Chapter 23 It Doesn't Matter Who , as Long as It's Not You 81 +10 Free Coins Chapter 23 It Doesn't Matter Who , as Long as It's Not You The woman noticed him frown as he zoomed in on the photo on his phone , studying it intently before sending it . Her curiosity piqued . " Who is that ? Someone you know ? " " Tsk ... " Zach Ruiz clicked his tongue and , placing his hand around her waist , gently guided her in the opposite direction while lowering his voice . " Do you remember Austin's niece I told you about ? The one who's not by blood , but she's always had a thing for him ? " Her eyes widened . " It's her ? " But that man isn't Austin . " Yeah , her . So , what do you think ... Shouldn't we keep an eye on my best friend's niece ? " Zach's tone became more serious , and as he pondered it , the suspicion grew . He sighed . " That girl had better not end up with the wrong crowd out of a broken heart ." The woman scoffed . " You're talking about the wrong crowd ? You're not exactly shining examples of good behavior . " Zach , sensing the tension rising , quickly attempted to smooth things over . " I'm just talking about Austin's niece . Why drag us into this ? Don't be upset , alright ? " Across the store , Dawn had no idea she had been secretly photographed . After picking up the essentials and some snacks , she and Ethan moved on to the fresh produce aisle - fruits , vegetables , and meat . Ethan didn't seem at all like a polished office worker . Instead , he resembled a genuine stay - at- home husband , confidently picking out everything from fresh produce to the cuts of meat . Dawn's eyes widened in surprise . " You learned all this while you were abroad ? " " Had to . " Ethan sighed dramatically . " My mom always said , if I didn't learn to cook , I'd never find a wife . " Dawn couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly . Is that so ? Ethan picked up two marbled pieces of beef and placed them in the cart . He continued , " But after today's meal , it seems like my future wife is quite fond of my cooking . Turns out , moms 1/3 22:04 Sun , Sep 14 d Chapter 23 It Doesn't Matter Who , as Long as It's Not You do know a thing or two ." 81 +10 Free Coins Dawn blushed , embarrassed , but then thought about it . If he can joke about it so easily , maybe I should relax too . In the next breath , she nodded and said , " Well then , Mr. Jackson , you'd better keep it up , or this beautiful , kind - hearted wife of yours might just run off with someone else ." Ethan raised an eyebrow in surprise , then laughed and said , " Alright . " When they left the mall , they were both carrying large bags of groceries . Dawn had planned to help , but Ethan refused firmly . " I'm your future husband - I'll handle the groceries ." Dawn couldn't help but feel sentimental . While Austin had always been kind , he'd never been this thoughtful in the details . Whenever they went shopping , it was always her who carried everything . It feels nice to be treated like this , like I'm precious . Twenty minutes later , they arrived home . Ethan placed the groceries in the fridge , while Dawn went to her room to grab clothes for a shower . Just as she entered , her phone rang . It was Austin . " Where are you right now ? " Dawn's voice was calm , almost indifferent . " What do you want ? " The flat tone of her response only seemed to fuel Austin's anger . He growled , " I'm asking where you are ! " He'd returned from the hospital that afternoon and discovered that Dawn had already made her way back to Trifton on her own . Originally , he had planned to wait for her to come home for a serious talk , but after he dropped Sydney off , he received the photo from Zach . The photo had nearly made him lose his temper . I've never heard of any man being around Dawn . So , who's that man ? 2/3 22:04 Sun , Sep 14 ... Chapter 23 It Doesn't Matter Who , as Long as It's Not You Is she really going to do anything just to defy me ? 81 +10 Free Coins Dawn could feel the fury radiating from him through the phone , but it didn't stir the same emotions within her anymore . She sat down on the sofa , her voice soft as she spoke , " Uncle Austin , I think Ms. Peay was right . I should start living my own life . I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me , but from now on ... She paused , choosing her words carefully . " I want to take care of myself . I need to grow on my own so that I can repay you for all the care you've given me ." After she finished speaking , there was complete silence on the other end of the line . Not a sound for a full minute , just the strained sound of his breathing . Finally , Austin spoke , his voice tight and low , " Dawn , do you think that by saying this , I'll just forget everything that's happened ? Do you think you don't owe Sydney an apology ? " Dawn pressed her lips together but didn't respond . " If you make a mistake , you have to face the consequences ." Austin's voice hardened . " I've always taught you that ! " When he didn't hear her reply , he assumed her silence meant agreement . He continued sternly , " I don't care what kind of tantrums you throw , but if you plan to hang out with those wild men out there , I'll ground you . We'll talk after you've learned your lesson ! " Dawn listened to his angry shout and felt a strange urge to laugh . He still doesn't know I've moved out . After a pause , she spoke calmly , her voice steady , " Uncle Austin , didn't you say I could date anyone ? You said that it doesn't matter who , as long as it's not you . " 3/3 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!