Chapter 7
Chapter 7:
Colin’s gaze lingered on the stairwell until the sweep of Brinley’s scarlet dress vanished from sight. His chest tightened painfully, as though caught in an iron vice.
Memories surged—two years of her quiet loyalty, her gentle temper, the way she had even defied her own family for his sake.
And now, when her eyes met his, there was nothing left but cold indifference.
What had gone so wrong?
Catching the shift in Colin’s attention, Milly nibbled her lower lip, still wearing that soft, demure façade. “Colin, let’s sit down over there. It’s getting far too crowded p>
Colin blinked, forcing himself out of the fog of memory. His eyes flicked to Milly’s rounded belly, then back to the empty stairway, before he finally dragged his gaze away. “Fine. Just watch your step p>
But before they could move, the heavy double doors of the banquet hall rattled with sudden commotion.
Security guards stiffened, and the guests turned their heads toward the entrance.
A wall of black suits cut through the buzzing hall, forcing the crowd to part.
At their head strode a man who radiated dominance, his tailored suit fitting perfectly across broad shoulders and a lean waist. His face was all hard lines and precision, his gaze deep and unyielding—carrying a weight that seemed to press down on the entire room.
“Mr. Moore?” someone whispered, stunned, and the banquet hall froze into a silence so complete that a pin could have dropped onto the marble and been heard.
𝖠𝗱𝖽𝗂𝖼𝗍i𝘃𝗲 𝘀to𝘳𝗶e𝘀 o𝗇
Recognition rippled through the guests. It was Austin Moore, the elusive and ruthless CEO of Moore Group—a man who inspired both fear and awe in boardrooms.
His appearance at the Knight family’s charity gala was unthinkable. He had never attended events like this. In the past, Moore Group had only sent a senior executive as a formality. Austin himself avoided even major business summits, dismissing them as a waste of time.
Gasps and murmurs slowly returned—hushed, but fervent.
“My God, what on earth is Mr. Moore doing here p>
“Unbelievable… he never shows up to these things p>
“Is it possible he came because of Mrs. Knight’s personal invitation p>
The whispers swelled into a quiet tide of speculation. Every pair of eyes fixed on Austin, sharp with curiosity.
Several members of the Knight family hurried forward, their smiles too bright, their eagerness too obvious.
“Mr. Moore, what an honor to have you with us tonight!” one of them gushed.
Austin barely spared them a glance. His eyes were locked on the second-floor VIP lounge.
Leaning in, his assistant murmured discreetly, “Your wife is already upstairs with Mrs. Knight and the butler p>
Though the nearby guests couldn’t hear the words, they saw the way Austin’s jaw tightened.
A ripple of unease swept through the hall, and many heads turned toward the upper floor with silent dread.
The Knight family had left the infamous Austin waiting downstairs while they entertained Brinley?
That kind of slight was reckless. Everyone knew how merciless his temper could be, and whatever consequences followed would be brutal. As for Brinley—caught in the middle—her situation looked just as perilous.
“This is about to get ugly,” someone whispered nervously. “Crossing Mr. Moore is practically suicide p>
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and Milly’s lashes lowered, just enough to hide the flicker of gloating delight in her eyes.