After what felt like an eternity, the door to the emergency room finally opened.

Mason Shaw walked out, his face etched with exhaustion. A large patch of his scrubs was soaked with sweat.

"Dr. Shaw, how’s my mom?"

Wren Wynter and Finn Wynter rushed forward at the same time.

"She’s stable for now." Mason Shaw pulled off his mask, his face weary. "The patient was injected with an overdose of potassium chloride, which caused cardiac arrest."

"Potassium chloride?!" Wren’s face paled. "How could that be...? My aunt’s medication doesn’t include potassium chloride!"

"That’s the problem." Mason Shaw’s expression was grave. "Potassium chloride is usually administered intravenously, but we checked the patient’s IV line and found nothing unusual. The injection site was on her left deltoid, as if... someone injected it directly with a syringe."

The color drained from Finn Wynter’s face, his expression turning terrifyingly dark.

A chill shot up from the soles of Wren’s feet.

’She was injected...’

’It was deliberate.’

"Fortunately, the dose wasn’t exceptionally large, and we caught it in time," Mason Shaw continued. "We’ve administered the appropriate antagonist drugs, and her vitals are stable now. But she’ll need to be observed in the ICU for 24 hours to make sure there are no other complications."

Wren let out a breath of relief, the tension in her brow gradually easing.

Finn said gratefully, "Dr. Shaw, thank you."

"I was just doing my job." Mason Shaw looked at Wren. "Dr. Wynter, are you all right?"

Wren shook her head. "I’m fine. Thank you, Dr. Shaw. If it weren’t for you..."

"Don’t say that," Mason Shaw interrupted her. "Ms. Wynter is my patient. It’s my responsibility."

Just then, a tall man in a black suit strode over and murmured something in Finn Wynter’s ear.

Finn Wynter nodded, his gaze growing even colder.

He turned to Wren. "They’ve pulled the surveillance footage."

The three of them went to the hospital’s security room.

The security guard on duty pulled up all the surveillance footage from the hallway outside Grace Wynter’s room, from 5:00 PM to the present.

Wren stared intently at the screen, not daring to blink.

5:10 PM, a nurse made her scheduled rounds.

5:30 PM, an orderly delivered dinner.

6:00 PM, Finn Wynter left the room.

6:30 PM, Wren left.

Everything was normal.

Then the time jumped to 7:10 PM.

A man wearing a black face mask and a baseball cap appeared on the screen.

His head was bowed and the brim of his cap was pulled down low. He walked quickly to the door of Grace Wynter’s room, glanced around to make sure the hallway was empty, then pushed the door open and went inside.

Three minutes later, he came out and hurried away.

He never once looked up, so the camera couldn’t capture his face.

But the watch—with its silver face and deep blue alligator leather strap—was exceptionally clear in the footage.

"It’s him..." Wren murmured.

Finn turned to look at her. "You’ve seen him?"

Wren recounted her encounter with the man from earlier that evening.

"I knew something was off at the time, but I never thought he would harm my aunt..." Wren’s voice trembled, thick with self-reproach. "It’s all my fault. If I had called the police, if I had been more vigilant, my aunt wouldn’t have..."

Finn looked at her seriously. "Wren, listen to me. This isn’t your fault. It’s that animal’s fault!"

His eyes were terrifyingly dark, like a provoked beast. "I’ve had my people look into the purchase records for this watch. If it’s a limited edition, we should be able to track it down quickly."

Wren forced herself to calm down and pointed at the monitor. "Wait, that watch... it’s so familiar."

She felt like she had seen that watch on someone before.

"Don’t rush. Think carefully," Finn said.

Wren stared intently at the watch, and suddenly, it hit her.

"It’s Nathaniel Quinn! Seraphina Sutton gave him a watch just like that. He treasures it and wears it all the time. It has to be him!" Wren turned to Finn. "Brother, have someone verify it."

"Okay."

An hour later, the news came back.

The watch was a limited edition from a certain luxury brand. It was the only one in all of Rivenport.

"So it really was him." Finn’s voice was as cold as ice.

Wren trembled with rage, her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug deep into her palms. "How could he... How could he harm my aunt."

She never imagined Nathaniel Quinn could be so inhuman, that he would go to such lengths for Seraphina Sutton.

’That’s a human life we’re talking about!’

"I’m calling the police right now." Wren picked up her phone.

"Wait," Finn said suddenly.

Wren was confused.

"For scum like him, the law isn’t enough. The only reason Nathaniel Quinn is so arrogant is because the Quinn Family has a bit of money, right? If the Quinn Family falls, let’s see how arrogant he is then!"

With that, he dialed a number, his voice returning to its usual composure. "It’s me. Send out the notice: cancel all our collaborations with the Quinn Family."

He hung up and immediately dialed another number.

One after another, Finn Wynter made seven or eight calls, each one to a key partner or investor of the Quinn Family.

"Finn, I’m worried Kaden Xavier won’t just stand by and watch," Wren said, her gaze lowered, her tone earnest.

Kaden Xavier might be cold and ruthless, but he was good to his family, friends, and loved ones.

Besides, given the relationship between their two families, he couldn’t possibly sit back and do nothing.

"Then we’ll see what happens. It’ll be the perfect chance to settle the score for all the grievances you’ve suffered over the years," Finn said, completely unafraid.

’This is my family.’

’No matter what happens, they will always stand by my side and protect me.’

"Thank you, Finn."

"What’s there to thank me for?" Finn Wynter ruffled her hair, a gentle gesture that contrasted with his icy gaze. "We’re family. Saying thank you is too formal. Besides, Nathaniel Quinn went after my mom. He should be prepared to pay the price."

Early the next morning, Wren went to give Old Madam Xavier her acupuncture treatment as usual.

She was being extra careful as she inserted the needles. Halfway through the treatment, the door to the room was pushed open gently.

Kaden Xavier walked in.

He wore a black trench coat over a white shirt and simple black trousers. The outfit emphasized his air of a wealthy young master, yet he also looked like a fresh college graduate.

Seeing Wren, he froze for a moment, then said softly, "Wren, you’re here."

"Mhm," Wren replied without even looking up, her hands never ceasing their work.

Looking at his grandmother’s pale, gaunt face, Kaden Xavier felt a sharp pang in his heart.

"How is... Grandma today?"

"Stable for now," Wren stated calmly, in the detached tone of a doctor reporting to a family member, as if she didn’t know him at all. "But she cannot be subjected to any more agitation."

Kaden Xavier was silent for a moment before saying awkwardly, "About yesterday, I..."

"She’s your grandmother. You have the right to make decisions for her. There’s no need to feel sorry for me," Wren interrupted him coolly, still not turning to face him.

Kaden Xavier’s gaze was fixed on Wren’s delicate profile, his own brow tightly furrowed.

He used to think Wren was melodramatic and unreasonable, and he never worried she would leave him.

But he never thought things between them would reach this point.

Kaden Xavier felt that familiar tightness return to his chest.

Just then, the door to the room was thrown open violently.