Chapter 113
Chapter 113:
Brinley chose a beige dress that softened her usual businesslike image—one of the rare pieces in her wardrobe that wasn’t designed for meetings.
“I just wrapped up some work and came straight here. Did I keep you waiting?” she asked in a gentle tone as she slid into the chair, her fingers lightly playing with the hem of her dress.
Austin shook his head and poured water into her glass. “Not at all. I only got here a moment ago. How’s the project going p>
“It’s been going smoothly—the government seems very pleased,” Brinley said after taking a sip. A faint smile touched her lips. “Honestly, if it weren’t for your help, we might not have won the bid p>
She offered the praise deliberately, using it as a natural bridge toward what she truly wanted to discuss. Loose ends still weighed on her—matters that needed to be sorted out.
Austin had been going out of his way for her lately. His constant, considerate gestures left her more unsettled than grateful.
Before Brinley even arrived, Austin had already ordered—a full spread of her favorite dishes. Each plate looked like a tiny masterpiece, set out neatly before her.
Brinley lifted her knife and fork, selecting a crab, but her appetite was gone. Austin caught her distant gaze and gently placed a peeled shrimp onto her plate.
“Why aren’t you eating? Try the shrimp here p>
Brinley managed a small nod. “Alright p>
She lifted the shrimp to her lips, but though its sweetness touched her tongue, the taste never truly reached her. The private room sank into a heavy stillness, broken only by the faint drone of cicadas outside and the muffled tread of the waiter bringing more dishes.
𝖡е 𝗉𝗮𝘳𝘁 о𝘧 𝘰𝗎𝗋 𝗰о𝗆m𝘶𝘯i𝗍y 𝗈𝗻
The silence pressed down on her until she exhaled sharply. “Austin p>
She set down her knife and fork, lacing her fingers together on the table, her expression solemn. “I need to thank you for your help in securing the project p>
Austin lifted his eyes to her, his gaze warm yet steady. “You are my wife. Whatever concerns you naturally concerns me p>
Brinley gave a small shake of her head, her tone firm but earnest. “That’s not what I mean. We both know this is an arranged marriage, so you don’t need to be so kind p>
To me. Still, you look after my daily life and offer assistance whenever I find myself in trouble.” Her eyes shone with a clear, almost stubborn intensity as she leaned toward him. “Why are you treating me this well p>
The question had haunted her for far too long. For a man who had never been interested in women, Austin had carved out an exception—for her alone.
His hand stilled against the porcelain cup, and the shift in his expression was impossible to read. After a brief pause, he asked, “So in your eyes, all this kindness must come with strings attached p>
Brinley gave a forthright nod. “Of course. In our world, favors don’t come free. We began with a deal, not romance. If there’s a reason behind what you’re doing, just lay it out. After everything you’ve done for me, I’m willing to grant your wish if I can. But I need to be clear p>
Her words cut off when his fingertip flicked gently against her forehead.
It didn’t hurt, but it carried the unmistakable feeling of quiet reproach. Brinley’s head jerked up, colliding with Austin’s gaze. The corners of his mouth curved with muted amusement.
At some point, he had leaned closer—close enough that she caught the crisp scent of his cologne, laced with a faint, unfamiliar sweetness.
“Brinley.” His voice was low, edged with a touch of frustration. “What goes on in that mind of yours p>
Her pulse stumbled under the weight of his stare. Instinct pushed her to lean back, putting distance between them. “I just don’t want to end up indebted to anyone p>
“And if I told you I have no hidden agenda?” Austin eased back into his seat, lifting his glass with deliberate calm. He took a slow sip, but his eyes remained fixed on her. “What if the reason I treat you well is simply because I choose to p>
“No way!” Brinley shot back without hesitation. The protest came out sharp, though her voice carried less conviction than she wanted.
Austin’s tone dropped, threaded with a warmth that was impossible to mistake. “This isn’t about gain. Every kindness I’ve shown you is free of calculation.” He held her gaze—steady, unyielding—and spoke with deliberate clarity. “Brinley, I’m in love with you p>
Her mind erupted into static, the world around her buzzing until she could barely hear her own breath.
Heat rushed across her skin, coloring her cheeks and climbing to the tips of her ears until even her earlobes burned.
When she tried to speak, her throat betrayed her. She just sat there, stunned, her wide eyes locked on Austin in wordless disbelief.
What the hell? Had he really just said he loved her?
Those words knocked the breath from her chest, leaving her frozen in place. “You… you can’t be serious,” Brinley stammered, panic flickering beneath her voice. “Do you even know what you’re saying p>
“I mean every word.” Austin’s steady gaze never wavered. “What I feel for you isn’t a passing fancy—it’s real p>
He hesitated, searching her face, and his voice softened further. “I know this must feel abrupt. You don’t need to say anything right now. All I want is for you to believe me—what I feel is real p>
Silence stretched between them, heavy with an undercurrent that made Brinley’s chest tighten.
She lowered her gaze to the table, her fingertips drifting over the embroidered patterns in the cloth, her pulse hammering faster with every passing second.
What choice did she have? Reject him outright? Or…
As Brinley turned the thought over in her mind, flashes of the past weeks surfaced. Without realizing it, she had grown used to Austin’s steady presence—to the way his care always seemed to reach her before she even asked.
When obstacles loomed, his face was the first that came to mind.
And now, after hearing his confession, she realized her heart hadn’t recoiled. There was no revulsion, no urge to flee. Instead, something deep inside her softened—a fragile warmth unfurling in the silence between them.