Chapter 213

Chapter 213:

Brinley, caught between amusement and mild frustration, patted Austin’s arm. “What’s wrong with you? Why did you lash out without finding out what was going on? This is my younger brother, Felix. He just returned from abroad p>

She then turned to Felix with a reproachful look. “And you, why didn’t you clarify your identity earlier p>

Felix scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. “I just wanted to test his reaction… I didn’t expect him to be so intense, ready to jump in and defend you right away p>

Austin continued to frown as he glanced at Felix again. The longer he observed him, the deeper the crease between his brows became.

Felix not only resembled Brinley, but he also possessed strikingly handsome features of his own. His eyes, in particular, glimmered with mischief whenever he smiled, the kind of charm that naturally drew people in.

Though Austin knew rationally that Felix was Brinley’s younger brother, the thought of her being around him often still sparked an unexplainable pang of jealousy. Felix’s presence was far too noticeable for his comfort.

Unaware of the turmoil in Austin’s mind, Felix stepped out from behind Brinley, his smile bright as he extended a hand. “Nice to meet you, Austin! I’ve heard a lot about you p>

His voice carried a light, cheerful lilt, his demeanor openly friendly, as though the earlier scuffle had never happened.

Austin accepted the handshake, albeit reluctantly. “Nice to meet you p>

𝖴𝗽𝖽𝘢tеs 𝘦ve𝗋𝗒 𝗐e𝗲𝗄 о𝘯 ѕ.со𝗆

Felix grinned even wider, his enthusiasm unmistakable. “I didn’t expect you and Brinley to be this close. That kiss earlier… honestly, it even made me blush p>

Austin’s expression softened slightly, but the flicker of jealousy quickly returned as his gaze settled on Felix’s handsome face. “It’s perfectly normal for a married couple to show affection,” he said coolly.

“Yes, of course,” Felix nodded quickly, then leaned in as if about to share a secret. “But Austin, let me tell you, back in the day Brinley used to p>

“It’s late,” Austin cut in, his tone suddenly distant. “You’ve just come back; you should get some rest. Brinley, you should turn in as well p>

Felix froze for a moment, his words swallowed by the interruption. He pouted but chose not to argue further.

Brinley glanced between the two men, noticing Austin’s cold dismissal and Felix’s sulky expression. “Alright then. Take care heading back. Felix, come inside with me p>

“Okay.” Felix nodded obediently, still managing to wave cheerfully at Austin before disappearing into the house with his sister.

When they returned to the living room, the wall clock struck one in the morning. Only a single lamp cast a soft glow, yet Felix showed no sign of fatigue. He flopped onto the sofa and immediately launched into an animated conversation.

“Brinley, when I was training abroad, I met a racer who told me something incredible. In Rosara’s final race before retiring, her cornering angle was unbelievably precise…” His hands carved shapes in the air as he spoke, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “And guess what? When I found a video of your international race, your cornering angles looked exactly like hers p>

Brinley gave him a playful tap on the forehead. “Don’t overthink it. Rosara is my idol. Of course I’d copy her techniques p>

“That’s not just imitation!” Felix argued, puffing up with conviction. “That’s instinct—muscle memory built from endless practice. It’s like when I slam the brakes in an emergency, I automatically check the rearview mirror. It’s ingrained after thousands of drills p>

Their conversation flowed effortlessly, shifting from racing techniques to Felix’s entertaining stories about his team. He described how, in his first intercontinental race, his engine blew just before the finish line, forcing him to push his car across while the crowd watched with a mix of sympathy and laughter.

Brinley shared her own embarrassing memory from her early days: racing in a secondhand car that belched smoke, only to be chased down and scolded by furious staff members. Moonlight crept higher along the windowsill, and the living room filled with the sound of their laughter.

Brinley felt her heart grow warm as she watched Felix’s animated expressions. The lingering shadows of her painful past with Colin seemed to dissolve amid their lighthearted chatter.

It wasn’t until dawn began to stretch across the sky that Felix let out a wide yawn, rubbing his eyes. “I can’t keep going; my eyelids are too heavy p>

Brinley chuckled softly and nudged him. “Go on, get to bed p>

“No,” Felix protested, tugging at her sleeve, unwilling to let go. “You have to sleep in the same room with me. I still have so much to tell you p>

Unable to refuse him, Brinley accompanied him into the bedroom. Felix shifted over on the bed and patted the space beside him. “Just lie down for a while and keep me company p>

Brinley, exhausted by days of nonstop work and a sleepless night, finally gave in and stretched out beside him.

As soon as she closed her eyes, she heard his drowsy voice.

“Brinley… Austin’s really good to you, isn’t he p>

“Yeah.” Brinley’s reply was soft, barely more than a whisper.

“That’s good.” Felix turned, curling against her shoulder the way he had when they were children, his head resting lightly on her. “I couldn’t protect you well enough before, but now that Austin’s here, I feel at ease p>

His words trailed off into steady breathing as sleep overtook him. Brinley studied his peaceful profile, her gaze tender as she brushed her fingers through his hair. A warm feeling stirred in her chest.

Quietly, she rose, tucked him in with care, and then tiptoed back to her own room.