BRUSHSTROKES OF REVENGE

Six months passed in the blink of an eye. Greendale, a city that thrived on gossip and spectacle, had already moved on to its next obsession.

The sensational headlines about Layton Knight’s secret divorce had long disappeared from the newspapers.

The Hawthorne family’s public announcement severing ties with Mindy was no longer a topic of conversation at charity luncheons or business dinners. In the world of socialites and investors, scandals aged quickly.

Business circles found new deals to chase, and the city’s elite found new rumors to whisper about. Even the internet, once ablaze with speculation, had forgotten the woman who had stirred the entire city. It was as though Mindy Hawthorne had vanished from the world entirely.

No one knew where she had gone. No one had seen her for six months. Her name had faded from the headlines, her face from the gossip columns. To the public, she had disappeared without a trace. But the truth was far simpler. Mindy hadn’t vanished. She had simply gone home.

Two hours away from Greendale, nestled among the emerald hills of Rithol City, stood the Wilson Estate. Unlike Greendale’s fast-paced skyline of glass towers and neon lights, Rithol was known for its breathtaking mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and peaceful rhythm. The air was cleaner here, the days slower, the nights quieter.

The Wilson Estate sat atop one of the highest hills, overlooking an endless sea of pine forests. A private lake shimmered beneath the afternoon sun, its surface rippling with the gentle breeze. The mansion itself was a masterpiece of balance—modern luxury intertwined with timeless elegance.

Many people in Greendale believed that Knight Penthouse represented the pinnacle of wealth. Those who had visited the Wilson Estate knew otherwise.

The Wilson family never flaunted their fortune; they simply possessed generations of it. Their wealth was not loud or ostentatious—it was quiet, dignified, and deeply rooted in legacy.

On this particular afternoon, the usually serene estate was filled with laughter. The sound carried through the open windows, echoing down the marble halls and spilling into the gardens outside.

In the living room, Emma Wilson stood with her arms folded, her sharp eyes fixed on her granddaughter. ”So,” she began, her tone half stern and half amused, ”you disappeared onto a private island for two weeks, and instead of relaxing, you climbed mountains?”

Across the room, Mindy blinked innocently, her expression the picture of sincerity. ”I relaxed while climbing,” she said, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Emma sighed dramatically, shaking her head. ”Your definition of relaxation worries me.”

The room erupted into laughter. Jasper Wilson, sitting comfortably beside his wife, sipped his tea and pretended to look disappointed. ”When I was your age, I climbed mountains too,” he said with mock pride.

Emma turned to him with a raised brow. ”You climbed one hill.”

Jasper coughed, feigning indignation. ”It was a very impressive hill.”

Another wave of laughter filled the room. Mindy laughed until tears formed in the corners of her eyes. The sound was light and unrestrained, the kind of laughter that came from a place of peace. For the first time in years, she felt completely at ease.

There were no hidden motives here, no schemes, no accusations, no one carefully watching every word she spoke. There was only warmth. Only love. Only family.

A deep voice interrupted the laughter. ”You call that hiking?”

Mindy turned toward the staircase, where Wade Wilson leaned casually against the railing, his arms folded across his chest. His tall frame and sharp features gave him a commanding presence, but the gentle smile on his face softened his otherwise intimidating appearance.

At twenty-eight, Wade had already become the Vice President of Wilson Pharmaceuticals. Most people assumed he had been born into privilege. Very few knew that he had once been an orphan.

Mindy pouted, crossing her arms. ”I climbed sixteen kilometers,” she said defensively.

Wade raised an eyebrow. ”Sixteen? That’s cute.”

”What’s that supposed to mean?”

”It means I did twenty last month.”

Mindy narrowed her eyes. ”You had a guide.”

”So did you.”

”Mine didn’t carry my bag.”

Wade smirked. ”Neither did mine.”

”Liar.”

”Prove it.”

Mindy huffed. ”Fine. Next time, we go together. No guides. No GPS. Just us.”

Wade’s smile widened. ”Deal. But when you give up halfway, don’t blame me.”

”I won’t give up.”

”You will.”

”I won’t!”

”You cried during the last hike.”

Mindy’s face flushed. ”That was because of the altitude!”

Wade laughed, the sound deep and warm. ”Sure it was.”

”I hate you.”

”No, you don’t.”

Mindy glared at him for a moment, then broke into a reluctant smile. ”...Fine. I don’t.”

Wade shook his head fondly. ”There she is. My noisy little sister.”

Mindy stuck out her tongue. ”You’ll always lose arguments against me.”

”So confident?” he teased.

”I learned from Granny.”

Emma nodded proudly. ”Exactly.”

Jasper looked utterly betrayed. ”Not from me?”

Emma gave him a sweet smile. ”You taught her medicine. I taught her how to win.”

Jasper sighed dramatically. ”I married a terrifying woman.”

The entire room erupted into laughter again. The sound filled every corner of the house, wrapping around them like sunlight.

As the laughter faded, Mindy glanced at Wade, her smile softening. She couldn’t help but remember the first time they met. She had been only seven years old, and snow had blanketed every street in Rithol City.

She had been riding through town with her mother, Maria, when she noticed a boy standing by the roadside wearing nothing more than a thin jacket.

He couldn’t have been older than twelve.

His lips were purple from the cold, but he continued knocking on car windows, trying to sell handmade woollen gloves. Most people ignored him. Some didn’t even bother to roll down their windows.

Little Mindy had tugged on her mother’s sleeve.

”Mom,” she said softly, ”can we buy his gloves?”

Maria had smiled and asked the driver to stop. The boy approached cautiously, his hands red from the cold.

Maria’s voice was gentle. ”We’ll take two pairs,” she said.

The boy quickly handed them over. ”Thank you, Ma’am,” he said politely, though his voice trembled from the chill.

Mindy had immediately opened one of the packages and stretched the gloves back toward him.

”They’re for you,” she said earnestly. ”You’re cold too. You should wear them.”

For several seconds, the boy simply stared at her. No one had ever bought gloves only to return them.

His eyes turned slightly red. ”Thank you,” he whispered. It was perhaps the first genuine kindness he had received from a stranger.

Maria had smiled kindly. ”What is your name?”

The boy hesitated before answering. ”Wade,” he said quietly. ”Just Wade.”

”Wade,” Maria repeated softly. ”Do you have family waiting for you?”

There was no self-pity in his expression, only honesty. ”No, Ma’am,” he said. ”I live at Ritol Children’s Home behind the northern hill.”

Maria nodded thoughtfully but didn’t press further.

”I hope you stay warm,” she said gently.

As their car drove away, Wade stood in the snow, watching until the black sedan disappeared from sight. For the first time in many years, winter didn’t feel quite so cold.

The next morning, Jasper and Emma Wilson arrived at Ritol Children’s Home with Maria and little Mindy. Officially, it was a charitable visit.

Unofficially, a certain little girl had spent the entire night talking about the boy who sold gloves in the snow. The moment Mindy stepped out of the car, her bright eyes immediately found Wade standing near the entrance.

”Wade!” she called, running toward him without hesitation.

The twelve-year-old looked surprised, then smiled. ”You came,” he said softly.

”I told Grandpa about you!” she said proudly, grabbing his hand. ”Come! Play with me!”

Before Wade could react, the energetic little girl had already dragged him toward the playground, where dozens of children were waiting.

Inside the director’s office, laughter drifted through the open window. Maria stood beside it quietly, watching the scene unfold.

Outside, Wade patiently organized games for the younger children. Whenever one of them fell, he helped them stand. Whenever someone cried, he comforted them first before joining the game again. He never once placed himself first.

Jasper observed silently, his expression thoughtful. Emma noticed it too. Neither of them spoke.

Sometimes, character revealed itself without a single word. When the visit ended, Jasper turned to the orphanage director. ”I would like to discuss adopting one of your children,” he said.

The director looked surprised. ”Which one?”

Jasper smiled gently. ”The eldest. Wade.”

Outside, neither Wade nor Mindy knew that their lives were about to change forever.

Years passed quickly. Wade never forgot the little girl who had handed him warmth during the coldest winter of his life.

As he grew older, he devoted himself to becoming someone worthy of the Wilson family’s trust. He studied finance, business management, and corporate strategy, eventually graduating with top honors before joining Wilson Pharmaceuticals.

Today, he managed most of the company’s daily operations.

Whenever Mindy visited Rithol during her teenage years, Wade personally taught her everything he knew about business. He also became her martial arts instructor, much to her dismay. Countless mornings had begun with bruises and exhausted complaints.

”You hit too hard!” she would protest. ”You blocked too slowly,” he would reply. ”I’ll report you to Granny!” ”Go ahead.” And Emma, without fail, would call from the kitchen, ”Hit her harder!”

Remembering those days made Mindy smile. Out of all her brothers, only Wade had never once disappointed her.

Standing nearby with a tray of freshly baked cookies was a young woman dressed in a simple cream-colored sweater. Her smile was gentle, her eyes warm. She walked over and placed the tray on the table. ”So?” she asked eagerly. ”Tell us. Did you actually sleep inside a cave?”

Mindy nodded proudly. ”For two nights.”

Layla gasped dramatically. ”I knew it! I should’ve stayed longer.”

The two girls immediately began discussing hiking trails, mountain lakes, and survival techniques. Their voices overlapped, their laughter filling the room.

Layla Hart was twenty-four years old—beautiful, calm, and reliable. She had grown up in the same orphanage as Wade. Years ago, during that same charitable visit, Maria had noticed a shy little girl sitting alone in the corner, reading an old design magazine someone had thrown away.

Unlike the other children, she wasn’t playing. She was sketching dresses on scraps of paper.

Maria had walked over and sat beside her. ”What are you drawing?” she asked gently.

The little girl had nervously hidden the papers. ”Nothing,” she murmured.

Maria smiled. ”I think they’re beautiful.”

That single sentence changed Layla’s life. Although the Wilson family couldn’t adopt another child, Maria personally sponsored Layla’s education from that day onward. She paid for every tuition fee, every book, every competition—everything.

After Maria passed away, Jasper and Emma quietly continued fulfilling her promise.

Layla never forgot that kindness, and neither did Mindy. To Mindy, Layla wasn’t an employee or merely the Vice President of LUXT. She was family.

Just like Ana. One protected her with laughter, the other with quiet strength. Both would gladly stand in front of a bullet for her, and Mindy would do exactly the same for them.

Watching the two young women animatedly talk over one another, Jasper smiled quietly. For six months, he had watched his granddaughter slowly return to the cheerful girl she used to be.

The sadness that had once clouded her eyes had disappeared. Her smile had become genuine again, her laughter lighter.

Emma reached over and gently patted Jasper’s hand beneath the table. Without saying a word, they both understood the same thing.

Bringing Mindy home had been the best decision they had ever made.

Outside the enormous windows, the setting sun painted the mountains in shades of gold and rose.

The light filtered through the glass, bathing the room in a warm glow. Inside the Wilson Estate, laughter echoed through every hallway.

It was a sound the mansion had never lost, and one that would never disappear again.

For the first time in many years, Mindy wasn’t surviving. She was finally living.