Chapter 66
Chapter 66:
The swing rocked lazily beneath the garden’s leafy shade, lulling Brinley into a deep, untroubled sleep.
Lost in her dreams, she was oblivious to the passage of time.
Inside the study, Austin sat stiffly, half-listening to his father’s steady voice, though his gaze kept drifting toward the window.
Brinley had been gone for nearly an hour, and an unshakable tension coiled in his chest.
“What’s on your mind?” Westley caught the flicker of distraction and lowered his teacup with a soft clink.
“It’s nothing,” Austin answered quickly, forcing his attention back. “I was just thinking about some company matters p>
Another thirty minutes crawled by, and still Brinley didn’t return.
𝘔𝗈r𝗲 𝗇𝗈𝘃𝘦𝗹s 𝘰n.со𝗆
Austin rose abruptly, unable to stay seated any longer. “Dad, I’m stepping out for a moment,” he muttered, already striding for the door.
Once outside the study, he questioned the servants in the living room, but each one shook their head—they hadn’t seen Brinley.
Noticing his search, Carolyn let out a cutting laugh. “Maybe she couldn’t handle our family’s atmosphere and slipped off p>
Ryder added with a hint of reproach, “It’s her first time here. You should have kept her company, Austin. What if she’s already lost p>
Austin’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with worry he didn’t bother to hide.
The Moore Estate sprawled across a vast stretch of land. Its gardens were divided into eastern, western, and southern sections, with winding paths and several secluded rock gardens where someone could disappear easily.
Austin pulled out his phone, his voice sharp and unyielding as he gave the order. “Miguel, pull up the surveillance. I want Brinley located now p>
Miguel flinched at the command and hurried to call the estate’s security room without a word.
Within moments, the estate stirred to life—servants rushing through corridors, bodyguards fanning out across courtyards and gardens, every corner of the property searched with urgent focus.
Westley’s brows drew together as he ordered Caiden, the butler, to help with the search.
At the entrance of the main building, Austin stood rigid, his eyes sweeping the endless expanse of gardens. With every passing second, his chest tightened, the knot of tension winding tighter until it felt like it might choke him.
Regret stabbed through him—why had he brought Brinley here at all?
At last, a bodyguard sprinted across the lawn, breathless and wide-eyed. “Sir, we found your wife. She’s… she’s asleep behind the rose trellis in the west garden p>
The crushing weight in Austin’s chest finally eased. Without hesitation, he strode toward the west garden, every step driven by raw relief.
From across the greenery, he spotted Brinley curled on the swing, her head tipped against the thick rope, lips parted in a drowsy sigh, lost in peaceful sleep.
He moved closer without a sound, then crouched beside her.
Her lashes fanned across her cheeks, casting feathery shadows, and the faint blush on her nose made her look like a small, contented kitten wrapped in a warm dream. The restlessness that had been gnawing at Austin dissolved, replaced by a quiet swell of tenderness.
“Brinley,” he murmured, reaching out.
His fingertips brushed her cheek, coaxing her awake. She shifted on the swing, lashes fluttering, then blinked at him through the haze of sleep.
“Austin?” Her voice was low and husky, roughened by slumber, her unfocused eyes struggling to find him. “Why… why are you here p>
“If I hadn’t shown up, you would’ve slept until morning,” Austin said, his voice edged with weary amusement and a trace of fondness.
Brinley jolted fully awake, blinking in confusion before realizing she had become the center of attention.