Chapter 30
Chapter 30:
Brinley slammed the door and slumped against it, dragging in shaky breaths.
After a long moment, she forced herself into the bathroom and splashed cold water over her face.
The reflection staring back at her showed flushed cheeks and wide, unsettled eyes. She pressed a palm to her chest, as if she could slow the frantic pounding beneath her ribs.
There was no denying it—any woman would have been shaken by that kind of lethal charm and physique.
Austin knew exactly what he was doing. He reveled in watching her lose her composure.
Brinley shook her head hard, as if she could scatter the tangled thoughts clouding her mind. Sleep didn’t come easily; she tossed and turned until exhaustion finally pulled her under.
With tomorrow’s business gala ahead, she knew she had to get some decent rest.
𝖲𝗵𝘢r𝗲 𝘆𝗈𝗎r 𝘁𝘩о𝘂𝗴𝗁t𝘴 𝘰𝗻
Since walking away from Colin, she had come to understand a hard truth—no man’s affection could rival the pull of ambition.
A career’s triumph was far more intoxicating than fleeting romance. She had vowed to shape her own destiny, never again sacrificing her future for love.
The following evening, the business gala unfolded beneath dazzling chandeliers, the glow casting the hall in the splendor of a grand ballroom.
Brinley arrived in a custom black mermaid gown, sequins along the hem scattering light with each graceful step. As she made her debut as CEO of VantagePath Realty, her polished makeup and composed elegance drew every gaze in the room.
The guest list brimmed with Bleron’s entrepreneurs, making the event influential, if not entirely exclusive.
Among the crowd, only a select handful from the city’s inner circle knew of her connection to Austin.
Across the room, Colin arrived with Milly at his side. His gaze locked on Brinley the moment he entered.
He had heard she would attend, and that alone had been reason enough to come.
In truth, he hadn’t planned on bringing Milly, but she had insisted—and he hadn’t managed to refuse her.
Milly had chosen a white dress styled to echo Brinley’s former elegance, a calculated attempt to imitate her old softness. But beside Brinley’s luminous poise, Milly’s effort looked cheap and forced.
“Colin, let’s… let’s head over there,” Milly whispered tightly, clutching her handbag so hard her nails nearly punctured the leather.
Colin didn’t answer. His focus remained pinned entirely on Brinley. She looked more dazzling than ever—like a diamond he had once held in his hand, only to let it slip away.
Brinley paid no mind to the lingering looks cast her way. She held her champagne lightly and stood at the edge of the terrace, serene and untouchable.
“Ms. Shaw, are you all by yourself?” a man drawled behind her.
She turned, her gaze settling on a middle-aged man with a sagging belly and an oily grin.
She didn’t recognize him. He clearly wasn’t from any family of consequence.
His eyes roamed over her with greasy boldness before he let out a low chuckle. “Nice to meet you. I’m Rogelio Scott. Running a company of that scale must be exhausting for someone as young as you p>