Chapter 119: The Same Old Act

Mindy and Matthias remained at their table, eating birthday cake while the celebration continued around them.

She had just taken another bite when Matthias leaned slightly toward her and said something low enough that only she could hear. A second later, Mindy laughed softly, her eyes bright in a way they rarely had been before.

Across the room, Drake and Missy noticed.

Missy’s gaze lingered on Mindy for a moment.

Tonight, Mindy looked different.

Relaxed.

At ease.

Genuinely happy.

Missy lowered her eyes and gently tugged at Drake’s sleeve.

"Drake..."

He turned to her.

Missy’s expression was soft, hesitant, almost apologetic. "Maybe we should invite Mindy to dinner at the Hawthorne mansion."

Drake frowned slightly. "Dinner?"

Missy nodded.

"It’s been months since she came home," she said quietly. "The last time we were all together was when she saw the design... and everything went wrong."

Her voice lowered further.

"I know that misunderstanding was partly my fault. I still feel terrible about it."

Her eyes turned glossy.

"Dad is still angry with me because of everything that happened. I know Mindy doesn’t come to the mansion because of me. I just... I really want to fix things."

Drake’s expression softened.

He glanced toward Raymond and Emily, who were nearby speaking with business associates and maintaining the same polished smiles they always wore in public.

The Hawthorne Group had been struggling for months. Securing the King’s Meadow project had helped, but it wasn’t enough. They still needed stronger connections, more opportunities, and a better public image.

Then Drake looked back at Mindy.

She was laughing at something Matthias had said.

He remembered how she used to look around the Hawthorne family.

Careful.

Guarded.

Her smiles had never reached her eyes.

But now...

Now she looked more alive than he had seen in years.

Drake’s heart softened.

"Don’t blame yourself," he said quietly. "You’ve already apologized enough."

He hesitated, then added, "I wish Mindy could be as understanding as you are."

Missy’s lips curved into a small, fragile smile.

Drake stood.

"Come on. Let’s invite her. Maybe we can finally fix this."

Missy nodded and stood with him.

Together, they walked toward Mindy and Matthias.

Drake pulled out a chair beside Mindy and sat down without waiting.

"Mindy."

Mindy slowly turned toward him.

"What do you want, Mr. Hawthorne?"

Drake’s expression flickered.

"Do you really have to call me that?"

Mindy set her fork down neatly.

"You’ve misunderstood me," she said, her tone calm and even. "I severed my relationship with the Hawthorne family. So we’re no longer brother and sister."

Drake’s face tightened.

For a moment, sadness flashed in his eyes.

Then guilt.

Then irritation.

He knew exactly where this had come from. He knew what had happened that day had been wrong. He knew he had stood there and said nothing when his father blamed Mindy.

He knew he had chosen the family over her.

And still, hearing her say it so plainly hurt more than he expected.

"Mindy," he said firmly, "we will always be brother and sister. A severance letter doesn’t change that."

Mindy looked at him quietly.

She didn’t argue.

She didn’t need to.

Her silence made his words sound thinner than he wanted them to.

Drake took a breath and tried again.

"Come back to the mansion with us. Let’s have dinner together. Everyone misses you."

Mindy gave a small, almost amused scoff.

"Not interested."

Missy stepped forward at once.

"Mindy..."

She wore the same gentle expression she always used when she wanted to appear sincere.

"Drake just wants to repair the relationship between all of you. Everyone misses having you around."

She clasped her hands together.

"Please. Just one dinner."

Then, as if offering a compromise, she added quickly, "If you don’t want me there, I won’t join you. You can have dinner with Drake and the others."

Drake glanced at her, touched by her supposed consideration.

Then he looked back at Mindy.

His expression slowly hardened.

"What else do you want us to do?" he asked. "Do you want us to beg?"

Mindy’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Missy looked at her with shining eyes, as if she was the wounded party trying to help.

"Missy has been trying so hard to bring you back," Drake said, his voice turning colder, "and you’re still acting like this."

He frowned.

"Since when did you become so heartless?"

Matthias, who had been quietly listening, tightened his hand around his glass.

He didn’t interrupt.

Mindy didn’t need anyone to speak for her.

And she didn’t ask him to.

She only looked at Drake.

Then she smiled.

It wasn’t a warm smile.

It wasn’t even a bitter one.

It was tired.

"Who made me this heartless?"

Drake froze.

The question struck him harder than he expected.

Mindy still didn’t look angry.

That was what made it worse.

She looked exhausted.

As though she had said the same thing too many times and no longer expected it to matter.

Drake’s jaw tightened.

"Fine."

He stood back up.

"Have it your way. Let’s go, Missy."

Missy immediately shook her head.

"No, Drake..."

Her eyes filled again as she looked at Mindy.

"Mindy, please. Just give us one chance."

She stepped closer and reached for Mindy’s hand.

Mindy instinctively pulled back.

But Missy held on.

Her grip remained light enough to look harmless, but firm enough to be deliberate.

Then, when Drake turned his head for only a moment, Missy’s expression changed.

Just for an instant.

A faint, calculated glint flashed through her eyes.

And then—

She suddenly jerked backward.

"Ah!"

Her body fell to the floor.

The entire ballroom reacted at once.

"Missy!"

Drake shot forward and crouched beside her, panic replacing the frustration on his face.

He helped her up carefully. "Are you alright?"

Missy shook her head quickly, her voice trembling. "It wasn’t Mindy’s fault."

She sniffled, looking small and fragile. "I fell down myself."

Drake lifted his head sharply toward Mindy.

His expression changed instantly.

"Mindy!"

His voice was harsh now. "Why do you always behave like this? We were only talking to you. Why did you push her?"

Matthias stood.

Slowly.

His expression turned cold.

"You’re an idiot."

Drake’s face darkened.

Matthias looked at him without emotion. "Did you even see what happened? She fell by herself."

Missy shook her head at once, her voice soft and pained. "Mr. King is right."

She lowered her eyes.

"Mindy didn’t push me."

Drake stared at her in disbelief.

"You don’t have to lie for her."

His voice rose. "She’s done this before."

Missy looked down, still playing the part of someone trying to protect Mindy despite being the victim.

By then, Raymond and Emily had already arrived.

Raymond’s expression was stern.

"What happened?"

Missy immediately answered in a trembling voice, "Dad..."

She looked as though she might cry again.

"It was my fault. I fell down."

She glanced toward Mindy.

"She didn’t push me."

Raymond looked at Mindy.

"Mindy, is that true?"

Mindy’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

For a second, she almost laughed.

This was the first time.

The first time Raymond Hawthorne had actually asked her what happened before deciding she was guilty.

She leaned back a little in her chair.

"This is new."

Raymond frowned. "What?"

Mindy smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it.

"This is the first time you’ve ever asked me what happened."

Her gaze turned colder.

"Before, you always blamed me first. You believed her without even asking."

Raymond’s mouth tightened.

"Just tell me what happened."

Missy’s eyes flickered.

Mindy looked at him for another moment, then said plainly, "I didn’t push her."

Emily stepped in immediately.

"Raymond, why are you even asking? Why would Missy fall by herself?"

Missy quickly shook her head. "Mom, please..."

Tears gathered in her eyes.

"It really was my fault. Mindy didn’t do anything."

Drake’s patience finally snapped.

"Dad!"

He looked furious now.

"Why are you blaming Missy?"

He pulled Missy closer to him protectively.

"Mindy pushed her. She’s always been jealous of Missy."

Mindy looked at him.

"Why would I push her? And Why would I be jealous of her?"

Drake went silent.

Mindy continued, her voice still calm.

"Why? I severed my relationship with your family. I left the Hawthorne mansion. I don’t want anything from any of you."

Her gaze moved briefly to Missy.

"And I’m doing perfectly fine without you."

Her eyes sharpened.

"So tell me—what exactly does she have that I want?"

Drake had no answer.

Missy’s expression shifted subtly.

Then she stepped forward again, her voice soft and apologetic.

"Mindy, I’m sorry."

She lowered her head. "It was my fault. Please don’t say things like that."

Mindy almost laughed.

Still the same.

In her previous life, this scene had happened over and over again.

Missy would fall.

Everyone would turn against Mindy.

Mindy would cry, explain herself, beg them to listen.

And no one ever did.

But this time—

She wasn’t that woman anymore.

Footsteps approached from the other side of the pavilion.

Layton, Hannah, and Matthew had arrived.

Layton’s gaze immediately settled on Missy.

"What happened?"

Missy hurried toward him and threw her arms around him.

"Layton..."

She clung to him with tearful eyes. "I’m sorry. This is all my fault."

Then she looked toward Mindy.

"Sister didn’t do anything."

After that, she turned toward Matthew and Hannah.

"I’m sorry, Grandfather. I caused such a scene on your birthday."

Matthew’s expression changed slightly.

So did Hannah’s.

The way she addressed him so naturally—like a daughter-in-law—did not escape notice.

Layton looked down at Missy.

"Are you alright?"

Missy nodded weakly. "I’m fine."

Layton then looked toward Mindy.

His expression cooled at once.

"Mindy, apologize to her."

Mindy stared at him.

Then she laughed.

There was no humor in it.

"Why?"

Layton’s jaw tightened. "Just apologize and let this matter end here."

Mindy slowly stood.

"President Knight, why should I apologize when I didn’t do anything?"

Hannah immediately looked at Layton.

"Layton..."

Her tone carried clear disapproval.

But Layton remained stubborn.

"Apologize."

Mindy’s expression turned cold.

"No."

She met his gaze directly.

"I will not apologize for something I didn’t do."

Matthias stepped beside her.

His voice remained calm, but it carried a quiet edge.

"Is this how you treat your guests, Mr. Knight?"

Layton looked at him.

Matthias continued, "Your girlfriend creates a scene, and without even finding out what happened, you blame your guest."

Layton’s fist tightened.

"Drake and Missy both saw what happened."

Then his gaze shifted back to Mindy.

"And this isn’t the first time."

His voice turned colder.

"She has bullied Missy repeatedly."

Matthew finally struck the end of his cane against the floor.

Bang!

The entire ballroom went silent.

He looked toward Missy.

"Miss Hawthorne, are you injured?"

Missy quickly shook her head.

"No."

"Do you need a doctor?"

"No, Grandfather."

Matthew nodded once.

Then he turned to Raymond.

"Then perhaps you should take your daughter home."

Raymond’s face flushed.

Matthew’s voice remained calm, but it carried authority.

"If she is so fragile that a fall requires this much commotion, she should rest."

The surrounding guests exchanged glances.

Missy’s teeth clenched.

She lowered her head and pretended to sniffle.

"I’m alright."

Matthew nodded.

"Good."

His gaze swept over the room.

"Then let’s not create any more scenes on my birthday."

Layton looked at Mindy one last time.

Frustration burned in his eyes.

But Mindy didn’t even look at him.

Matthias gently took her hand.

Mindy glanced at him and smiled faintly.

"I’m fine."

Mindy shrugged slightly.

"This is normal in the Hawthorne family."

Matthias looked at her.

"This doesn’t make it alright."

Matthias’s expression darkened.

"It’s a good thing you’re not part of that family anymore."

Mindy looked at him for a moment.

Then she smiled.

She felt no anger.

Only relief.

Across the room, Aaron watched everything with an amused smile.

His eyes lingered on Mindy for a moment.

Missy really is talented. She had Layton wrapped around her finger.

Very interesting.

And judging by the expression on Layton’s face...

This birthday banquet was going to be far more entertaining than he had expected.