Chapter 106: A Promise in the Dark

Mindy stood beside the office window, gazing at the city skyline while memories from her previous life unfolded in her mind.

So much had changed since her return.

In her past life, she had spent nearly a year trying to repair her relationship with Raymond after the staircase incident.

He had been furious with her and refused to speak to her. Whenever they happened to be in the same room, he treated her like a stranger. He never asked how she was, never questioned where she had been, and never showed the slightest interest in her life.

For Mindy, that silence had been unbearable.

She had blamed herself constantly.

She believed that if she apologized enough, behaved better, and proved that she had changed, Raymond would eventually forgive her. She had been desperate for even the smallest sign of affection from him.

But Raymond did not soften.

He only spoke to her again after nearly a year, and even then, it was not because he missed her or wanted to repair their relationship. He approached her because Missy needed something.

Missy had been preparing to launch a new couture line and wanted Emma Wilson to appear as a guest of honor and supporter.

At that time, Emma had already retired from the fashion industry. She had withdrawn from public events and rarely involved herself in the affairs of younger designers.

Still, the moment Raymond asked Mindy to help, she agreed without hesitation.

She had been so overwhelmed by the fact that her father was finally speaking to her that she did not stop to question his intentions. She did not wonder why he had suddenly remembered her existence or why he had chosen to speak only when Missy needed a favor.

Instead, she immediately promised to convince Emma.

When Emma learned what Mindy wanted, she scolded her severely.

"Do you even realize what you’re asking of me?" Emma demanded. "I left the fashion industry years ago. I’m not going to appear at someone else’s launch simply because they want to use my name and reputation. Can’t you see that they’re taking advantage of you?"

Mindy had lowered her head and listened to every word. Even then, she had refused to give up.

She traveled to Rithol City herself and visited Emma and Jasper. She pleaded with them, explained how important the launch was, and promised that Missy would be grateful. Emma and Jasper had looked deeply disappointed.

They knew exactly what was happening. They understood that Mindy was being used, yet she was too blinded by her longing for Raymond’s approval to see it.

Then Mindy had begun to cry.

She still remembered the way Emma had looked at her. There had been frustration in her eyes, but also pity and affection. In the end, Emma had agreed, not because she supported Missy’s decision, but because she could not bear to watch her granddaughter beg for something while tears covered her face.

When Emma appeared at Missy’s inauguration, the event became the sensation of the fashion industry.

Her presence alone attracted countless reporters, influential buyers, and famous designers. Within days, Missy’s name spread throughout the industry. Her popularity increased tenfold, and everyone praised her for securing Emma Wilson’s support.

And Raymond?

He never thanked Mindy.

He did not acknowledge the effort she had made or recognize that she had begged Emma on Missy’s behalf. He did not become warmer toward her. He remained distant and indifferent, as though Mindy had done nothing at all.

Yet Mindy had still convinced herself that it had been worth it.

She had mistaken a moment of attention for affection. She had accepted being used because she thought it was the closest she could get to having a family.

A bitter laugh escaped her.

"How foolish was I?"

She pressed her fingertips against the cool glass.

What kind of life had she lived before?

She had sacrificed her dignity, betrayed the people who truly cared about her, and exhausted herself trying to earn love from those who had never intended to give it.

Mindy lowered her gaze, her reflection staring back at her from the window.

At that moment, her phone began to ring.

The bright, cheerful ringtone broke through the heavy silence, like a ray of sunlight piercing the clouds.

She glanced at the screen.

Ana Calling

Mindy answered, and the moment she heard Ana’s voice—bright, excited, full of life—something in her chest loosened.

"Mindy! I just landed!"

A genuine smile finally appeared on Mindy’s face, small but real.

"We’re going clubbing tonight!" Ana continued without pausing for breath.

Mindy laughed softly. "So suddenly?"

"It’s been forever!" Ana’s enthusiasm was infectious. "Let’s call Layla. Oh! And Matthias. And Zac. And Dante. And Wade too! The more people, the better!"

Mindy’s smile widened. "Okay." Then she added, "But Wade’s not in Greendale. He left for Rithol City."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then, in a slightly different tone: "Oh."

Mindy didn’t notice the slight disappointment in Ana’s voice.

Ana recovered quickly. "...Mindy?"

"Hmm?"

"Did something happen?" Her voice had softened, become more careful. "You sound... different."

Mindy looked toward the closed office door, then toward Maria’s portrait.

She smiled gently.

"...It’s nothing. I’ll tell you when we meet."

Ana hesitated before answering. "...Okay. I’ll wait."

After hanging up, Mindy stood and walked to the window.

She looked out through the glass wall toward the bustling city below—cars moving like blood cells through veins, people walking with purpose, the world continuing to turn regardless of personal grief.

She had let go.

It hurt less than she thought it would.

Or perhaps she had simply run out of tears.

Knight Corporation – Layton’s Office

Inside Knight Corporation, Layton sat behind his massive desk, staring at a thick stack of printed transaction records.

The papers were organized by date, each line item highlighted in different colors—red for luxury goods, yellow for jewelry, blue for vehicles.

Mike stood nearby, his expression carefully neutral, though his eyes occasionally flickered with something that might have been judgment.

He was the one who had fetched all these details. He already knew what was in them.

Jewelry. Designer gowns. Luxury handbags. Antiques. Art pieces. Even upgraded vehicles.

The list went on and on and on.

Layton’s frown deepened with each page he turned.

"Sir," Mike said carefully, "these are only the transactions from the last year."

Layton didn’t look up.

Mike continued, unable to stop himself. "She might not even have space to store all these luxury items. Even the richest person wouldn’t accumulate this much in a single year."

He paused, then added, "And she had two of these cards."

Another pause.

"Miss Mindy didn’t have a single one. And she’s your wife."

The words came out before Mike could stop them—a thought that had been building for months, finally breaking free.

The moment they left his mouth, Mike realized what he’d done.

Shocked at his own audacity, he clasped his hand over his mouth.

Layton slowly looked up, his expression dark and unreadable.

The glare he directed at Mike could have frozen fire.

Mike’s survival instincts screamed at him to apologize, to backtrack, to run.

But even as Layton glared, something in his jaw tightened.

Because Mike was right.

He had given Missy two unlimited credit cards.

He had never given Mindy a single gift. Not even on their anniversary.

The realization sat in his stomach like a stone.

Layton’s throat tightened. He swallowed hard, then spoke, his voice clipped and controlled.

"Look for any investments Missy has made. To a company, a property, anything."

Mike blinked, his mind catching up. "Do you think these purchases are fake? That she might be funneling money somewhere else?"

Layton didn’t reply directly. "Just look for something. Involve Draven if you have to."

Mike nodded quickly, grateful to have a task that didn’t involve speaking out of turn.

He turned to leave.

"Mike."

He stopped.

"Also find out where she’s living."

Mike turned back, confused. "Miss Missy?"

"No." Layton’s voice was quiet. "Mindy."

Mike’s eyes widened slightly.

"And find me a great jewelry designer. The best in Greendale."

Understanding dawned on Mike’s face. A small, hopeful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Finally, he thought. Finally, Mr. Knight is thinking about his wife.

"Yes, sir."

Mike left quickly, closing the door behind him.

Alone in his office, Layton leaned back in his chair and opened his phone.

He navigated to his gallery.

There was only one photo of Mindy.

She had taken it herself, grabbing his phone one afternoon and snapping a picture before he could stop her. She’d laughed as she saved it, her eyes bright with mischief.

"You should have at least one picture of your wife," she had said, smiling up at him.

He had only ignored her at the time, dismissing it as another one of her attempts to get his attention.

Now, he looked at that photo constantly.

In it, she was smiling—genuinely, freely, the way she used to whenever she was with him.

It had been taken just after their marriage, before Missy returned from overseas.

Back when things were... peaceful.

Layton stared at the image for a long time, his thumb hovering over the screen.

Then, slowly, he set it as his wallpaper.

Her face filled the screen—bright, hopeful, still believing in him.

He closed his eyes and whispered to the empty room:

"I will get you back."

It sounded like a promise.

Or perhaps a prayer.