Wren Wynter followed Finn Wynter back to Grace Wynter’s hospital room and found Mason Shaw inside, examining Grace.

"Dr. Wynter, Mr. Wynter, you’re back just in time."

After finishing the examination, Mason Shaw saw that the two had just returned and decided to update them on Grace’s condition.

"Basically, there are no major issues. Her vital signs are stable. We can remove the ventilator today."

"Okay, thank you, Dr. Shaw." Wren nodded at him politely, but her gaze remained fixed on Grace, her delicate brows furrowed.

Seeing her reaction, Mason Shaw gave a helpless little laugh. "Dr. Wynter, is it that you don’t trust my medical skills?"

"Of course not!" Wren let out a laugh.

’How could he possibly think that?’

"That’s good. I was starting to think Dr. Wynter was doubting my abilities," Mason Shaw said, half-joking.

Wren then realized he must have misunderstood because she had been staring at Grace the whole time.

She nodded apologetically. "Not at all. We really have you to thank this time, Dr. Shaw. If you hadn’t caught it in time, my aunt might have really..."

Wren let out a long sigh. Mason Shaw reached out as if to pat her head, but he restrained himself and pulled his hand back halfway.

Finn Wynter, who was standing to the side, witnessed the entire exchange, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

"If you really want to thank me, why don’t you treat me to a meal? There’s no time like the present. How about today?"

"Okay." Wren didn’t like being indebted to people.

"No." Finn stood up and looked at Mason Shaw apologetically. "I’m sorry, Dr. Shaw, but Wren and I have things to take care of today. How about another time? I’ll treat you then."

Wren looked at Finn, confused.

’When did I say I was busy today?’

Mason Shaw wasn’t discouraged. His gentle smile was flawless. "Alright, another time then. Just let me know whenever you’re free."

With that, he excused himself, saying he had other work to do, and left.

Wren was completely baffled and asked Finn why he had refused.

"Wren, haven’t you noticed? That Dr. Shaw treats you differently."

Finn sometimes felt his sister was truly dense when it came to matters of the heart. It was hard to imagine she had gotten married right after graduation.

"Brother, you’re overthinking it. We’re just colleagues."

She and Mason Shaw had only met a few times. Even though they worked at the same hospital, they rarely had a chance to talk. ’How could he possibly like me?’

’It’s fine, though. I have a lot to do today anyway. We can always reschedule for a day off.’

The siblings chatted in the hospital room for a while longer before a young nurse called Wren away.

When she finally got off work, Wren received a call from Ho-ran Park.

"Hello, Senior, what’s up?"

"Junior, you haven’t forgotten what day it is, have you?"

Ho-ran Park’s voice on the other end held a hint of resignation.

Wren was at a loss for words, her mind racing to figure out what day it was.

She picked up the wall calendar nearby and saw a date she had circled. Beside it, she had written "Teacher’s Birthday" in large red letters.

!!!

’Oh my god, I almost forgot! It’s our teacher’s birthday today!’

Wren pressed a hand to her forehead and said apologetically, "I’m so sorry, Senior. I’ve been swamped these past few days. I’ll head home and change right now."

"Okay, hurry up. I’ll come pick you up."

"Okay."

Wren quickly packed her things, rushed home, changed into an evening gown, grabbed the gift she had prepared long ago, and went downstairs to get into Ho-ran Park’s car.

It was their teacher’s birthday, so there would surely be many bigwigs from the medical world and executives from other healthcare companies using this opportunity to network with Julian Hawthorne.

Aside from the three years she was married, when she hadn’t attended, she had gone to her teacher’s birthday banquet almost every year.

The routine was always the same. Afterward, their teacher would have a separate, private celebration at home with his wife and his few students.

She hadn’t seen Ho-ran Park in a few days, and he had lost a lot of weight. There were even dark circles under his eyes.

"Senior, are you okay? Last time, you and Joy..."

"Junior, sometimes I really don’t understand you women. You say you like someone, so why do you still get all lovey-dovey with other men?"

A jolt went through Wren’s heart.

’That’s not right. Did something happen between them?’

"Senior, Joy isn’t that kind of person. I can ask her about it for you some other time."

"No need. It was never going to work between us anyway. Why add more trouble for ourselves?"

Wren wanted to say more but held back, ultimately just letting out a sigh.

「Twenty-five minutes later」

The car pulled up in front of a five-star hotel.

Ho-ran Park and Wren got out of the car and ran right into Kaden Xavier’s party of three, who were also there for the birthday banquet.

The moment Kaden saw Wren, his eyes were glued to her, unwilling to move away even for a second.

Today, Wren was wearing a wine-red, floor-length slip dress. Her black, curly hair was swept to one side, and she wore unusually heavy makeup, a departure from her usual bright and innocently alluring image. Every movement exuded a captivating charm.

Kaden had never seen this side of Wren before. The allure she radiated made her stand out, impossible to miss even in a crowd.

Seeing Wren like this, Seraphina Sutton gritted her teeth in hatred, her smile barely holding on.

’With a face like a vixen, all she knows is how to seduce men!’

"Wren." Kaden couldn’t help but call out to her.

Wren stopped and turned to see Kaden.

Their eyes met.

Although Wren knew Kaden was handsome, she was always struck anew by his features every time she saw him.

A sharply defined face, sculpted and well-proportioned features, thick brows over large eyes, and a gaze as sharp as a blade, tinged with a complex sorrow. His sensual, thin lips seemed poised to speak.

He wore a black suit that accentuated his long, straight legs. One hand was in his pocket, his dark hair was slicked back, and he exuded a cold, unapproachable aura.

His appearance drew the gazes of many women, who began whispering amongst themselves about him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I’m here for Elder Hawthorne’s birthday banquet. What are *you* doing here?"

Wren’s expression was cold. "None of your business."

With that, she took Ho-ran Park’s arm and walked inside.

Watching their intimate and coordinated movements, Kaden pressed his lips into a tight line as a storm began to brew in the depths of his calm eyes.

"Kaden, you shouldn’t ask so many questions. Dr. Wynter doesn’t like you. If you keep pestering her, she’ll only hate you more," Seraphina said softly, tugging at his sleeve.

’I wasn’t even planning on coming to this kind of banquet. Good thing I did, or that bitch Wren would have snatched Kaden away.’

"Cole, don’t forget we have important business to attend to today," Nathaniel Quinn reminded him.

’She’s only qualified to attend Elder Hawthorne’s birthday banquet because she’s good at seducing men,’ he thought, thoroughly displeased with Wren.

"I know," Kaden answered calmly. He pulled his sleeve from Seraphina’s grasp and walked inside without a backward glance.