Chapter 50: Return Gifts

The hospital corridor outside Mindy’s room was unusually quiet that morning. The nurses had finished their rounds, and the faint scent of antiseptic lingered in the air. Inside, sunlight filtered through half‑drawn blinds, painting pale stripes across the white sheets.

Mindy sat propped against her pillows, her skin still pale but her eyes alert. The bandage around her stomach tugged when she breathed, but the pain had dulled to a steady ache. Wade sat in the corner, scrolling through his phone, while Layla dozed in the chair beside him, her head tilted at an awkward angle.

For the first time since the gala, the room felt calm.

That calm lasted exactly three minutes.

The door burst open with a bang that made Wade nearly drop his phone.

"Ana!" Layla exclaimed, startled.

Ana Bose stood in the doorway, hair slightly disheveled, eyes red, and two bodyguards trailing behind her like guilty schoolboys. She looked furious, terrified, and dramatic all at once.

"Mindy!" she cried, rushing forward. "Why didn’t you tell me? You know I had to threaten this poor bodyguard with a video! A video, Mindy!"

The taller of the two guards looked like he wanted to melt into the floor. The other stared at the ceiling, pretending to be invisible.

Mindy blinked, startled, then burst out laughing. "Don’t make me laugh," she gasped, clutching her side. "I’m still in pain."

Ana sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "You think this is funny? I was crying my eyes out! I told him I’d post it on every news channel in Greendale if he didn’t tell me where you were!"

The bodyguard shifted uncomfortably, his ears turning red.

Across the room, Zac nearly choked on his coffee. "Wait," he said, eyes wide. "What kind of video?"

Matthias, standing quietly near the window, gave him a look that could have frozen lava.

Zac raised his hands defensively. "What? I just wanted to know!"

Even Wade cracked a smile.

Ana ignored them all and turned back to Mindy, her expression softening. "Are you sure you’re alright? Do you need anything? Water? Food? A new bodyguard who doesn’t snitch?"

"I’m fine, Ana. Really."

Ana’s face crumpled again. "Do you know what I went through last night? I was trapped in that suite! These bodyguards wouldn’t let me out. I told them I’d jump from the window if they didn’t open the door, and do you know what they did?"

Wade raised an eyebrow. "I’m afraid to ask."

"They tied me to a chair!" Ana wailed. "Tied me! Like some hostage! And when I started crying, they finally untied me. I swear, I’m traumatized for life."

Mindy laughed so hard she had to press a hand to her stomach. "Ana, stop! You’re going to make my stitches burst."

Layla was laughing too now, tears in her eyes. Even Matthias’s lips twitched, though he tried to hide it.

Zac leaned forward, grinning. "You actually threatened to jump?"

"I was desperate!" Ana said indignantly. "I thought Mindy was dying somewhere while these idiots were guarding me like I was a national treasure."

The taller bodyguard coughed and looked away again.

When the laughter finally subsided, Ana perched on the edge of Mindy’s bed, her expression turning serious. "Tell me everything. What happened?"

Mindy hesitated, then told her the story—the overheard whisper, the waiter’s suspicious movements, the warning she gave Matthias, and the chaos that followed. She spoke quietly, her voice steady, though her eyes darkened when she mentioned the gunfire.

"They were after Matthias," she finished. "I just... reacted."

Ana’s eyes widened. "So you saved him."

Mindy shrugged. "I guess."

Ana turned to Matthias, folding her arms. "You owe her your life, Mr. King."

Matthias inclined his head slightly. "I’m aware."

Ana wasn’t done. "And what about Layton? What was he doing there? Shouldn’t he have been with Missy? With a personality like hers, she probably started crying at the first gunshot."

Mindy scoffed. "Don’t know. Don’t care."

"Good," Ana said firmly. "You should be stress and drama free."

Zac caught Matthias’s eye and made a subtle gesture toward the door. Matthias gave the faintest nod.

"Hey, Ana," Zac said, "how about we go to the cafeteria and get something for Mindy? She probably hasn’t eaten anything decent since last night."

Ana perked up immediately. "Food? Yes, let’s go."

As they left, Zac shot Matthias a knowing look over his shoulder.

Wade stood, stretching. "We’ll grab coffee."

Layla followed him out, giving Mindy a meaningful glance before closing the door.

The room fell quiet again.

Outside the door

Layton Knight walked down the corridor, a small bouquet of white roses in his hand. He had told himself he wouldn’t come back, that her words from yesterday—I only feel disgust—were enough to keep him away. But he couldn’t stay gone.

He needed to see her.

He stopped outside her room, staring at the nameplate. His hand lifted to knock—then froze.

Voices drifted through the door.

Matthias King’s low, even tone.

And Mindy’s—soft, warm, comfortable.

Layton’s hand dropped to his side. The door was slightly ajar; through the narrow gap, he could see the edge of her bed, the silver glint of Matthias’s mask, the curve of Mindy’s smile.

He should leave. He didn’t.

He stood there, listening.

Inside the room

Matthias moved to the chair beside Mindy’s bed and sat down. For a moment, neither spoke.

"Are you in pain?" he asked quietly.

"Not much."

He nodded, though his hands were clasped tightly together.

Outside, Layton’s grip on the bouquet tightened.

Matthias hesitated, then said, "So, Layton Knight. Did you divorce him?"

Layton froze.

Mindy’s eyes widened. "How did you know?"

"I know about the marriage," Matthias said lightly.

She studied him for a moment, then sighed. "No. We both signed the papers, but he never filed them." Her tone was calm, almost detached. There’s no point hiding it. If he knows about the marriage, he probably knows everything else, she thought.

Layton’s jaw clenched. He remembered the unsigned envelope still in his desk drawer.

Matthias watched her closely, searching for any flicker of emotion. There was none.

Layton’s breath caught.

"You heard right," Mindy said softly. "I was indeed crazy. But not anymore."

Her next words were quiet but final. "I won’t love anyone anymore who won’t love me back."

Outside, Layton went pale. The flowers trembled in his hand. The words hit like a blade—calm, deliberate, merciless.

Matthias’s lips curved into a small smile. "That’s... wise."

Layton could see him through the gap, the way his gaze softened as he looked at her. There was warmth there—admiration, maybe something deeper.

Mindy turned toward the window, talking about something else, and Matthias simply watched her. The faintest smile touched his mouth, gentle and unguarded.

Layton saw it.

He saw the way Matthias looked at her—like she was something precious. The way Mindy smiled back, comfortable, at ease.

It was the kind of ease she had never shown him.

"When I was in Ritol City," Matthias said, "I discovered a mole in my security team. The trail led here to Greendale. I knew it was a trap, but I had to come."

"Someone really went out of their way to kill you, Mr. King."

He chuckled. "Seems so."

"You should give them a return gift," she said, smirking.

"Of course I will."

Their laughter blended easily, quiet and genuine.

Outside, Layton’s chest tightened. They sounded like old friends. Like something more.

Matthias reached into his briefcase and pulled out a folder. "I almost forgot. This is for you."

Mindy frowned, taking the papers. Her eyes widened. "These are... contract papers between LUXT and Zeus Vision."

"That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?"

"How did you know?"

"I checked the participation list for the Maxine event. There wasn’t any LUXT. I figured you needed an investor. Don’t worry—it’s not because you saved my life. I genuinely liked your design. I’ll handle everything else. You just focus on the work."

Mindy’s voice trembled slightly. "Thank you."

"Call me Matthias," he said. "No ’Mr. King.’"

"Alright, Matthias."

He looked at her for a long moment, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. She looked down at the contract, unaware of his gaze.

Layton saw it all—the warmth, the quiet admiration, the small, genuine smile.

Matthias King, the man everyone feared, looked at Mindy Wilson as if she were the only person in the world. Layton’s fingers crushed the stems of the roses.

Matthias stood, straightening his jacket. "Rest. We’ll talk again soon."

She nodded, still holding the papers.

He turned toward the door.

Layton stepped back quickly, hiding around the corner as Matthias walked out, his footsteps steady, his expression calm.

When the corridor emptied, Layton leaned against the wall, breath shallow. The crushed bouquet hung limply from his hand.

Her words echoed in his head. I won’t love anyone anymore who won’t love me back.

She had loved him once. Past tense.

Now she didn’t.

And she never would again.

In the cafeteria, Ana balanced a tray of snacks while Zac walked beside her.

They turned a corner—and froze.

Missy Hawthorne hobbled down the corridor, her left leg wrapped in a thick bandage, her right arm in a cast. Her usually perfect hair was a mess, her expression a mix of pain and humiliation.

Ana blinked, then burst out laughing. "Oh, this is priceless."

Zac tried—and failed—to hide his grin. "What happened to her?"

Ana flagged down a nurse. "Excuse me, what happened to that woman?"

The nurse sighed. "Poor girl. She was at the hotel last night when the chaos started. Twisted her leg, fell down, and someone accidentally stepped on her hand with a heel. Very unfortunate."

Ana’s laughter doubled. "A heel? On her hand?"

The nurse nodded solemnly. "Yes."

As soon as the nurse walked away, Ana pulled out her phone. "Oh, this is going on record."

"You’re taking pictures?" Zac asked.

"Of course. For emotional support."

Zac shook his head, amused. "You’re unbelievable."

"No," Ana said cheerfully. "I’m efficient."

They walked back toward Mindy’s room, Ana humming as she scrolled through her photos. "You know," she said, "karma really does work fast."

"Remind me never to get on your bad side."

"Smart man."

Back in the room, Mindy was still reading through the contract when Ana and Zac returned.

Ana set the tray down dramatically. "We bring food and gossip."

"Perfect combination," Mindy said.

"Guess who we just saw limping down the hall like a tragic heroine?"

"Missy?"

Ana gasped. "How did you know?"

"Lucky guess."

"She’s in a cast and a leg wrap. Apparently, someone stepped on her hand with a heel. I almost felt bad for her."

"Almost?" Wade asked from the corner.

"Almost," Ana repeated. "Then I remembered who she was."

Mindy laughed softly.

Ana said proudly. "I even took pictures."

Layla, returning from the doctor’s office, looked between them. "What did I miss?"

"Missy’s downfall," Ana said sweetly. "Courtesy of gravity and bad luck."

Layla snorted. "Finally, some justice."

The room filled with laughter again, light and genuine.

For the first time since the gala, Mindy felt the heaviness in her chest ease. She looked around at the people surrounding her—Layla fussing with her blanket, Wade pretending not to smile, Ana dramatically recounting her threats, Zac teasing her.

For a moment, everything felt right.

She had survived. She had saved a life. And somehow, despite the chaos, she had found peace.

Mindy leaned back against her pillows, her smile soft but certain.

Outside, at the far end of the corridor, Layton Knight stood alone. The crushed white roses hung from his hand, petals scattered across the floor.

Her words echoed again—I won’t love anyone anymore who won’t love me back.

He turned away slowly, unable to look back.

Inside the room, Mindy smiled faintly.

Return gifts, she thought.

Some came as contracts.

Some came as karma.

And some came as the quiet realization that she was finally free.