

A maid entered to clear the table, her silence adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

Dawn felt trapped, like a bird confined to a cage.

She could only move within the narrow confines of her surroundings. The garden was accessible, but the moment she approached the gate, the bodyguard would block her path, saying, “Sorry, Ms. Dawn. Please step back.”

Dawn could only stare, her mind racing with frustration and helplessness.

He wouldn’t say another word.

Meanwhile, Tony stood before Ethan’s desk, reporting the situation with a demeanor reminiscent of a child awaiting punishment. His head practically touched the floor in submission.

“Boss, Mr. Osborne hasn’t acted out of line. He’s been working as usual. I even heard he reorganized part of the company, and everything’s running smoother than before.”

Ethan’s gaze lifted, and he shot Tony a frosty glare. “Is that really what you think I want to hear?”

“There’s been no sign from Ms. West either,” Tony continued, his frustration evident.

“And I looked into Mr. Curran thoroughly. He’s undoubtedly been involved in shady dealings, but at the time of Ms. Porter’s disappearance, he was at a dinner. Numerous witnesses can confirm it.”