BRUSHSTROKES OF REVENGE

The Nightingale Club.

Greendale’s most exclusive private club—a sanctuary for those who valued discretion as much as luxury.

Only people with influence, wealth, or status could step inside its doors, and even then, only if they knew the right people.

Soft jazz floated through the air, the melody weaving between conversations like silk. Amber lights reflected off crystal chandeliers, casting warm shadows across leather booths and polished mahogany tables.

Expensive whiskey lined the shelves behind the bar—bottles that cost more than most people’s monthly rent.

Private booths hid businessmen, celebrities, politicians, and socialites from curious eyes, their laughter muffled by velvet curtains and soundproofed walls.

On the second floor, inside one of the secluded VIP lounges, Matthias, Zac, Dante, and Ana had already occupied an entire corner.

The space was intimate—plush sofas arranged in a semicircle, a low glass table in the center, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the glittering city below.

Ana burst into laughter so suddenly that everyone around the table looked at her.

”Oh my God!” She clutched her phone, her shoulders shaking. ”You have to see this!”

She shoved her phone directly into Zac’s face, nearly hitting his nose.

On the screen, one of Zeus Vision’s photographers was secretly stuffing chocolate bars inside the waistband of his trousers while looking around suspiciously, his movements exaggerated and cartoonish. The camera shook violently—Ana’s laughter could clearly be heard from behind it.

The poor photographer looked left. Then right. Satisfied that nobody was watching, he proudly tucked another chocolate inside, his expression triumphant.

”...What are you doing?”

Ana’s voice came from behind the camera, sweet and innocent.

The man jumped so high he almost dropped every chocolate, his face cycling through shock, horror, and resignation in rapid succession.

The video ended there.

Zac nearly spilled his drink laughing. ”What is wrong with him?”

Ana wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, her grin wide. ”He hides chocolates during shoots because everyone steals them. He thinks he’s being sneaky.”

Dante pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression caught between amusement and exasperation. ”I remember that day. He thought nobody noticed.”

Ana nodded enthusiastically. ”I have so many videos like this.” She proudly opened her gallery, scrolling through thumbnail after thumbnail. ”There are hundreds.”

Dante suddenly froze, his eyes narrowing. ”...Hundreds?”

Ana smiled innocently, her tone too sweet. ”Yep.”

A dangerous silence settled over the table.

Dante slowly leaned forward, his voice dropping. ”...Ana.”

She looked at him, blinking.

”...Do you have our videos like these too?”

Ana’s eyes sparkled mischievously. ”...Maybe.”

Matthias chuckled quietly, the sound low and rare.

Just then, the private elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.

Three familiar figures walked into the lounge—Mindy, Layla, and Wade. Mindy wore a simple black dress, elegant and understated. Layla was in a cream blouse and tailored trousers, her hair pulled back.

Wade looked relaxed in a dark blazer, his hands in his pockets.

The moment Zac saw them, he instantly stood up, his movements exaggerated and theatrical. He straightened his jacket dramatically before placing one hand over his chest.

”Ladies...” He paused, his voice deepening. ”And Gentlemen...”

Everyone at the table looked at him, their expressions ranging from amused to confused.

He bowed deeply, his arm sweeping out.

”Please welcome the mysterious Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LUXT Corporation...” He paused dramatically, letting the anticipation build. ”...and the woman who silently bought twenty-three percent of Rona Design before breakfast...”

He spread both arms as though introducing royalty. ”...Miss Mindy Wilson!”

The entire table erupted into laughter, the sound warm and genuine.

Mindy stopped walking and looked at him, her expression caught between amusement and disbelief. ”...Really?”

Zac nodded proudly, his grin wide. ”I’ve been practicing.”

Layla rolled her eyes, her tone dry. ”It shows.”

Mindy laughed softly before taking her seat, shaking her head. ”You need a hobby.”

”I have one.”

”Oh?”

”I annoy people.”

”You’ve mastered it.”

Ana didn’t even wait for everyone to settle. She jumped from her chair and hugged Mindy, nearly knocking her over. ”Mindy!!”

She pulled back dramatically, her hands on Mindy’s shoulders. ”Do you know how hard it has been pretending I didn’t know?” She pointed accusingly toward everyone at the table. ”I couldn’t even brag!”

Wade laughed, his tone teasing. ”You were suffering.”

”I really was.” Ana looked at Mindy with sparkling eyes. ”And now everybody knows! The mysterious CEO! The founder! The fashion monster!”

Mindy covered her face with one hand, her voice muffled. ”Stop calling me that.”

Ana grinned, her tone defiant. ”Never.”

While everyone continued laughing, Mindy naturally walked toward the empty seat beside Matthias. Without saying a single word, Matthias quietly slid a glass toward her—fresh orange juice, the ice still crackling.

”No alcohol.” His voice was calm, matter-of-fact. ”You’re still recovering.”

Mindy looked at the glass, then at him. A small smile appeared on her face, warm and genuine. ”Thank you.”

She didn’t argue. Instead, she simply picked up the glass and took a sip, the gesture easy and comfortable.

Zac looked at Matthias. Then at Mindy. Then dramatically looked around the table, his expression exaggerated. ”Can somebody please love me like this?”

Ana immediately replied, her tone flat. ”No.”

Everyone laughed again, the sound filling the lounge.

Matthias ignored them completely. Instead, he signaled the waiter with a subtle gesture. ”The mushroom tartlets. The fresh batch.”

The waiter nodded respectfully, his posture deferential. ”Right away, Mr. King.”

Only a minute later, a warm plate of freshly baked mushroom tartlets was placed in front of Mindy—golden, flaky, the aroma rich and earthy.

She smiled quietly before taking another bite, her eyes closing briefly in satisfaction.

Matthias gaze lingering on her face for a moment before he looked away.

The conversation around the table continued—Zac teasing Ana, Dante shaking his head, Wade laughing—while Mindy remained completely focused on the food, her attention absolute.

Ana suddenly noticed, her tone incredulous. ”...She’s not even listening to us.”

Layla laughed, her voice warm. ”She heard the words ’mushroom tartlets’ and disappeared from this world.”

”I’m listening,” Mindy replied while chewing, her tone distracted.

”No, you’re not.”

”I am.”

”What did I just say?”

”...”

”...Exactly.”

Everyone burst into laughter again, the sound bright and unrestrained.

Then Ana asked, her tone curious, ”I heard you kicked Emily out?”

Mindy nodded, still chewing, her expression unbothered.

Layla gave a short laugh, her voice sharp with satisfaction. ”Yes, she did. She was behaving like a shrew. She completely lost it.”

Wade then asked, his tone teasing, ”Did Mindy make you CEO to run away from work?”

Mindy stopped eating, her fork pausing mid-air. ”No.” Her voice was firm, almost defensive. ”She deserved it.”

Then she didn’t meet their eyes and continued with her food, her movements suddenly focused.

Wade squinted his eyes and looked at Mindy, a knowing smile spreading across his face. He laughed. ”That’s not the only reason.”

Layla then dramatized, throwing her hands up. ”You are right, Wade. Do you know how much Rona Design is lacking? The finance books were so badly maintained. I am exhausted, and this is only the first day!”

Mindy then said, her voice bright and encouraging, ”You can do this!”

Layla glared at her, her expression caught between annoyance and disbelief, then shook her head. ”Unbelievable.”

Matthias quietly watched her finish the plate, his expression unreadable. Without asking, he slid another one toward her, the movement smooth and practiced.

Mindy didn’t even look up. She simply accepted it, her hand reaching out automatically.

Layla stared at both of them, her tone caught between amusement and disbelief. ”...You two have become ridiculously synchronized.”

Neither of them answered. Matthias merely picked up his glass, taking a slow sip. Mindy continued eating, her focus unwavering.

He then turned toward Ana, his voice calm. ”What would you like?”

Ana’s eyes lit up instantly, her expression glowing. ”The chocolate lava cake! And the caramel cheesecake! And the strawberry macarons! And—”

Dante interrupted, his tone firm. ”That’s enough sugar for one night.”

Ana glared at him, her voice sharp. ”I wasn’t asking you.”

Matthias smiled faintly before looking toward the waiter. ”Bring all of them.”

Ana clapped happily, her grin wide. ”Mr. King! You’re officially my favorite person today.”

Matthias also said, his voice steady and sincere, ”And Yes, Miss Hart. You can do this. Everyone believes in you.”

Layla then said dramatically, pointing at Mindy, ”Stop indulging her! Next she’ll give you work too.”

Matthias said, his tone calm and matter-of-fact, ”It’s fine. I will do everything she asks.”

Everyone looked shocked, their conversations stopping mid-sentence. Even Ana’s fork paused halfway to her mouth.

Mindy stopped eating and looked at him, her eyes wide, her expression caught between surprise and something softer—something she quickly tried to hide.

Matthias looked away and cleared his throat, his ears faintly pink beneath the edge of his mask.

Wade suddenly laughed, the sound loud and bright, breaking the tension. Everyone followed, the laughter filling the lounge, warm and teasing.

Almost fifteen minutes passed. The table slowly filled with desserts—plates of chocolate, caramel, fruit, cream, each one more decadent than the last.

Ana looked happier than anyone else, her eyes scanning the spread like a general surveying conquered territory.

Wade leaned back comfortably, his posture relaxed, before finally asking the question everyone had been wondering.

”So...” He looked directly at Matthias, his gaze curious. ”You called all of us here. For what exactly?”

The laughter slowly died down, the atmosphere shifting. Even Mindy stopped eating, her attention turning toward Matthias.

Matthias calmly placed his glass back onto the table, the sound soft but deliberate. His expression remained unreadable, his silver mask catching the amber light.

Then he simply said, his voice quiet but carrying, ”To watch a show.”

Ana blinked, her confusion evident. ”...Another show?”

Dante exchanged a glance with Zac, both of them smiling—the kind of smile that suggested they knew something no one else did.

Dante nodded, his tone light. ”It should start any minute now.”

Ana immediately straightened in her chair, her excitement returning instantly. ”Wait...” Her eyes widened. ”We’re here for revenge?”

Zac pressed one finger against his lips, his expression playful. ”Shh... Just watch.”

Mindy looked at Matthias, her gaze questioning. He met her eyes, his expression softening almost imperceptibly, then glanced toward the windows overlooking the club’s main floor below.

The show was about to begin.