Chapter 207
Chapter 207:
Just then, her phone chimed. Felix’s name flashed across the screen.
“Brinley, where are you?” his bright, boyish voice asked the moment she answered. In the background, the muffled drone of airport announcements spilled through the line.
Brinley’s expression softened, her voice unconsciously gentler. “I’ll be home in about half an hour. Did you just land p>
“Yeah. I just got in the car and I’m heading back now p>
A quiet laugh escaped her as memories of the earlier encounter surfaced. “I could’ve been home sooner, but a few reckless guys blocked me halfway, and it turned into a race p>
“Oh?” Felix’s tone sharpened with interest. “And how did that end p>
A playful glint flickered in her eyes as Brinley replied lightly, “I won p>
There was a brief silence before Felix exclaimed, “You kept your amazing racing skills a secret from your own brother? I’m hurt! When I get home, we’re definitely racing p>
Brinley burst into laughter, the image of Felix’s animated expression flashing through her mind. “Fine. Be careful out there. I’ll be home when you get back p>
“Got it. I’m hanging up. See you soon p>
“I’ll be waiting at home p>
𝘍𝗶𝗇𝘥 ո𝘰𝗏𝘦𝗅 р𝗗F𝘀 𝗈ո 𝗴а𝘭ոо𝘃е𝘭ѕ.cо𝗺
The call ended, and silence settled back over the car.
As familiar streets slid past the window, a subtle ache tugged at Brinley’s chest, her emotions knotting into something she couldn’t quite name.
Felix had always been the one firmly at her side.
Two years earlier, when she had severed ties with the Shaw family for Colin’s sake, it was Felix—barely eighteen at the time—who had exploded in anger and argued with her. He had accused her of letting love cloud her judgment, insisting Colin wasn’t good enough. But lost in the haze of infatuation, Brinley had dismissed his words, lashing out with cruel retorts before storming away.
Later, she learned from others that shortly after she left, Felix had suddenly fainted in the living room and been rushed to the hospital, where he stayed for an entire week.
Yet back then, intoxicated by Colin’s sweetness, she hadn’t taken it seriously at all. She had even convinced herself that her family was exaggerating the incident just to lure her back home.
She didn’t recognize the truth about Colin until much later, when the scales finally fell from her eyes. Only then did the full weight of her reckless choices crash down on her.
For two long years, she had deliberately distanced herself from everything connected to the Shaw family—including Felix, who had once adored her more than anyone else.
Now that he was back, she didn’t know how to face him.
What excuse could possibly justify such foolish decisions?
The car rolled into the familiar villa district, and the towering silhouette of the Shaw Mansion came into view.
Brinley drew a slow breath, pulled out her phone, and hovered her thumb over the screen. After a long hesitation, she finally opened the chat with her eldest brother, Brennen.
The conversation thread was frozen in time, untouched since that painful day more than two years ago. His last message stared back at her.
“Brinley, think carefully. Can Colin truly be worth turning your back on your family p>