Chapter 11

"Great." Austin nodded, then gave a soft, fleeting smile, so fleeting it was almost as though Brinley had imagined it.

She felt her heart thud unexpectedly as she watched him go up the stairs.

His decision to personally cook for her and his insistence on visiting the Shaw family made her confused.

A man like Austin was supposed to be distant and restrained.

Why was he suddenly paying so much attention to these trivial things?

Brinley frowned, lost in her thoughts. She knew that,when things didn't add up, there was usually a hidden reason.

What exactly was Austin's reason for this unusual attentiveness?

Was there some secret in the Moore family that she didn't know about? Or was there some hidden scheme?

The light at the stairway corner cast his shadow long and dark against the wall.

Brinley squinted as she stared at that silhouette,growing suspicious.

Later that night, once she was back in her room, she fell asleep at once, forgetting her suspicions.

Whatever plans Austin might be making, the Shaw family was not one he could toy with. If he dared to target them, he wouldn't regret it. 2

The following morning, Brinley headed to the office.

For the past three months, she had been building her own company, VantagePath Realty, a firm operating in the same sector as the Palmer Group.

At the mere thought of Colin, Brinley's face scrunched up with displeasure.

Since he had chosen deceit over loyalty, then he needed to be ready to pay the price. She intended to crush his pride in the field he valued.

The days that followed left Brinley with no time to dwell on Austin. Her hours were consumed by preparations for the company's business proposal.

Austin, havig only recently returned to the country,was also tied up with business. During this period, Colin tried repeatedly to seek Brinley out, but she never once agreed to see him.

In Bleron's new development zone, a major commercial complex was about to open up for bids.

The potential profits were enormous, drawing the attention of countless companies.

The Palmer Group had spent a full year laying groundwork for this project, with Colin personally overseeing preparations.

This very project had played a significant role in Brinley's decision to return to Bleron.

Aware of this, Austin discreetly instructed his assistant to forward her the latest information on city planning.

At that moment, Brinley sat at her desk, revising her proposal on the computer screen.

Spread out in front of her were the most recent land assessment reports.

"Ms. Shaw, the final version of the bid presentation is ready," an employee said, handing her a stack of documents.

Brinley accepted them.

She couldn't help recalling the two years she had spent with Colin; their so-called marriage had been nothing but a scam. The memory made her lips curl into a cold smnile.

Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Austin. "I've arranged for my assistant to be at the bidding venue. If you need anything, just reach out."

Brinley's reply was curt. "No need. I can manage it myself."

Setting the phone facedown on the desk,she returned to the proposal before her.

Meanwhile, in the top-floor conference room at Palmer Group headquarters, Colin sat restlessly.

For days, he had tried every possible way to get close to Brinley, yet he hadn't managed to see her once.

Now, with the bid drawing near, he had no choice but to return for this crucial meeting.

"This project will be Palmer Group's highest priority over the next three years," Colin said to the board members. "The development district director has already acknowledged that our proposal is in close alignment with the city's long-term planning."

Several board members nodded in agreement. The marketing director added confidently, "Mr. Palmer,we've already poured thirty million into the land assessment. Our network and connections are firmly established."

Colin gave a small nod, quite relieved.

He flashed a self-assured smile as he glanced around the room. "Palmer Group is set on winning this project."

It was then that someone remarked, "By the way,I heard Brinley has registered a company called VantagePath Realty and is preparing to bid as well.And now that she's Austin's wife,she might carry more weight than expected..."

The attendees were all aware of what had happened at the Knight family's banquet, and the complicated history between Colin and Brinley was hardly a secret.

Every eye flicked toward Colin.

He chuckled dismissively. "Relax. She's just an ordinary woman. What could she possibly know about real estate development? Most likely, that company of hers is nothing but a shell she set up on a whim."

Still, the thought of Brinley made him shiver slightly.

"She always shows up wherever I am. Perhaps she's just trying to get my attention again," he said lightly.

When the executives heard this, they relaxed. They were well aware of how Brinley had once defied her family for Colin. Somehow, she was now Austin's wife.

They all believed there was more to the story.

Yet, as long as she didn't threaten the Palmer Group's grip on the project, they had no reason to be concerned.

Three days later, the bidding venue buzzed with anticipation.

Colin sat in the front row, speaking in low tones with the development district director, but his eyes kept straying toward the entrance.

He was waiting for Brinley.