Chapter 110: Bringing a Plus One

The atmosphere inside Rona Design had shifted completely.

For the first time since the acquisition, employees from both LUXT and Rona Design were working together as one unified team. The entire Design Department had been consumed by a single project—

The Twin Royal Wedding Collection.

Senior designers from LUXT, including Gale Willow, had temporarily relocated to Rona Design to collaborate with Mindy’s team. Inside the main conference room, large sketches covered every available wall. Fabric samples, jewelry blueprints, and digital renderings cluttered the long table.

"The embroidery here feels too heavy," one designer said, frowning at a sketch.

"The neckline should be softer," another added.

"What if we merge both concepts?"

Ideas flew across the room. Mindy listened quietly, occasionally making small adjustments or offering guidance.

Just then—

Knock.

The receptionist peeked inside. "Miss Wilson?"

Mindy looked up.

"Mr. Knight is waiting for you in your office."

The room fell silent.

"...Mr. Knight?"

"The President of Knight Corporation," the receptionist clarified. "He said he has an appointment with you."

For a brief second, Mindy simply stared at her. Then she closed the file in front of her and handed it to Gale. "You all continue. I’ll be back."

A few minutes later, Mindy opened the door to her office.

Layton was already seated on the sofa, while Mike stood beside him with his hands clasped behind his back. The moment Mindy entered, Layton rose to his feet.

Without acknowledging him, Mindy walked calmly to her desk and sat down. She crossed one leg over the other, then offered him a polite smile.

"Mr. Knight."

Her gaze swept across the room.

"I believe you’re in the wrong office. This isn’t Missy Hawthorne’s office anymore." She paused deliberately. "Did you forget?"

Mike immediately lowered his head, his shoulders trembling as he struggled to suppress a smile.

Layton noticed. His expression darkened.

"Mindy..."

"Could you stop bringing her into every conversation?"

Mindy lifted an eyebrow. "Why? You always did. Your entire world revolved around her. I assumed it still did."

Layton closed his eyes briefly, as if forcing himself to remain patient.

"I don’t have feelings for Missy. I never did. I only owed her."

Mindy let out a soft, disbelieving scoff.

"No one will believe that, Mr. Knight."

She folded her hands neatly on the desk.

"So, what brings President Knight here?"

Only then did Layton seem to remember why he had come.

"My grandfather’s birthday banquet is next week. He wants me to invite you personally."

Mindy fell silent.

Matthew Knight.

Layton’s grandfather.

Of everyone in the Knight family, only Matthew and Hannah had ever treated her with genuine kindness. Every year, Knight Corporation hosted one of the grandest birthday banquets in Greendale.

Ironically, for two consecutive years, Mindy had been legally married to Layton, yet no one at those banquets had known. She had attended only as Raymond Hawthorne’s daughter.

Meanwhile, Missy had walked beside Layton, clinging to his arm like his girlfriend.

Mindy looked at him again.

"I’ll visit Grandfather personally and wish him a happy birthday. But I won’t attend the banquet."

Layton frowned. "Why not?"

She stared at him as though the answer should have been obvious.

"We’re getting divorced. What reason do I have to attend a Knight family banquet?"

"We aren’t divorced yet," Layton replied firmly. "And Grandfather and Grandmother both want to see you."

"I’ll explain everything to them," Mindy said calmly. "But I still won’t attend."

She paused, then added, "Actually, let’s finalize the divorce tomorrow. It’s only paperwork now, and I’d like to receive my divorce certificate."

Something inside Layton tightened.

"Why are you so determined to divorce me?" His voice rose slightly. "You’re still my wife. You should attend."

Mindy gave a quiet laugh.

"Wife?"

She looked directly into his eyes.

"At every banquet, Missy hangs on your arm while everyone assumes she’s your girlfriend. No one even knows you’re married to me." She leaned forward slightly. "And now you suddenly remember that I’m your wife?"

Silence filled the office.

Mindy continued, her voice calm but cutting.

"Didn’t you want to marry Missy? I’m helping you. We’ll get divorced, and then you can marry the love of your life."

A cold smile touched her lips.

"Don’t worry. I’ll even send the most expensive wedding gift."

The atmosphere turned frigid.

Even Mike stood perfectly still, afraid to breathe too loudly.

Layton stared at Mindy for several seconds. Then, in a voice so quiet it barely carried across the room, he said,

"I don’t want a divorce."

Mindy blinked.

Layton continued, his voice unusually gentle.

"I never wanted to marry Missy. And..." He hesitated, the words seeming unfamiliar on his tongue. "I’m sorry. I should have believed you. I never should have treated you that way. I never should have asked for a divorce."

Mike’s eyes widened.

President Knight was apologizing?

He had worked beside Layton for eight years and had never, not once, heard those words leave his mouth.

For a moment, Mindy simply looked at him.

Then another memory rose from the depths of her mind.

A dark warehouse.

Cold metal chains.

Blood.

The kidnapper’s voice echoing through the room.

"Choose one."

And Layton, without hesitation, had chosen Missy.

The warmth vanished from Mindy’s eyes.

She smiled, but there was no softness in it.

"Your apology..." she said quietly, "...came too late, Mr. Knight."

Something tightened painfully in Layton’s chest.

He didn’t understand. Whenever Mindy looked at him, it was as though she was remembering something, something that made her despise him.

But he had no idea what it was.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

After a long silence, he stood. "If you won’t agree now... just think about Grandfather. He really wants to see you."

Mindy did not answer immediately. She lowered her gaze, considering his words.

Finally, she said, "I’ll think about it."

Layton nodded, but he did not leave. After a brief hesitation, he spoke again.

"You need to be careful. You’re creating too much noise."

Mindy looked up at him. "Are you worried about your girlfriend? I haven’t even started yet."

Layton sighed. "I’m not worried about her. I’m worried about you."

Mindy narrowed her eyes. "You expect me to believe that?"

Her voice sharpened.

"I told you the truth about your accident, and you did nothing. Missy drugged you, and you still did nothing. You’ve let her get away with everything she’s done, and now you want me to believe that you’re worried about me?"

Layton’s expression tightened, but Mindy continued before he could respond.

"If I had actually done any of those things, you would have ordered your bodyguards to lock me up again. No food. No outside communication. No way to defend myself. You would have called it punishment, wouldn’t you, Mr. Knight?"

Her laugh was quiet and bitter.

"Your bias is truly on another level."

Anger began to rise in her chest as memories of the past resurfaced. It wasn’t because she still had feelings for Layton. Those had disappeared long ago. She was angry with herself for ever allowing him to control her life, for letting him do whatever he wanted while she endured it in silence.

Layton’s eyes widened. Guilt flickered across his face.

"I..." He struggled to find the right words. "It’s not like that. I..."

Mindy had never seen him look so unsettled before. Under different circumstances, she might have found it amusing. But there was nothing funny about the years of pain that had brought him to this moment.

She cut him off.

"Is there anything else, Mr. Knight?"

Layton fell silent.

After a long moment, he sighed and turned toward the door. He had almost reached it when he stopped.

Without looking back, he said quietly, "Be careful."

Then he left.

The office became quiet again. Mindy stared at the closed door for several seconds. Then she picked up her phone.

"Amelia."

The call connected immediately.

"Did you arrange tomorrow’s meeting?"

"Yes, Miss Wilson. Everything has been prepared."

"Good. What about the other matter?"

"As instructed."

A small smile appeared on Mindy’s face. "Excellent."

She ended the call. Almost immediately, Layla walked into the office.

"So? What did President Knight want?"

"He invited me to Grandpa Matthew’s birthday banquet."

Layla folded her arms. "You aren’t actually thinking about going..."

Before Mindy could answer, her phone rang again.

Matthias.

She smiled instinctively before answering. "Hello."

"You free tonight?"

"Yes."

"I’ll cook dinner. Come over."

Her smile softened. "I’d love to."

Then a mischievous thought crossed her mind. She glanced toward Layla. "Are you free next week?"

Matthias paused. "...Why?"

"Would you like to attend my husband’s family banquet?"

Silence.

Layla’s eyes slowly widened. Then she started laughing.

Matthias remained silent for nearly five seconds. Finally— "Are you using me?"

Mindy smiled unapologetically. "Yes."

A low chuckle came from the other end. "...Alright. I’ll come."

Mindy laughed. "See you tonight."

She hung up. Layla looked at her like she’d gone crazy. "You’re serious?"

"Of course. No one in Greendale knows I’m Layton Knight’s wife. So... I’m simply bringing my plus one."

Layla covered her face. "You are unbelievable."

Then she remembered something. "Oh. The Department Challenge results." She handed over a file. "The Finance Department won."

Mindy flipped through it. Then her eyes stopped on one name.

Robert Murphy.

Department Head.

She slowly smiled. "Interesting."

Layla nodded. "Every transaction with Aurielle Diamonds... passed through him."

Mindy looked at her. "You deliberately let Finance win."

Layla blinked innocently. "I would never."

Mindy simply stared. Five seconds. Ten seconds.

Layla finally sighed. "...Fine. I only asked Sienna to give Robert’s assistant a few ideas. Nothing else."

Mindy burst into laughter.

"Good." She closed the file.

"Our trap... is almost ready."

Layla smiled. "Just thirteen more days."