Chapter 251
Chapter 251:
Brinley’s brows knit ever so slightly. She repeated the name in her head like a warning bell.
Of course. No wonder his hostility cut so sharply. The Armstrongs had long been locked in bitter enmity with the Moores.
Without dignifying him with another word, she lifted her arm and flagged down a taxi, briskly giving the driver the address of the Moore family’s private hospital.
As the car pulled away from the curb, she caught sight of Preston in the rearview mirror. He was still standing there, motionless, slicing the air with a disdainful gesture as though dismissing her entirely.
Brinley tore her gaze away.
She had no space left in her heart for feuds today. Her thoughts belonged solely to Austin.
The taxi rolled to a stop at the hospital entrance. Brinley tossed payment at the driver and hurried inside. The young nurse at the reception desk blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard by her sudden appearance.
“Which room is Austin in?” Brinley demanded, her voice sharp with urgency.
The nurse faltered, lips parting to answer—but before she could, the elevator doors slid open and Miguel came rushing out. He froze when he saw Brinley, his expression shifting.
“Mrs. Moore? Why… why are you here p>
с𝗁𝗂nе𝘀𝗲 𝘯о𝘷𝘦𝗅s 𝘁𝗿а𝘯ѕl𝖺t𝗲𝘥 𝗼𝗻.с𝗼𝗺
“Where is Austin?” Brinley pressed. “And don’t you dare lie to me p>
Miguel’s eyes flickered. With a small sigh, he answered honestly, “He’s in the top-floor suite p>
Brinley didn’t waste a breath on further questions. She strode past him, the echo of her heels swallowed by the hush of the corridor, and pressed the elevator button.
The door to Austin’s hospital room stood slightly ajar. Brinley paused, her hand hovering at the frame, and peered through the narrow gap.
Austin was half-reclined against the pillows, his complexion so pale it seemed almost translucent, shadows carved beneath his eyes.
A folder of documents trembled in his grip, his brow tightly furrowed as if he were in tremendous pain.
Every so often, his hand drifted instinctively to his abdomen. His Adam’s apple bobbed faintly as he swallowed back whatever ache gnawed at him.
The IV beside him dripped with agonizing slowness, each drop echoing in Brinley’s chest like a clock she couldn’t silence.
Her heart tightened, overwhelmed by guilt and sorrow. Ryder’s harsh words flashed through her mind—along with the breakfast she’d eaten that morning.
Austin had been so unwell, yet he’d still thought to prepare food for her, worried she might skip a meal.
Even her petty resentment over his unanswered messages returned to sting her.
He was always like this—enduring everything in silence, still putting her needs before his own. Always patient. Always careful.
Never a word of complaint.
Even in a hospital bed, he kept his suffering hidden, afraid to burden her with worry.
Behind her, Miguel lingered, rooted to the spot.
Austin’s instructions had been firm: Brinley mustn’t know. And yet here she was.
Miguel’s palms slickened with sweat as he stood there, caught where no excuse could carry him forward, and no retreat would undo what had been revealed.