Chapter 112 Redbrick Colony

The evening sky had deepened into darkness by the time Mindy finished reviewing the final design draft. She leaned back in her chair, rolling her stiff shoulders before glancing at the clock.

8:30 p.m.

At that exact moment, her phone began to ring.

Grandma Hannah.

A soft smile touched Mindy’s lips as she answered. "Hello, Grandma."

Hannah’s warm voice came through immediately. "Mindy, dear. Did I disturb you?"

"Not at all. I was just finishing up some work."

There was a brief pause before Hannah asked carefully, "Layton visited you today, didn’t he?"

Mindy let out a quiet sigh. "Yes. He came to invite me to Grandpa Matthew’s birthday banquet."

Another silence followed, this one more hesitant.

"Mindy," Hannah said gently, "you’ll come, won’t you?"

Mindy turned toward the floor-to-ceiling window. Beyond the glass, Greendale’s lights shimmered across the darkened city, scattered and distant.

After a moment, she replied, "I’ll attend. But I’ll be bringing a friend. I hope Grandpa won’t mind."

Hannah immediately laughed. "Mindy, you could bring ten friends if you wanted, and Matthew would still be delighted to see you."

Mindy smiled faintly. "Thank you, Grandma."

Hannah’s voice softened. "I know the Knight family didn’t treat you well. I also know Layton has finally realized how badly he hurt you."

She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "Is there truly no chance left for the two of you?"

For several seconds, Mindy didn’t answer. She simply watched the lights outside. Finally, she said, "I don’t love him anymore."

Her voice wasn’t angry. It wasn’t resentful. It was simply... empty.

"I waited years for him. I gave him every chance. He chose Missy every single time." She smiled faintly. "At some point... my heart simply stopped waiting."

Hannah felt her own heart ache. "I’m sorry, child."

Mindy shook her head even though Hannah couldn’t see her. "You don’t need to apologize. I’ve already let go. I genuinely hope Layton marries Missy. They’re perfect for each other. I only want my divorce."

Hannah sighed. "I only want you to be happy. I’ll support whatever you decide."

Mindy smiled. "I know. I’ll see both of you next week."

After hanging up, she quietly placed her phone on the desk.

Meanwhile, at the Old Knight Mansion, the living room was completely silent. Hannah slowly lowered her phone. Across from her, Layton sat motionless. He had heard every word.

Matthew Knight slowly walked out from his study, his expression unusually serious. "So... she has truly let you go."

Layton remained silent.

Matthew continued. "If you still want Missy... then divorce Mindy. I won’t stop you."

Hannah nodded. "You never gave that girl the dignity she deserved. No one outside this family even knows she’s your wife. She suffered enough."

Matthew snorted. "Jasper won’t even answer my calls anymore. I lost my oldest friend because of your stupidity. You’ve already taken enough from that child."

Layton finally spoke. "I don’t want a divorce."

Both elders looked at him.

"I won’t marry Missy."

Silence.

Matthew frowned. "Then what exactly do you want?"

Layton answered without hesitation. "I’m bringing my wife home."

Matthew slammed his cane against the floor. "Enough! She doesn’t want you anymore! You were the one who demanded divorce. So let her go."

Layton slowly stood. His voice remained calm. "No. I won’t."

Matthew stared at him for several long seconds before turning around. "Stubborn. Exactly like me." He walked away. Hannah sighed helplessly before following him.

Layton remained standing alone.

Back at Rona Design, Mindy picked up her handbag. "Amelia."

The bodyguard immediately appeared. "The car is ready."

Mindy nodded. "Let’s go."

Inside the car, Amelia asked, "Home, Miss Wilson?"

Mindy looked outside. "No. Redbrick Colony."

Amelia’s hands froze on the steering wheel. "...Redbrick?"

Mindy nodded. "Yes."

Located on the neglected outskirts of Greendale, Redbrick Colony was one of the oldest and most dangerous neighborhoods in the city.

Broken streetlights cast uneven shadows across the cracked roads. Abandoned factories stood like hollow skeletons along the industrial district, while illegal gambling dens operated behind unmarked doors. Small gangs controlled nearly every block, and most business owners paid protection money simply to keep their shops open.

People rarely called the police. Everyone knew the gangs would hear about it before the authorities even arrived.

"Miss Wilson," Amelia said cautiously, "if you need something from Redbrick Colony, I can arrange it for you. I don’t think we should go there ourselves, especially not at this hour."

Mindy didn’t look up. Her attention remained fixed on an article displayed on her phone.

"There’s no need," she replied calmly. "We’re going now. I need something from there, and I have to retrieve it myself."

Amelia hesitated. "Miss Wilson, at least let me call Vivian. She can come with us."

Mindy finally lifted her gaze.

"If we wait for her, it’ll be too late." She slipped her phone into her bag. "Let’s go."

Amelia knew better than to argue. She nodded and started the car.

Thirty minutes later, the car slowly entered the colony. Even though it was only nine at night, nearly every shop was already closed. The streets were unnaturally quiet.

Mindy finally spoke. "Stop near that bookstore."

Amelia followed her gaze. An old wooden sign barely hung above a narrow shop.

Page & Pen

A single yellow light glowed inside. They stepped inside. The tiny bell above the door rang softly.

A teenage girl looked up from behind the counter. She couldn’t have been older than sixteen. A young man around twenty-two was arranging books nearby. Both looked surprised. Customers rarely visited at night.

The girl smiled politely. "Can I help you?"

Mindy smiled back. "I’m looking for some old books." She handed over a folded paper. "The Blackwood Chess Codex. And these."

The young man took the list. "I’ll check."

Ten minutes later, the young man returned with two dusty antique books tucked under his arm. Mindy paid him without bargaining.

"Thank you."

The siblings exchanged grateful smiles.

Amelia, however, was completely confused. If Mindy had wanted the books, she could have bought similar ones anywhere. Why had she insisted on coming all the way to Redbrick Colony, especially alone, just to get them?

Outside, Amelia started the engine.

"Let’s—"

"Wait here for a moment," Mindy interrupted.

Amelia turned to her, unable to understand what was going through Mindy’s mind. Still, she obeyed.

The two women sat in silence inside the car.

One minute passed.

Then two.

Then five.

Nothing happened.

Amelia was just about to ask Mindy what they were waiting for when a deafening crash shattered the silence.

CRASH!

The unmistakable sound of shattering glass echoed through the night.

Amelia immediately reached for the door. "I’ll check."

Mindy opened her own door. "We’re going together."

The bookstore door hung halfway open. Another violent crash came from inside, followed by a girl’s terrified scream.

When Mindy and Amelia stepped through the entrance, they froze.

Five men had taken over the small bookstore.

A young man lay pinned to the floor, blood trickling from his nose as two men repeatedly kicked him in the ribs. Nearby, a teenage girl struggled desperately against three others who were dragging her toward the back room.

"No! Brother! Let me go!"

Despite the punches raining down on him, the young man forced his head up.

"Naomi! Run!"

One of the thugs grabbed him by the hair and slammed a fist into his face.

"Shut up!"

The others burst into laughter as Naomi cried even harder.

"Please! Somebody help!"

The man leading the group grinned at her.

"There’s no one coming to save you. Stop struggling. You’ll only make it hurt more."

Before he could say anything else, a calm female voice interrupted him.

"Well... this doesn’t look very gentlemanly."

Every head turned toward the entrance.

Mindy stood beneath the broken doorway with both hands tucked into her coat pockets. Her expression was relaxed, almost indifferent, as though she had merely walked in on a minor disagreement.

The leader’s gaze traveled over her, and a slow smile spread across his face.

"Well, well. Tonight just became more interesting."

"Miss, please run!" Naomi cried desperately. "They’ll kill you!"

One of the men immediately slapped her across the face.

"I told you to shut your mouth!"

Mindy’s eyes turned cold.

She looked directly at the leader and spoke in an even tone.

"I’ll make this simple. Let them go, and I’ll pretend I never saw any of this."

The leader threw his head back and laughed.

"Did you hear that? The little lady wants to negotiate."

His men joined in, their laughter filling the ruined bookstore.

One thug sauntered toward Mindy. He stopped in front of her and reached out, intending to seize her chin.

His fingers never touched her.

Mindy moved so quickly that no one saw exactly what she had done. In the next instant, the man’s wrist was twisted sharply behind his back.

A sickening crack echoed through the bookstore.

The thug screamed.

"Ahhh!"

His knees buckled, and he dropped to the floor, clutching his injured arm.

The laughter died instantly.

Mindy tilted her head, her expression almost innocent.

"You were saying?"

The leader’s smile slowly vanished.

For the first time, the bookstore fell completely silent.