BRUSHSTROKES OF REVENGE

The conference room slowly emptied after the board meeting.

For the first time in years, the balance of power inside Rona Design had completely shifted.

No one spoke. Everyone was still processing what had happened.

LUXT Corporation had quietly become the largest shareholder.

And the mysterious founder—the person every business magazine had tried to unmask for years—was standing right before them all along.

Mindy Wilson.

One Hour Later

Rona Design held an emergency press conference.

Every major media outlet in Greendale had arrived, their vans crowding the parking lot, satellite dishes pointed skyward. Camera flashes illuminated the conference hall like lightning, the air thick with anticipation and the low hum of whispered speculation.

At the center of the stage sat the senior directors, arranged in a careful line.

Alexander Matt occupied the middle seat, his silver hair neatly combed, his expression composed. Raymond Hawthorne sat on his right, his jaw tight, his hands folded stiffly in his lap. Martin Leis sat quietly on his left, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Alexander adjusted the microphone, the feedback briefly cutting through the noise before settling into clarity.

”Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for gathering on such short notice.” His voice was steady, authoritative. ”After today’s emergency board meeting, several major resolutions have been passed.”

The reporters immediately leaned forward, pens poised, cameras zooming in.

Alexander continued calmly. ”Effective immediately, Miss Missy Hawthorne has been removed from the position of Chief Executive Officer of Rona Design.”

The room exploded.

”What?!”

”Removed?”

”So suddenly?”

”After yesterday’s scandal?”

Flashes became even brighter, the sound of shutters clicking like a swarm of insects.

Alexander raised a hand, waiting for the noise to subside. ”The board has also unanimously appointed a new acting CEO.” He looked toward Layla, who sat composed at the edge of the stage. ”Miss Layla Hart.”

Another wave of shock spread through the hall.

”Layla Hart?”

”The Vice President of LUXT?”

”Isn’t she—”

Alexander nodded, cutting off the questions. ”Furthermore, LUXT Corporation has officially acquired twenty-three percent of Rona Design.”

Silence. Complete, stunned silence.

Then—

”What?!”

”LUXT bought Rona?”

”How?”

”Was this a hostile takeover?”

Alexander smiled slightly, the expression almost amused. ”All acquisitions were conducted legally and transparently. LUXT Corporation is now the largest shareholder of Rona Design.”

He paused, letting the information sink in, then adjusted the microphone once again. ”There is one final announcement.”

He glanced at the journalists, who immediately quieted, sensing something bigger was coming.

”As you all know, LUXT Corporation has always kept the identity of its Founder and Chief Executive Officer confidential.”

A wave of murmurs spread through the hall. Everyone knew the mysterious founder of LUXT had never appeared in public, never given an interview, never attended a single industry event. Speculation had ranged from reclusive billionaires to foreign investors to tech moguls operating in secret.

Alexander smiled. ”Today, with the permission of LUXT Corporation, that identity will no longer remain a secret.”

He paused for effect, letting the anticipation build.

”The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LUXT Corporation is Miss Mindy Wilson.”

For a heartbeat, the entire conference hall froze.

No one spoke. No one even breathed.

Then—

”What?!”

”Mindy Wilson?!”

”She’s the founder?”

”The mysterious CEO is her?”

”She founded LUXT?”

”Cameras! Zoom in!”

The flashes became blinding, a strobe-light frenzy. Journalists stood from their seats, shouting questions over one another, their voices blending into a chaotic roar.

Martin Leis couldn’t suppress a smile. How cheeky. Alexander hadn’t just announced a new CEO. He had simply revealed a secret the entire business world had been chasing for years.

Beside him, Raymond sat motionless, his face pale. His fingers slowly tightened around the armrest of his chair.

The mysterious entrepreneur. The person who built LUXT into one of the fastest-growing luxury brands. The person every corporation wanted to meet, every investor wanted to court, every magazine wanted to interview.

...was his own daughter.

And he had thrown her away.

Questions came one after another, rapid-fire and relentless.

”Who appointed Miss Layla Hart?”

Alexander answered calmly. ”It was decided unanimously by the Board of Directors.”

”What responsibilities will Miss Missy Hawthorne retain?”

Alexander looked toward Raymond, his expression neutral but expectant.

Raymond clenched his jaw, his voice tight. ”For the time being, she will not participate in any operational decisions of Rona Design.”

Another explosion of camera flashes. The journalists scribbled furiously, already composing headlines in their minds.

Behind the stage, hidden from the cameras in a narrow corridor, Emily and Missy watched everything unfold on a monitor.

Missy’s nails dug into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks. ”Mom... We underestimated her.”

Emily’s face was equally pale, her lips pressed into a thin line. ”I know. I never imagined she was the founder of LUXT.”

Her eyes darkened, her voice dropping to a whisper. ”We became careless. You cannot afford another mistake.”

Missy nodded, her jaw tight. ”It was Mindy. I’m sure she planned everything with Adam.”

Emily sighed, her breath shaky. ”It doesn’t matter anymore. What matters now is Layton.” She turned to face Missy directly. ”You said he protected you yesterday.”

Missy nodded.

Emily’s voice turned cold, sharp as a blade. ”Then don’t lose him. Mindy already pushed him away. You must make sure he marries you. Otherwise, everything we’ve built will collapse.”

Missy slowly nodded, her expression hardening. ”He still thinks he owes me. He won’t abandon me.”

Emily stared at her, her gaze piercing. ”He’d better not.”

Another man approached them with his head lowered.

It was Damian Hayes, Alexander’s assistant. He had worked alongside Alexander for five years, but at that moment, he looked less like a trusted aide and more like a man walking toward his execution.

Emily’s glare immediately hardened.

”Damian.”

He stopped in front of her.

”Mrs. Hawthorne...”

”Why didn’t you inform me that someone was buying Rona Design’s shares?” Emily demanded. ”Alexander was involved too, wasn’t he?”

Damian swallowed nervously.

”Why did I hire you if you can’t even keep me informed?”

”No one knew the shares were being purchased overnight,” Damian stammered. ”The transactions were done quietly. Only Martin Leis was in contact with Miss Wilson and Miss Hart.”

Emily’s eyes narrowed.

”You expect me to believe that?”

”If I had even the slightest indication that something was happening, I would have informed you immediately.”

Missy’s expression turned cold.

”How many shareholders are now working with Mindy?”

Damian hesitated.

”The shareholders who once worked with Maria Hawthorne have sided with them,” he said carefully. ”But the others are still loyal to you.”

Missy’s fingers curled tightly at her sides.

”Keep Alexander under surveillance.”

Damian looked startled.

”I want to know everything he does, everyone he meets, and every conversation he has,” Missy continued, her voice low and threatening.

”Yes, Miss Hawthorne.”

Missy leaned closer.

”And Damian?”

He stiffened.

”Don’t fail me.”

Damian lowered his head.

”I won’t.”

But as he walked away, the tension in his shoulders revealed the truth.

He was no longer certain whether he was more afraid of failing Missy—or of discovering what Mindy Wilson was secretly planning.

Meanwhile, inside the CEO’s office, everything looked different.

Layla now occupied the chair that once belonged to Missy—a high-backed leather seat positioned behind a massive mahogany desk. She still wasn’t used to it, her posture slightly stiff, her fingers drumming lightly on the armrest.

Mindy stood beside the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking Greendale. The city stretched out below her, glittering in the afternoon sun.

She remembered this office. Maria’s laughter. Maria working late into the night, her desk lamp the only light in the building. Maria carrying her onto this very sofa when she was little, letting her sleep while she finished one last design.

So much had changed.

The door suddenly opened without a knock.

Missy walked in, her chin raised, her expression defiant.

Layla looked up, her tone flat. ”Miss Hawthorne. Didn’t anyone teach you to knock before entering someone else’s office?”

Missy ignored her. Her eyes remained fixed on the CEO chair—the chair that had been hers yesterday, the chair she’d sat in with pride, the chair that now belonged to someone else.

”You seem very comfortable,” Missy said, her voice dripping with disdain.

Layla smiled, leaning back slightly. ”I am.”

Missy sneered, her eyes gleaming with resentment.

”Don’t get too comfortable. You never know what tomorrow might bring.”

Layla’s smile widened.

”Is that a threat?” she asked. ”Someone who has been losing for two consecutive days still has quite an attitude.”

Missy scoffed.

”Don’t get cocky, Miss Hart. I’ll admit that you won today, but only because I underestimated you. That will never happen again.”

Her gaze shifted toward Mindy.

”Enjoy your victory while it lasts, Mindy. I took everything from you once, and I will do it again.”

Mindy finally turned around.

Her expression was cold enough to silence the room.

”Collect your belongings and leave.”

Missy’s face stiffened.

Mindy continued, her voice calm and absolute.

”For now, you are no longer required to report to Rona Design.”

For a moment, Missy simply stared at her.

Then she laughed.

The sound was harsh, bitter, and completely devoid of amusement.

”You still think you have the authority to dismiss me?”

She began walking toward Mindy, each click of her heels echoing against the marble floor.

”I still own five percent of Rona Design.”

She stopped a few steps away, her smile turning cruel.

”Did you forget that?”

Mindy’s eyes narrowed.

Missy leaned closer.

”Those five percent...” she said slowly. ”I took them from you.”

The words struck an old wound.

She remembered the humiliation, the betrayal, and the helplessness of watching something that belonged to her being taken away while everyone stood by and did nothing.

But that woman no longer existed.

Mindy’s eyes narrowed. How could she ever forget?