Obedience No More He's the One I Deserved novel Chapter 286

**Chapter 286: A Dream From Long Ago**

Kate pondered aloud, “At least no other women can get close to him. But look, Tra—”

Dawn couldn’t find a way to counter that reasoning. It was a sentiment that resonated with her, one that tugged at her heartstrings.

She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for a hopeless romantic like Kate.

When two individuals, both beautiful and utterly enamored, found themselves in such a predicament, all that remained was a heavy, wistful sigh.

Just moments ago, a wave of guilt had washed over Dawn regarding the situation. Now, however, it seemed utterly pointless to dwell on it.

The afternoon stretched languidly in the villa, and with nothing else on her agenda, Kate decided to spend the day with Dawn. “Hanging out” was perhaps a generous description; in truth, it felt more like Dawn was there to provide companionship while Kate immersed herself in a quest to decipher the enigma that was Jonathan—the human iceberg.

Her dedication was so intense that one might think she was preparing a formal proposal.

Dawn let out a soft sigh, almost resigned. “Kate, if you put this much effort into anything, you’d excel at it.”

“Really?”

A flicker of hope ignited in Kate’s eyes, but it dimmed almost immediately.

“It’s just that Mr. Brown is always so busy. Even with all this energy, I’m at a loss for how to channel it.”

“Right, Dawn!” she exclaimed suddenly. “Do you have his number? Can you share it with me?”

The moment she secured his contact information, Kate left the villa, her face alight with excitement.

Before stepping out, she turned to Dawn with a hopeful glimmer. “Can I come back next time?”

“Of course,” Dawn replied, her voice laced with a hint of eagerness.

She was feeling a bit bored herself, and the presence of another person would certainly add some much-needed liveliness to her day.

As for Jonathan…

Who cared?

What Dawn hadn’t anticipated was the silence that would envelop her for the next several days. She wouldn’t catch even a fleeting glimpse of Jonathan.

Ethan was also uncharacteristically quiet, leaving her with an unsettling void.

Tony would send the occasional text, but they were trivial snippets of information that barely registered on her radar.

Dawn felt as though she had been cut off from the world, yet slowly, her anxiety began to dissipate. She found herself embracing the ebb and flow of life around her.

The air of spring was crisp and refreshing; the sun’s warmth was gentle, a far cry from the oppressive heat of summer. Dawn decided to ask the bodyguards to move a lounge chair into the garden. She opened the parasol, settled in with a book, and basked in the soothing sunlight.

Sunny, her ever-energetic companion, played nearby, darting after bugs with boundless enthusiasm.

Before long, the warmth of the sun began to lull her into a gentle drowsiness.

In a half-dream state, Dawn found herself drifting into a memory, a vision of Lucas from long ago.

It was a fragment of her past, a time when she was still a child, her parents alive, and her family radiated warmth and harmony.

Lucas appeared, arms laden with bags filled with gifts, a broad smile on his face. He had even brought her a special present.

But something felt off; her mother’s demeanor was anything but welcoming. With a cold edge to her voice, she asked, “Why are you here?”

Lucas chuckled awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m here to see my little sister, of course.”

At that moment, her father stepped out of the house, his face lighting up with delight.

Sunny bounded over, a ball clutched in his mouth, his paws resting eagerly on her knees.

A small smile crept onto Dawn’s face as she sat up, reaching out to rub Sunny’s head affectionately. “Hey, do you think a memory from when I was three or four is real or just a dream?”

Of course, Sunny couldn’t answer her, but the weight of that strange dream lingered, casting a shadow over her mood.

It had been ages since she had heard anything about the Swansons.

And what of those two searchers at Forgotten Peak? Had they uncovered anything of significance?

Lost in her thoughts, she returned to her room. Picking up Ethan’s phone, she noticed a slew of unread WhatsApp messages—mostly work-related chats and group conversations with his friends.

She turned off the screen, then turned it back on again, repeating the action as if it would somehow conjure clarity.

Finally, she located Tony’s number and dialed.

The phone rang twice before connecting, and Dawn exhaled softly. It should be morning on his end, and she hoped she wouldn’t accidentally wake him.

“Tony,” she spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Can you ask your boss to take the call?”

There was a brief silence on the other end, then a deep, familiar laugh resonated through the speaker. “Sure.”

Dawn’s heart raced, a flutter of excitement coursing through her. She whispered, “You’re teasing me again.”

“Miss me?” His low voice wrapped around her like a warm embrace, sending tingles down her spine. “Bae,” he continued softly, “I miss you so much.”

**Chapter 287: Nowhere to Go**