Chapter 117: A Ballroom of Secrets

The Royal Pavilion remained alive with conversation.

Crystal glasses chimed softly under the glow of chandeliers, champagne flowed freely, and the room was filled with the quiet confidence of people who had spent their lives moving among power. Businessmen traded investment rumors.

Politicians exchanged polished smiles. Socialites drifted from group to group, collecting names, alliances, and favors with practiced ease.

And among them all, Aaron Knight looked entirely at home.

He stood near a cluster of businessmen, listening with a relaxed smile as they discussed overseas expansion and market trends.

He laughed at the right moments, shook hands at the right times, and remembered every name he was given. His manner was warm, effortless, almost careless.

But the ease was only on the surface.

His eyes missed very little.

Across the pavilion, Mindy stood beside Hannah Knight, listening politely as the older woman spoke to her about the guests moving through the hall.

"You should visit us more often," Hannah said with a fond smile. "I hardly see you anymore."

Mindy’s expression softened. "I’ll try, Grandma."

Hannah seemed about to say more, but a pair of wealthy women approached just then to speak about next month’s charity gala. Hannah turned to greet them, and Mindy took the opening to step away.

She had barely taken two steps when a voice stopped her.

"Miss Wilson."

Mindy paused.

After a moment, she turned around.

Aaron stood several feet away with his hands tucked casually into his pockets. A faint smile curved his lips, giving him the appearance of a man who had wandered into the banquet for amusement rather than a member of the Knight family, where every word and gesture carried hidden meaning.

"I’ve heard quite a lot about you," he said.

Mindy raised an eyebrow. "Have you?"

His smile deepened. "Perhaps I should call you Mrs. Knight instead."

Mindy’s expression remained calm.

"Mr. Knight, I wish I could say the same."

Aaron’s eyebrow rose.

"No one in the Knight family has ever mentioned you."

For the briefest moment, the smile vanished from his face.

His eyes sharpened, and the relaxed warmth in them disappeared.

Then, just as quickly, his charming expression returned. He gave a quiet laugh, as though she had said something amusing rather than pointed.

"I heard you were straightforward."

For an instant, his smile thinned. The change was so subtle that most people would have missed it.

Mindy did not.

"I prefer to be honest," she replied.

Aaron studied her in silence, as though comparing her answer with something he had already been told.

"That’s exactly what I heard."

Mindy tilted her head slightly. "And where did you hear so much about me?"

His smile widened again, lazy and effortless.

"You’re quite famous, Miss Wilson."

His gaze drifted around the ballroom before returning to her.

"And not only in Greendale."

Mindy did not answer immediately. She simply watched him.

There was something about Aaron that unsettled her.

He was charming, polite, and relaxed. He carried himself like a man who could walk into any room and make himself at home without asking permission.

But behind that easy smile was something else.

Calculation.

Not aggression. Not open suspicion.

Something quieter.

Something far more deliberate.

Before Mindy could decide how to respond, another voice came from the side.

"Aaron."

Layton approached with a composed expression and a calm voice. However, his gaze moved briefly between Aaron and Mindy before settling on his cousin.

"Aaron, come with me. I’ll introduce you to a few of our business partners."

Aaron did not move.

Instead, he turned his head slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Are you worried I’ll steal sister-in-law’s attention?"

Layton’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Aaron noticed, and his smile widened.

"I’m only joking."

He turned back to Mindy, his tone becoming light once again.

"I only wanted to meet my sister-in-law."

Mindy’s lips curved into a faint smile, but there was no warmth in her eyes.

"We’re getting divorced soon."

Layton’s expression hardened.

Mindy continued as though she had not noticed his reaction.

"You can help your brother with the divorce. Then he can finally marry Missy."

"Mindy."

Layton’s voice dropped, quiet but warning.

She looked at him, making it clear that she had no intention of being silenced.

A spark of interest flashed through Aaron’s eyes, though his smile remained in place.

"It seems I arrived at a very interesting time."

Before either of them could respond, Missy appeared beside Layton. She moved with the graceful confidence of someone who had already decided she belonged at his side.

Without hesitation, she slipped her arm through his.

"What are you all talking about?" she asked brightly.

Layton’s body stiffened for the briefest moment.

He did not pull away.

But he did not relax, either.

Mindy noticed.

So did Aaron.

"Nothing, Miss Hawthorne," he said smoothly. "I was only getting to know my sister-in-law."

His gaze shifted deliberately toward Mindy, lingering for a moment before returning to the others.

"Although, from what I’ve heard, she won’t be my sister-in-law for much longer."

Then his eyes moved to Layton.

The smile remained on his face, but there was a subtle challenge in his gaze.

"Isn’t that right, Brother?"

The word landed with polished precision.

Layton’s expression turned cold.

Not angry.

Not explosive.

Just cold.

Mindy glanced between Aaron and Missy, her expression calm but her eyes watchful.

"Do you two know each other?"

Missy stiffened.

The change was brief, almost imperceptible, but Mindy caught it. A moment later, Missy forced a smile and shook her head.

"No, we don’t."

Aaron remained perfectly composed. The relaxed smile on his face did not falter, and not even a flicker of surprise crossed his features.

Mindy studied them both.

"Really?" she asked lightly. "You seem rather familiar with each other."

Missy’s fingers tightened around Layton’s arm.

Mindy’s gaze shifted briefly to her before returning to Aaron.

"I assumed Mr. Knight might have already introduced his girlfriend to his cousin."

The words were delivered in an even tone, but the implication behind them was unmistakable.

For the first time, Missy’s smile looked strained.

Aaron, however, only gave a quiet, amused laugh. His expression remained calm, as though Mindy had merely made an innocent observation.

Layton’s gaze darkened.

Around them, the conversation in the ballroom continued, but the small circle surrounding the four of them seemed to fall strangely silent.

Before Missy could answer, Matthias walked up beside Mindy.

"Let’s go."

Mindy turned to him. "Where?"

"Something to eat."

Her face softened immediately. "Good idea."

She started to move, but Missy’s voice stopped her.

"Sister," Missy said in a tone so sweet it was almost cloying, "don’t mind Aaron. He’s only joking."

Mindy turned back slowly.

"He’s telling the truth."

Missy’s smile faltered.

Mindy’s gaze drifted toward Missy’s arm still linked through Layton’s.

"Maybe you should convince President Knight to finalize the divorce soon," she said calmly. "Otherwise, I might just sue him."

Missy’s face drained slightly of color.

"And then," Mindy added, her voice still perfectly even, "everyone will know exactly what kind of relationship you two have."

Missy’s expression stiffened.

"Sister..." Her voice turned soft and wounded. "There is nothing going on between us. We’re only friends."

Matthias’s gaze shifted to Missy’s hand on Layton’s arm.

Then he looked back at her.

"Then maybe you should say that," he said calmly, "without hanging onto him."

Missy’s eyes sharpened.

"It doesn’t concern you, Mr. King."

Matthias didn’t so much as blink.

"No," he said. "It doesn’t."

His voice remained level.

"But if you’re going to make a statement in front of everyone, you should at least make it believable."

Missy clenched her jaw.

For a brief moment, the room seemed to hold its breath.

Then Aaron stepped forward.

"Mr. King."

Matthias turned toward him.

Aaron extended his hand with that same easy smile. "It was nice meeting you."

Matthias took the hand.

"Likewise."

The handshake was perfectly proper.

But neither man smiled.

Neither of them looked away first.

For several seconds, they simply regarded one another.

Two men.

Both controlled.

Both intelligent.

Both powerful in different ways.

It was the kind of silence that told everyone nearby that something had already been measured, weighed, and filed away.

Then Matthias turned to Mindy.

"Let’s go."

She nodded.

Without looking back, she walked away with him.

The movement was quiet.

Simple.

But Layton watched her go with his eyes fixed on her retreating figure, following her until she disappeared into the crowd.

He had wanted to stop her.

Wanted to say something.

Anything.

But no words came.

Because what was he supposed to say now?

Aaron watched Layton for a moment in silence.

Then he smiled.

"So," he said lightly, "when are you going to divorce her?"

Layton’s expression didn’t change, but the air around him seemed to cool.

"Why don’t you ask Grandpa?"

Aaron gave a small laugh. "That’s not an answer."

Layton said nothing.

He simply turned and walked away.

Aaron watched him go, amusement lingering in his eyes.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Across the ballroom, Missy had already recovered her composure.

She glanced at Aaron once, just briefly.

Aaron’s gaze met hers.

Neither of them smiled.

Neither of them spoke.

But something passed between them in that instant.

A quiet understanding.

Something old.

Something unspoken.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

Just enough to matter.

And somewhere in the middle of the celebration, three different players had already begun making their next move.