Chapter 20
Chapter 20:
The next day, Brinley had just finished her work when Austin’s call lit up her phone.
“Are you free tonight? Let me take you somewhere to relax p>
A brief pause, then Brinley answered with a soft murmur, “All right p>
By eight o’clock, Austin’s sleek car rolled to a stop outside a renowned, upscale revolving restaurant in Bleron.
When he stepped out and opened the door for her, the night breeze lifted a few strands of her hair. A sharp hint of citrus drifted toward him, brushing his senses.
Inside the elevator, the city lights blurred below them as they rose. Brinley tilted her head toward him. “What made you suddenly want to take me out p>
Austin turned, his eyes steady and unreadable. “You’re my wife,” he said with quiet gravity. “It’s only right that I treat you to dinner p>
Her lips curved into a light laugh. “You really do have the sweetest way with words, Mr. Moore p>
Over dinner, conversation flowed easily—from the grind of daily work to her long-held dream of studying design at university.
What startled her most was how much Austin seemed to know about her past—down to the obscure award she had once received at a design exhibition.
ոe𝗐 𝘄𝗲𝖾𝗄l𝘺 с𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵e𝗋𝘴 𝗼𝗇
“You really do… know a great deal about me,” she murmured, setting her knife and fork aside, her gaze steady but questioning.
Austin tipped the bottle and poured her a measure of red wine. Candlelight danced in the depths of his eyes.
“It isn’t hard to learn about someone,” he replied, offering no further explanation.
Lifting his glass, he smiled. “Cheers p>
Their glasses met with a soft chime.
The velvet wine coated her tongue, rich and lingering. Brinley lowered her eyes, hiding the faint swell of emotion in her chest.
Kindness without motive was something she had never expected from anyone outside her family. So when Austin showed her gentleness, she couldn’t help but wonder what he truly wanted.
When the meal ended, Austin drove her back to Hillcrest Villa, his presence steady beside her as the night closed around them.
As they pulled up, his phone buzzed—his assistant’s name flashing on the screen.
Austin stepped out first, then circled around and opened Brinley’s door with practiced ease. “There’s an urgent problem at the company. Go upstairs and get some rest,” he told her gently.
She gave a quiet acknowledgment and walked into the villa alone.
As she moved through the silent corridor, her gaze caught on the study door.
Memories of dinner—of how Austin had known such intimate details about her past—flashed through her mind, stirring a restless curiosity that drew her closer.
The handle turned easily. The door yielded without resistance.
The moment she stepped inside, a subtle blend of cedarwood and lingering ink filled her senses.
Walnut shelves lined the walls, packed with volumes of every size. Brinley drifted through the room, her fingertips grazing the spines until, in a far corner, she brushed a panel that felt slightly out of place.
Her pulse fluttered.
After a moment’s hesitation, she pressed down gently.