Chapter 92

At dawn the day before the international exhibition race, Austin tugged Brinley out of bed.

"Come on. I'm taking you to the hospital." His voice was still husky with sleep, smooth in a way that almost sounded indulgent.

Blinking against the early light, Brinley pushed her tangled hair from her face. "Didn't the doctor already say I'm fine? I can grip the wheel without any problem."

She held up her arm, the bandage wrapped around it thin and unobtrusive, flexing it to prove her point.

Instead of arguing, Austin draped a coat over her shoulders with practiced ease. "I want you to have a check-up to ensure everything is fine," he said, tone low but commanding. "Please, do as I say."

The weight he put on those words made it clear there was no room for refusal.

Knowing she couldn't win this particular battle, Brinley sighed and dragged herself up to freshen up.

She slumped against the seat as the car hummed along the quiet morning roads, her voice tinged with annoyance. "Do we really have to go through all this for such a small injury?"

Austin's fingers stilled briefly on the steering wheel before he cast her a steady glance."Your health comes before everything else."

The evenness of his tone wrapped around her like warmth seeping into chilled skin, silencing the protest on her lips.

When they arrived, the private hospital greeted them with an almost sterile stillness, so hushed it seemed even a breath might echo. A doctor stood ready in the examination room, prepared before they even walked in.

The evaluation was thorough, covering not only the state of her arm but every vital sign and bodily function.

After a careful inspection, the doctor smiled with calm reassurance. "Mrs. Moore is healing remarkably well. The wound has closed nicely, with no tendon or nerve damage. She'll be able to carry out daily activities without issue-and tomorrow's race won't be affected."

Relief slipped from Brinley in a soft exhale. She was just about to say something, when Austin interjected,his voice edged with quiet persistence. "Are you absolutely certain there won't be lingering effects? Any pain when she strains the arm?"

The doctor offered a patient nod. "After the stitches come out, she may feel a slight tightness. That's natural and temporary. A bit of ointment will ease it-nothing lasting, nothing to worry about."①

After the doctor's repeated reassurances, some of the tension in Austin's jaw finally eased.

The drive back passed in near silence, the quiet stretching heavy between them.

Out of nowhere, Austin broke it. "Tomorrow, a few retired champions will be on the track," he said evenly."And don't underestimate the younger racers-some of them are really impressive."

His eyes flicked toward her, then back to the road. "Don't push yourself too hard. Just keep it safe.Even if you don't place, no one will blame you."

Brinley curved her lips into a smile. "Relax, I know my limits. I'm treating it as a bit of fun. As long as I finish,I'll be satisfied. If I manage not to come in last, that's already a win."

Austin gave a soft laugh, letting the matter drop without another word.

Brinley leaned back with.a casual air, her voice light. "By the way, I heard Nightblade's showing up for the exhibition race?"

Austin's grip on the wheel faltered just slightly before he answered with practiced ease, "That's what people are saying."

"Wow, this is huge!" she remarked, her feigned amazement carrying just the right edge of curiosity."lnhis prime, he was a force to reckon with. Too bad he vanished without warning. What do you think brings him back at this point?"

His eyes cut toward her, sharp and searching. "You sound a little too intrigued." "Well, he is a legend, after all." She turned her head to avoid his gaze, looking out the window."And honestly, your knowledge of racing has always felt... more than casual. Do you actually know him?"

A shadow of a smile tugged at Austin's mouth, one that hinted at hidden meanings. "Why don't you take a guess?"

Instead of giving her a straight answer, he deflected smoothly."Tell me this-what do you know about Rosara?"

The sudden shift hit her like a jolt. Brinley's pulse kicked hard, and her fingers clenched around the seatbelt,the strap biting against her palm as her breath quickened.

She slowly faced him, only to find his expression calm-as though mentioning Rosara meant nothing at all.

"Just... heard about her." She forced her voice into a casual rhythm. "Rosara used to be one of the big names-she even went up against Nightblade. It's a shame she slipped away just as suddenly as he did."

After a short hesitation, she added, almost testing him, "Doesn't it strike you as odd? They both retired around the same time, and now they're both stepping back into the spotlight together. Do you think...maybe they've had some kind of connection?"

Austin's fingers idly traced the leather of the steering wheel while his eyes stayed on the traffic light glowing red ahead.

As the car eased to a stop, he finally turned, his gaze steady and searching. "Possibly. Two racers of that caliber might've been close off the track. By the way, I can't help but notice that your racing skills are far from those of a beginner. On the simulator, your lines had the same precision-almost the same style-as Rosara's."

Brinley's pulse gave a startled jump at his words, though she masked it with a light, practiced laugh.h?What a coincidence!"

She reached for the bottle of water on the console, twisting off the cap and taking a measured sip, using the motion to steady her nerves. Her gaze slid back to him, playful yet probing."Come to think of it, you sound awfully familiar with Nightblade. Don't tell me... you're actually him?" The remark fell halfway between jest and suspicion, and she watched his expression with deliberate care.

Austin arched one brow, started the engine, and eased the car into the morning traffic. His voice was maddeningly unreadable."Suppose I said | was?"

Her heartbeat stumbled again, and she leaned forward, ready to push-but then his mouth curved in a sly,teasing smile. "Too bad. I'm not. I don't have that level of talent."

The light turned green, and the sleek Maybach glided seamlessly into the stream of cars.

Whatever tension had sparked between them dissolved into the steady hum of the engine,leaving the cabin deceptively calm.