Chapter 174

Dawson met Autumn's eyes but didn't answer her directly. His gaze drifted past her, fixing on Damien in the distance. His gaze sent a shiver down the spine. It was the raw, predatory intensity of a creature confronting a rival, a silent challenge hanging heavy in the air, as if life itself depended on the outcome. After only a moment, Dawson's eyes returned to Autumn, and the ferocity was gone. "We're going back to Havenmoor," he said, his voice calm, measured, and as impeccably dignified as always. Autumn had been unsure how to spend the rest of the day, but now she didn't have to wonder. Dawson waited for her on a couch in the lobby as she packed, giving Damien only that first fleeting look before turning his attention elsewhere. Damien, meanwhile, stayed seated in the restaurant, his expression as dark and sullen as frost. The other guests kept their distance from both men. Preston's gaze flicked between Dawson and Damien, the tension between them almost unbearable. He di