"Impossible! How could Wren Wynter possibly be Elder Hawthorne’s student!" Seraphina Sutton’s eyes went wide.

’If she’s Elder Hawthorne’s student, why is she working as a flight surgeon?’

"Yeah, what kind of joke is this? She’s just an ordinary flight surgeon. How could she possibly be Elder Hawthorne’s student? Cole, did we hear that right?" Nathaniel Quinn anxiously sought confirmation from Kaden Xavier.

"We didn’t." Kaden Xavier stared intently at the radiant Wren Wynter on stage, unable to tear his eyes away for even a second.

’He’d never known that Wren Wynter was Julian Hawthorne’s student.’

And she had never mentioned a single word of it to him.

’Or maybe she tried to tell me, but I never cared enough to listen back then.’

’So, what exactly did Wren sacrifice for me!’

Seraphina Sutton was so furious she could have ground her teeth to dust.

She had always thought of Wren Wynter as nothing more than a fallen socialite who was good for nothing. She assumed Wren had only gotten into the Xavier Group’s airline by using her connection to Kaden Xavier.

’To think she hid it so well!’

’And now I’m the one who looks like a fool!’

"Miss Sutton, do you think we wouldn’t recognize the junior sister we grew up with?" Leo Crowe said, his face devoid of expression as he looked down at Kaden Xavier and his two companions. He let out a cold sneer.

The others looked on with equal coldness.

’They all remembered it clearly—how this group had tormented the junior sister they all cherished.’

Kaden Xavier’s throat felt dry. He stared at Wren Wynter, speechless for a long moment.

’Right now, she seems more like an unattainable dream.’

Kaden Xavier had never imagined the distance between him and Wren Wynter could be so vast, yet so close.

Seeing Kaden Xavier staring as if mesmerized, his eyes fixed on Wren Wynter without wavering for a second, Seraphina Sutton was so consumed by jealousy she wanted to rush up there and rip that pretty face to shreds.

She forced a smile and stepped out from behind Kaden Xavier and Nathaniel Quinn. With her eyes downcast, her voice sounded frail and uncertain.

"But last time, at the entrance to the banquet, we clearly saw Dr. Park take Dr. Wynter to see Elder Hawthorne. And Elder Hawthorne didn’t seem to know Dr. Wynter very well at all."

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was just loud enough for everyone to hear.

The implication was clear: Wren Wynter’s position as his student was obtained through shady means.

If they had truly known each other for a long time, a teacher would never seem unfamiliar with his own student.

Everyone understood the insinuation, and their gazes toward Wren Wynter filled with disdain and contempt.

It was hard to say whether she was studying medicine... or something else entirely.

Wren Wynter’s expression darkened. She strode forward in a single bound and slapped Seraphina Sutton across the face.

"Miss Sutton, don’t you know there’s a price to pay for spreading rumors?"

Seraphina Sutton was stunned by the slap.

’Wren actually hit me in front of all these people.’

She immediately suppressed her fury and put on a pitiful act. She trembled, her eyes red-rimmed, as she clutched her stinging cheek.

"Dr. Wynter, I’m telling the truth! If you don’t believe me, you can ask Nathaniel and Kaden! If I’ve told a single lie, may I die a horrible death!"

Her passionate declaration convinced many people in the crowd.

Many had already been suspicious of Wren Wynter’s sudden appearance, and now they no longer bothered to hide their scorn and disdain.

"That’s right! The three of us saw it with our own eyes that day. Even if you don’t believe the two of us, are you saying you don’t believe Cole? He has no reason to lie!"

Kaden Xavier remained silent.

’Deep down, I don’t want to believe Wren is that kind of person... but how else can I explain what we saw that day?’

Wren Wynter took a deep breath.

She no longer cared what Kaden Xavier thought. Her sharp gaze swept over Seraphina Sutton, catching the flicker of triumph in the other woman’s eyes.

"Is that so? The burden of proof lies with the one who makes the accusation. If you can’t produce a shred of evidence to prove what you’re saying, I will have my lawyer contact you directly and sue you for slander!"

A flicker of panic crossed Seraphina Sutton’s face, but she quickly regained her composure.

’What can Wren possibly do to me?’

’Everything I said was true. What other people choose to think is their business. It has nothing to do with me.’

"The security footage from outside the hotel can prove it."

Wren Wynter was furious.

’Today is my teacher’s birthday, and they’ve ruined it, even dragging his name through the mud with these disgusting accusations.’

She clenched her fists. Just as she was about to speak, a hand rested on her shoulder and gently pulled her back.

Shaun Quinn’s powerful presence and his undeniably handsome face instantly captured everyone’s attention.

He extended his hand to one side.

A man in a suit immediately handed him a tablet.

Without a word, Shaun Quinn swiped a few times on the tablet. The large screen on stage flickered to life.

On it were the figures of a little girl, several young boys, and Julian Hawthorne.

"This is from a documentary about our teacher and us, his students. If you don’t believe it, feel free to have an expert authenticate it."

"You could have just hired some child actors..."

Seraphina Sutton had barely finished speaking when Kaden Xavier, standing beside her, shot her down.

"No. That little girl is Wren."

He had seen Wren Wynter when she was a child; he knew without a doubt that the little girl on the screen was her.

With Kaden Xavier’s confirmation, everyone finally believed that Wren Wynter truly was Julian Hawthorne’s student.

Having been publicly contradicted, Seraphina Sutton became the target of everyone’s scorn. The crowd began to condemn her for instigating the conflict.

Seraphina Sutton’s face went deathly pale. She almost lost her footing, grabbing tightly onto Nathaniel Quinn’s sleeve to steady herself.

She forced an ugly smile, her voice hollow. "Is that so? Perhaps I was mistaken."

"You think a simple ’I was mistaken’ is enough to let this go?"

Shaun Quinn’s icy gaze fell on Seraphina Sutton’s pale face. He reached back and squeezed Wren Wynter’s hand.

Wren Wynter instantly felt a comforting warmth spread from Shaun Quinn’s palm.

The intimate gesture between them grated on Kaden Xavier. His eyes turned red as he stared at their clasped hands, a bitter taste filling his mouth.

’I should be the one holding her hand.’

"Then... what do you want?"

Seraphina Sutton shrank behind Kaden Xavier, her voice trailing off as she looked at Shaun Quinn and asked timidly.

"Either you apologize, or I sue you for slander."

"I... Kaden..."

Seraphina Sutton tugged on Kaden Xavier’s sleeve with a wronged expression, hoping he would stand up for her.

But Kaden Xavier’s attention was entirely on Wren Wynter. He had no interest in helping Seraphina Sutton.

Fuming, Seraphina Sutton turned her pleading gaze to Nathaniel Quinn.

But Nathaniel Quinn wasn’t about to stick his neck out. He was still waiting on a project from Julian Hawthorne to save his family’s company.

Left with no other choice, Seraphina Sutton could only grit her teeth. She stepped forward reluctantly and muttered in Wren Wynter’s direction.

"I’m sorry..."

Shaun Quinn said coldly, "Too quiet."

"I’m sorry!"

Humiliated, Seraphina Sutton’s face flushed crimson as she shouted her apology to Wren Wynter.