Chapter 86

Miguel pulled up just as Austin and Brinley stepped out of the hospital.

Parked at the entrance, the black Maybach's sleek lines spoke of understated class.

When Miguel climbed out to open the rear door, his gaze snagged on their linked hands. A flicker of surprise passed across his eyes before he quickly masked it. "Good morning,Mr.Moore, Mrs. Moore," he said smoothly.

Austin gave a curt nod and guided Brinley inside.

Once they settled into the leather seats, Brinley's brow furrowed with a sudden thought.

She murmured, "What about my car..."

"It's been towed and sent for repairs," Austin cut in,placing a water bottle in her hand. "Over the next few days, I'll either drive you to the construction site myself or have Miguel take you."

After a brief pause, his tone deepened. "Milly hasn't been entirely dealt with yet. I'm concerned about your safety."

The mention of Milly made Brinley's protest catch in her throat. She found herself unable to argue.

After the scare the day before, she couldn't shake off the faint chill of unease that clung to her.

The accident had failed to seriously hurt her, which meant Milly was probably still lurking in the shadowS,waiting for another opportunity.

Her safety was a genuine concern.

"Alright," Brinley murmured at last, giving a small nod."Thank you."

Austin let out a light laugh and reached over, ruffling her hair in a warm, almost teasing gesture. "Don't thank me. We don't need that kind of formality between us."

His easy affection startled her. Heat rushed to her face,and she quickly turned toward the window to hide the blush creeping across her cheeks.

Beyond the glass, the city stretched wide beneath the blaze of sunlight, cars weaving in steady streams.

Yet her heart was caught in a swirl of conflicted emotions. The relationship between her and Austin felt more intimate than before, as if an invisible line drawing them closer with every moment.

This new intimacy wrapped her in a nervousness edged with hope.

The car rolled to a smooth stop outside Hillcrest Villa.

As they stepped out, the butler greeted them warmly,"Welcome home,Mr.Moore,Mrs. Moore."

Austin acknowledged him with a nod and guided Brinley inside. "Have they prepared lunch already?"he asked,glancing toward the dining room.

"It's all prepared," the butler replied

The moment Brinley crossed the threshold of the living room, the rich, mouthwatering scent wrapped around her.

The dining table gleamed with plates of food that had been carefully arranged, each one tailored to her taste.

The sight of the meal, so thoughtfully prepared, sent a gentle warmth through Brinley's chest.

Whatever lay ahead between her and Austin, at least right now, the care he showed her was unmistakably real. "Come on, wash up first, then we'll eat," Austin insisted, setting her bag down on the sofa before gently steering her toward the bathroom.

When she returned with freshly washed hands, Austin was already seated at the table, waiting with patient ease.

He nudged her plate of ribs closer and said with quiet insistence, "Taste this and tell me what you think."

Brinley lifted her fork, picked up a rib, and took a slow bite, savoring the rich flavor.

The sause spread warmly across her tongue, and the tender meat slid cleanly off the bone.

"This is amazing," she said with genuine delight, her eyes lighting up.

Watching her enjoyment, Austin's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Have more if you like it."

They ate in companionable silence, sunlight spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows and bathing the table in golden warmth.

The quiet ease of it all left Brinley faintly spellbound,as though they were just a regular couple enjoying a plain but contented life. Once lunch ended, Austin left to handle company affairs,while Brinley returned to her room to rest.

With her back pressed to the headboard, she reached for her unfinished book, "Racetrack Engineering Analysis," yet her eyes skimmed the page without absorbing a word.

Her thoughts kept drifting back to Austin-his smile,his quiet tenderness, the firm decisiveness he carried,and the closeness they had shared in the hospital room that morning.

Brinley dragged her fingers through her hair in frustration, then flung the book aside with a sharp thud.

To distract herself, she reached for her phone,meaning to scroll through the news, and was startled to find the tide shifting.

The smear pieces about her had thinned out, replaced by headlines on the Palmer Group's projects facing regulatory probes.

Austin's counterattack was clearly beginning to take effect.

Milly and Colin seemed tangled in their own mess,leaving her a rare moment of ease. A soft sigh slipped from Brinley, relieved she didn t have to fend off their schemes for now.

Switching apps, she opened a racing fonum for updates on the exhibition race

To her surprise, the threads were buzzing with her name alongside the elusive Nightblade.

"I have news about Brinley. She's been hurt-and itt appears to have been deliberate sabotage."

"That poor girl-just stepping into therace took guts.and now someone's already targeting her."

"Still, do you think she can really race? She's just a rookie."

"Who knows? But I respect her for trying. At least she's brave enough to race."

" wonder whether Nightblade will actually show up People are saying his spot's already secured"

"No way! If that's true, this race is going to be incredible. Nightblade was unbeatable in his prime!

"Imagine if he and Brinley go head-to-head.I'd pay good money to see that showdown,"

The moment Nightblade was mentioned, a sharp glint lit Brinley's eyes. Could he really be making a comeback on the track?

Would the moment come when they finally stood as rivals on the same ground?

Could she rewrite the regrets that had haunted her for years?

Resolve surged through her chest, hardening her gaze with newfound fire.

Whether Austin was Nightblade or not, she had to claim victory in this race.

Not only to prove her worth to the world, but to honor the part of herself she'd once left behind.