Chapter 219
Chapter 219:
Felix.
Brinley brushed her fingers lightly against Felix’s arm, a subtle signal for him to ease back. Then she turned to Jacoby, her gaze calm and unshaken. “You’re right. More than two years ago, Colin did cause such a rift between me and my family that we nearly cut ties for good p>
Her frankness left everyone in stunned silence—Magnus and Harvey included. They had assumed Brinley would either dodge the subject or explode, yet she laid the truth bare without hesitation.
She reached for a glass of champagne, took a measured sip, and continued evenly, “Who hasn’t made reckless choices in their youth? We’ve all trusted the wrong people at least once. And that’s fine. A mistake is still just a mistake. I have no fear in admitting mine p>
Her eyes swept the circle, her tone steady but edged with quiet authority. “Whether two years ago or today, one thing has never changed—I’ve never needed to rely on a man to survive. I didn’t need one before, and I certainly won’t need one in the future p>
Jacoby’s throat tightened, his carefully rehearsed rebuttals dissolving before he could speak. Brinley’s unflinching honesty had caught him completely off guard, leaving him stranded in silence.
Sensing the awkward lull, Magnus interjected with a genial smile. “Let’s not get hung up on the past. Everyone stumbles when they’re young. What matters is where we stand now, and Mrs. Moore’s career is clearly flourishing p>
Harvey seized the opening, nodding quickly. “Absolutely! From what I’ve heard, VantagePath Realty has become something of a dark horse—snapping up several major government projects already. Quite the achievement p>
At the mention of her company, Brinley’s lips curved into a calm, confident smile. “It’s really just the result of my team’s effort p>
S𝘁𝗈𝘳𝘪е𝘴 yo𝗎 𝗐𝗈𝗇’𝘁 𝗉𝘂𝗍 𝖽o𝗐ո 𝘰𝗇
“You’re far too modest, Mrs. Moore,” Harvey countered with a chuckle. “We all know how brutal the real estate fight in Bleron has become. The fact that VantagePath Realty established itself this quickly and landed government deals speaks to its capabilities p>
His tone carried genuine admiration. His nephew, who worked at a rival real estate firm, had been grumbling lately about how VantagePath Realty’s sudden rise had snatched away several projects their company had been eyeing, leaving the higher-ups frustrated.
Brinley only offered a small, composed smile. She knew well that VantagePath’s success didn’t come solely from her team’s relentless effort—it also came from Austin’s quiet support behind the curtain. What looked like open competition was often tipped by his connections, though she saw no reason to voice that truth aloud.
“I told you Brinley’s incredible!” Felix declared, lifting his chin proudly. “She’s not just a star on the racetrack, she’s a sharp businesswoman too. You really should take a page out of her book p>
Galen exclaimed, “No doubt about it—Brinley’s the one we all look up to p>
Jacoby absorbed the chorus of praise with a quiet sigh. He had meant to undermine her by bringing up her relationship with Colin, hoping to embarrass both her and Felix. Instead, the move had backfired, earning Brinley even greater respect.
His gaze slid to Magnus, who sat silently swirling his drink, and realization set in—he had made the wrong move.
Magnus hadn’t expected his perception to shift so sharply.
At first, he had dismissed Felix as a privileged youth who’d stumbled into authority, and he had thought even less of Brinley, assuming her confidence came only from her brother’s title. Yet the race had shattered those assumptions, and her frank words left no room for doubt.
Felix, though young, carried a fearless streak—and more importantly, he had a sister of rare strength at his side.
Brinley, with her razor-sharp driving technique and wisdom far beyond her years, stood out as truly exceptional. She faced her uncomfortable past with disarming honesty and met doubt with calm poise—qualities that marked her as extraordinary.
With that realization, Magnus lifted his glass toward her, a rare smile tugging at his lips. “Mr. Shaw, I failed to see you clearly before, but I won’t repeat that mistake. From this day forward, I’ll stand behind your lead in the club p>
Felix blinked at Magnus’s candid words, then recovered with a nod. “No worries, Magnus. What matters is that the whole club pushes forward as one p>
The tension that had lingered earlier dissolved, replaced by easy chatter. Laughter and bright voices rolled through the lounge, spilling warmth into every corner.
Brinley reclined against her chair, her eyes softening as she watched Felix energetically trading words with Magnus. A quiet pride swelled in her chest. She understood then that Felix’s footing in the club was finally secure, and the whispers of dissent would soon fade into silence.
Her hand drifted to her phone. The screen lit up—it was already close to eleven.
A notification blinked across the screen: Austin’s message from half an hour ago. “Are you done? I can come get you p>
Brinley’s fingers moved quickly over the keyboard. “Almost finished. No need to come; I’ll head back with Felix p>
His reply came almost instantly, as if he’d been waiting with the phone in hand. “Alright. Take it easy on the road. Send me a message once you’re back home p>
The corners of her lips curved faintly.
Even in such ordinary words, Austin had a way of wrapping her in a steady, unshakable sense of security.