Chapter 65
Chapter 65:
She wasn’t used to this kind of setting. Every word felt like balancing on a blade, terrified that one misstep could make her a target—and, by extension, drag Austin into trouble.
When Westley called Austin into the study, Brinley was left alone and restless.
“I need to use the restroom,” she said as she rose to her feet.
But instead of heading there, Brinley turned back the way she had come and walked toward the back garden.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the lush foliage, scattering dappled shadows across the stone path.
She deliberately avoided the servants, following a narrow pebble walkway until she reached a quiet corner screened by a trellis heavy with roses.
An old wooden swing stood there, its paint faded but carefully kept clean.
𝘛𝗁𝗲 b𝗲s𝘵 r𝗲𝘃i𝘦𝘄𝘀 𝗼𝗻
Brinley sat and let it sway gently, savoring the brief stillness.
She pulled out her phone, opened her chat with Miguel, and typed, “Send me the details of the Moore family ties. Make it as detailed as possible p>
Miguel’s reply came quickly.
“Give me a moment. I’ll put it together now p>
A file soon landed in her inbox, spanning more than a dozen pages.
Brinley scrolled through it, her frown deepening with every page.
The Moore family truly was a century-old dynasty, branching like a massive tree.
Westley and his late wife, Selene, had five sons and two daughters. Austin, the youngest, happened to be the same age as Ryder’s son, Corbett.
The file also noted that Selene, already older when she bore Austin, had died giving birth to him.
Because of that, Westley doted heavily on Austin, indulging his every wish.
But Austin’s siblings treated him differently.
His eldest brother, Byron, was calm and even-tempered—always unreadable, never revealing his true stance.
His second brother, Ryder, was openly ambitious and intended to become the family patriarch.
His third brother, Blaine Moore, had settled overseas and remained neutral in the family disputes.
His fourth brother, Kendrick Moore, was scholarly and uninterested in power struggles, and he was on good terms with Austin.
His eldest sister, Briseis, had married into another wealthy family. She was opportunistic and calculating, always weighing profit and advantage.
His second sister, Clarice Moore, was gentle—one of the few who showed Austin genuine affection—though her poor health kept her in a sanatorium much of the time.
“What a tangled web,” Brinley muttered, rubbing her temples as a headache began to build.
She slipped her phone back into her pocket, squeezed her eyes shut, and kept rocking gently on the swing.