BRUSHSTROKES OF REVENGE

The morning light spilled through the hospital’s glass corridor, soft and sterile. The scent of antiseptic clung to the air, mingling with the faint hum of machines and the shuffle of nurses changing shifts. Sheila adjusted the strap of her handbag as she walked toward Missy Hawthorne’s room, her heels clicking lightly against the polished floor.

She had come early, hoping to check on Missy before the rest of the family arrived. But halfway down the hall, she froze.

A tall man in a dark suit turned the corner ahead of her, his stride measured, his presence commanding. Even from behind, he was unmistakable. The silver mask covering half his face caught the light like a blade.

Matthias King.

Sheila’s breath caught. What was he doing here?

Curiosity prickled through her. She slowed her pace, keeping a careful distance as she followed him down the corridor. He moved with quiet confidence, ignoring the curious glances from nurses and visitors. When he stopped outside a room and pushed the door open, Sheila’s curiosity got the better of her.

She edged closer, peering through the narrow gap.

Inside, Mindy Wilson lay propped against her pillows, her hospital gown pale against her skin. The faintest smile touched her lips as Matthias sat beside her, his posture relaxed, his attention fixed entirely on her.

Sheila blinked, startled. Mindy—here? And Matthias King sitting beside her like a guardian?

The sight unsettled her. She stepped back quickly before anyone could notice, her mind racing.

Missy’s room was brighter, filled with the faint scent of apples and flowers. Emily sat by the bedside, slicing fruit into neat pieces, while Raymond occupied the chair opposite, reading the morning paper. Jagger lounged on the sofa, phone pressed to his ear, his tone clipped and impatient.

Sheila composed herself before stepping inside. ”Good morning,” she greeted smoothly.

Emily looked up, smiling faintly. ”Sheila, you’re early.”

”I wanted to check on Missy,” Sheila said, setting her bag down. Her gaze flicked to the girl on the bed. Missy looked fragile, her arm in a sling, her leg wrapped in a soft brace. Her eyes, however, gleamed with practiced innocence.

”Sheila!” Missy exclaimed, her voice soft and pitiful. ”You came to see me?”

”Of course,” Sheila said, smiling. ”But I saw something interesting on my way here.”

Emily paused mid-slice. ”Oh?”

Sheila leaned closer, lowering her voice. ”Do you know Mindy is also in this hospital?”

The apple knife slipped from Emily’s fingers, clattering onto the tray. Missy’s eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise.

”Mindy?” Raymond’s head snapped up. ”Who did you say?”

”I saw her just now,” Sheila said. ”She’s in one of the private rooms down the hall. And she wasn’t alone.”

Raymond frowned. ”Not alone?”

”She was with Matthias King,” Sheila said, watching their reactions carefully. ”He was sitting beside her.”

The room fell silent.

Raymond’s brows furrowed. He hadn’t spoken to Mindy since the competition—the day everything had fallen apart. ”Why is she here?” he muttered. ”Did something happen to her during the gala attack?”

Emily’s expression shifted instantly, from surprise to maternal concern. ”Why is she here? Is she hurt?” she asked, her voice trembling just enough to sound sincere. ”We should go and see her.”

Missy clasped her hands together, her eyes glistening. ”Yes! We should go see Sister. What if she’s badly hurt?”

Jagger looked up from his phone, his expression briefly softening before hardening again. ”Why should we go see her?” he scoffed. ”She’s not concerned about any of us. She cut ties herself.”

”Jagger,” Missy said pitifully, ”don’t say that. What if she’s really hurt?”

Before anyone could respond, the door opened.

Layton Knight stepped inside, followed by his assistant, Mike. His expression was unreadable, his tone clipped. ”She was shot during the gala attack.”

The words hit like a thunderclap.

Raymond shot to his feet. ”What?” His voice cracked. ”Why didn’t you tell us?”

Layton’s gaze was cold. ”I didn’t think you cared.”

Raymond’s face flushed with embarrassment. He had never asked about Mindy—not once since she’d left.

Emily reached for his arm, her voice trembling. ”We should go see if she’s alright,” she said quickly. ”She’s already angry with us. We can’t let this go on.”

Missy nodded, her eyes wide and glistening. ”Yes, Father. Please, let’s go see her.”

Raymond hesitated, then sighed. ”Fine. Let’s go.”

Inside Mindy’s room, the atmosphere was lighter.

Ana and Zac were perched on the sofa, laughing over something on Ana’s phone. ”Look at his face!” Ana giggled, showing Zac the video she’d taken of the terrified bodyguard.

Zac nearly spilled his coffee. ”You actually recorded that?”

”Of course,” Ana said proudly. ”Evidence of my heroism.”

Mindy smiled faintly, watching them. The laughter was a welcome sound after days of tension. She turned her head slightly—and found Matthias already watching her.

”Mr. King,” she said softly, ”you didn’t have to come every day. I’m feeling much better now.”

Zac snorted. ”Miss Wilson, Matthias cleared his entire schedule to sit here. For the past two days, he’s been pretending to check emails while staring at you.”

Matthias shot him a glare sharp enough to silence him.

Ana jabbed Zac’s arm. ”Don’t tease him. He’s being sweet.”

Mindy’s lips curved. ”You really don’t have to, Mr. King.”

”Call me Matthias,” he said, his tone gentle. ”And are you bored of me already?”

”No, no,” she said quickly. ”You might be busy.”

Zac leaned back, smirking. ”Busy staring at you, maybe.”

Ana elbowed Zac. ”Stop bullying the billionaire.”

Matthias’s glare deepened. Ana laughed.

The warmth in the room was genuine, easy. For a moment, Mindy forgot the pain in her side.

Then the door opened.

Raymond Hawthorne stepped in first, followed by Emily, Missy, Jagger, Sheila—and finally, Layton.

The laughter died instantly.

Raymond’s gaze swept the room, landing on Mindy—and then on Matthias. His expression shifted from surprise to discomfort.

”Mindy,” Jagger said, breaking the silence, ”why didn’t you tell us you were in the hospital? We had to hear it from someone else.”

Mindy’s eyes flicked toward him, cold and unimpressed. ”Who are you?” she asked flatly. ”Why would I tell you anything?”

Emily stepped forward, her voice trembling with practiced emotion. ”Mindy, we’re just worried about you. Your father was really concerned when he heard you were shot.”

Mindy let out a short, humorless laugh. ”Concerned? It’s been a long time since he’s been concerned about me.”

Layton’s eyes darkened. He had followed them in, his mood already sour from the night before. Seeing Matthias sitting beside her only made it worse.

Raymond cleared his throat, forcing calm. ”Are you alright?” he asked quietly.

Mindy blinked, momentarily thrown by his tone. ”I’m fine,” she said, her voice cautious.

Missy stepped forward, her eyes wide and glistening. ”Sister, what happened? How did you get shot?”

Ana gave a short, incredulous laugh.

Mindy’s gaze turned icy. ”None of your business.”

Jagger’s jaw tightened. ”Mindy, would you stop? We know we blamed you wrongly before, but Missy only did that for the company. She already apologized. Can’t you stop being so cold?”

Missy clutched his arm, her voice trembling. ”No, Jagger. It’s my fault she hates me.”

Sheila sighed dramatically. ”Missy, stop being so kind. She doesn’t care about you. You’re hurt too, yet you came to see her.”

Ana’s patience snapped. ”Who asked you to come here and disturb her?” she said sharply. ”How many times has Mindy told you to stop calling her ’sister’? She’s severed all ties with you, yet you barge in here and start performing your pity act. She needs rest, can’t you see that?”

Zac leaned forward, smirking. ”She’s right. This isn’t a stage for fake tears.”

Mindy’s voice cut through the tension, cold and precise. ”Why are you even here? Shouldn’t you all be looking after your sweetheart Missy? What was it this time—a cramp on her hand and a sprained foot?”

Missy’s face paled.

Mindy’s tone sharpened. ”Didn’t she twist her ankle six months ago when you slapped me, Mr. Hawthorne? The injury might get serious if she keeps twisting it for attention.”

Ana laughed outright. ”Oh, that’s good.”

Raymond’s expression hardened. Even Layton’s gaze flickered, unreadable.

Emily stepped forward, her voice trembling. ”Mindy, please don’t say that. We’re still your family. Don’t talk to your father like that. He was really worried about you.”

Missy’s tears spilled over. ”Mindy, Father and Layton are just concerned about you. If you want to hate someone, hate me. Please don’t say that to Father.”

Raymond’s expression softened at her words. Emily dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.

Mindy’s gaze was glacial. ”Shouldn’t you be happy?” she said quietly. ”You’re the only daughter of the Hawthorne family now. A thief—but people have already forgotten that, haven’t they? President Knight helped you by making you chief designer.”

Her eyes shifted to Layton. ”Isn’t that right, President Knight? You couldn’t let your girlfriend’s reputation suffer.”

Missy’s face drained of color.

Layton’s jaw tightened. ”Mindy,” he said quietly, ”she made a mistake. She apologized. We can’t hold that over her forever.”

Jagger snapped, ”Why are you always jealous of Missy? Can’t you drop it for once?”

Ana scoffed. ”We didn’t know stealing was called a mistake these days. Only fools believe that.”

Matthias’s voice cut through the noise, calm but edged with steel. ”Maybe we should let the police decide whether it’s a mistake or a crime.”

The room went still. Emily and Missy both turned pale.

Raymond cleared his throat. ”Mr. King, this is a family matter. Please don’t get involved.”

Layton’s tone was cold. ”Mr. King, shouldn’t you be busy with Zeus Vision?”

Mindy’s eyes flicked toward him, sharp as glass.

Matthias smiled faintly. ”Mindy is more important than any company,” he said. ”She’s my savior. All my time is hers. Unlike others, I show gratitude where it’s due.”

Zac grinned. ”Well said.”

Layton’s expression darkened. He knew exactly who that was aimed at.

He stepped forward, forcing calm. ”Mindy,” he said softly, reaching for her hand, ”are you still in pain?”

She jerked her hand away as if burned. ”Don’t touch me,” she said coldly. ”It’s disgusting. Show your concern to your sweetheart.”

”Mindy!” Layton snapped, his voice rising.

Ana stood abruptly. ”Mindy needs rest,” she said icily. ”She doesn’t need your drama or your fake tears.”

Raymond exhaled slowly. ”Let’s talk when you feel better,” he said, his tone measured. ”There are so many misunderstandings.”

”I don’t have any misunderstandings, Mr. Hawthorne,” Mindy said flatly. ”And I don’t want to talk to you. Please stop showing me your fake concern.”

Raymond’s expression was unreadable.

The door opened, and a nurse stepped in, holding a tray. ”Excuse me,” she said politely. ”It’s time to change the patient’s dressing. I’ll have to ask everyone to step outside.”

Ana crossed her arms. ”Gladly.”

The Hawthornes filed out, their faces stiff with embarrassment. Layton lingered for a moment, his gaze flicking between Mindy and Matthias, then turned and left without a word.

Outside, Zac let out a low whistle. ”No wonder Miss Wilson cut ties with them,” he said. ”They all look fake.”

Ana smirked. ”Fake tears, real drama.”

Matthias said nothing. His expression was cold, his gaze following the retreating figures of the Hawthorne family.

Inside the room, Mindy exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing as the door closed.

”Fake tears,” she murmured. ”But at least now, I know who’s real.”