"Grandpa Yates is getting old and can’t handle too much strain. Uncle Yates, you should try to persuade him to rest more," Wren Wynter said.

"Thank you, Miss Wynter. I will," Isaac Yates nodded.

Just as he finished speaking, the operating room doors opened again.

A nurse wheeled Maximus Yates out, preparing to take him to the ICU for observation.

Isaac Yates said his goodbyes and followed.

Wren Wynter’s energy was drained, and her stomach was growling traitorously.

She couldn’t be bothered to change her clothes, so she went to a vending machine on the first floor and bought a cup of instant noodles to tide her over.

Many doctors kept their drawers stocked with bread and compressed biscuits, but she couldn’t stomach them.

’Too dry.’

She used to just drink glucose solution when she had low blood sugar.

But ever since someone made a big deal about doctors drinking glucose on social media, the hospital had forbidden it.

They were afraid of causing unnecessary trouble.

But they ignored the well-being of the doctors themselves.

When she returned to her office, Wren Wynter found an exquisite bento box on her desk.

Assistant Lynch had appeared behind her at some point.

"Miss Wynter, I was worried you’d be hungry after your surgery, so I took the liberty of ordering some food. It’s from The Reed, that place you and Mr. Xavier used to frequent."

It was a private kitchen specializing in Hunan cuisine. Wren Wynter loved spicy food, but Kaden Xavier couldn’t handle it very well.

But he couldn’t resist her persistent coaxing, so Kaden Xavier laid down two ground rules with her.

They could only go once a month, and she wasn’t allowed to kiss him after eating.

Back then, lost in love, she had mistaken this tolerance for doting affection.

It wasn’t until she saw Kaden Xavier accompanying Seraphina Sutton to eat Hunan food time and again that she realized who he truly liked.

That’s why when Asher Lynch died, he used the excuse of a promise to his good friend to go take care of his "white moonlight."

He completely forgot that his wife minded a great deal, and that she needed him.

Unwilling to dwell on those uncomfortable memories, Wren Wynter lowered her gaze and opened the bento box.

Inside were her favorites: pork intestines, pork lungs, and stir-fried pork with chili peppers.

And coincidentally, they were all things Kaden Xavier disliked.

’I guess people who can’t eat the same things are doomed to fail.’

"Thank you, Assistant Lynch."

Wren was genuinely grateful that Assistant Lynch still remembered what she liked to eat.

"Don’t mention it, Miss Wynter. Mr. Xavier ordered it all." Assistant Lynch still didn’t forget to score points for his boss in front of Wren. "Actually, ever since Mr. Xavier moved out of the Xavier Family estate, he’s been eating at The Reed often, and he always orders your favorites."

At first, Kaden Xavier would always get so flushed from the spice that his whole face turned red, and even his lips weren’t spared. It even gave him mouth sores.

The worst time, he ate too much and got gastritis.

But Kaden Xavier never let Wren Wynter know about any of this.

As someone who knew the truth, Assistant Lynch was dying to tell Wren everything but was afraid his good intentions would backfire.

Wren Wynter paused, a mocking smile touching her lips. "With Seraphina Sutton?"

"No. When Mr. Xavier went to eat Hunan food with Miss Sutton before, it wasn’t because she likes it, but because he wanted to build up his tolerance for spicy food."

Wren didn’t know how to react to that answer.

"Also, Mr. Xavier rarely goes to Azure Dragon Bay. He hasn’t been back since Miss Sutton’s miscarriage."

"Why?" Wren was confused.

’Without the fetter of a child, wouldn’t Kaden Xavier be even more free to be with Seraphina Sutton openly?’

"Mr. Xavier has already given Azure Dragon Bay to Miss Sutton. His care for her is just a matter of duty. I can guarantee that Mr. Xavier has never done anything to betray your marriage."

Wren let out a laugh, not taking his words to heart.

’After all, no matter what, Assistant Lynch is Kaden Xavier’s man. Of course he’d speak up for him.’

She saw no need to argue the details with him.

Assistant Lynch realized he had overstepped.

He couldn’t figure out what Wren was thinking, so he quickly changed the subject. "Miss Wynter, you should eat before the food gets cold. I’ll wait for you in the car. We can go back to View Gardens whenever you’re ready."

"Okay, thank you."

After the bloody lesson from last time, Wren didn’t refuse Assistant Lynch’s offer.

After eating, she cleaned up her desk and went to the ICU to check on Maximus Yates’s condition.

"Uncle Yates, Grandpa Yates’s condition is stable for now. If nothing unexpected happens tonight, he can be moved to a regular ward tomorrow."

"Okay. Thank you, Miss Wynter. I’ll have to treat you to a meal to show my gratitude."

Wren waved her hand dismissively. "There’s no need, Uncle Yates."

"That’s a separate matter. You’ve saved my old man’s life twice. I can’t just ignore that."

Isaac Yates’s tone was sincere, so Wren couldn’t refuse again. "Alright then, Uncle Yates. I’ll be heading back. Call me if anything comes up."

"Okay."

Wren turned and left the ICU.

She changed her clothes and walked to the hospital entrance.

She saw Assistant Lynch looking down, seemingly texting. He looked up, saw her, and smiled respectfully. "Miss Wynter, please wait a moment. I’ll go get the car."

"Okay." The fatigue was evident in Wren’s eyes.

At that moment, a slender figure appeared not far from Wren.

Seraphina Sutton threw away a bloodied cotton swab and stared at Wren with a dark expression, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides.

’Kaden Xavier doesn’t care if I live or die, yet while he’s on duty flying, he thoughtfully arranges for Assistant Lynch to follow her around.’

’Have they made up?’

’No!’

’I absolutely will not allow it!’

Seraphina Sutton’s venomous, snake-like gaze swept over her before she turned and slipped away through a side door.

Wren was completely unaware of this, oblivious to the approaching danger. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

She glanced down at her watch. It was the early hours of the morning. The night wind carried the chill of late autumn, making her instinctively pull her coat tighter.

The low rumble of a car engine sounded from the distance.

Wren instinctively looked up, and blinding headlights shone straight into her eyes.

A silver-white sedan was rushing toward her at an incredible speed.

Wren’s face paled, but her body reacted faster than her mind.

She dove violently to the side, crashing to the ground. Her knees and palms scraped against the rough concrete, a searing pain shooting through them.

The silver-white sedan whizzed past, almost grazing her body. The wind it kicked up stung her cheeks.

The tires screeched sharply, the sound piercing the silence at the deserted hospital entrance.

Wren lay on the ground, panting heavily.

Through the windshield, she saw a familiar face.

It was Seraphina Sutton.

She was in the driver’s seat, her hands gripping the steering wheel, her expression twisted and savage.

There was no fear in her eyes, no remorse—only naked hatred and madness.

In the instant their eyes met, terror suddenly enveloped Wren.

’This isn’t an accident. This is premeditated murder by Seraphina Sutton.’

’Isn’t she afraid of going to jail?’

Seraphina Sutton’s lips moved.

Through the car window, Wren couldn’t hear what she was saying, but she could read her lips.

"Go to hell."

The silver-white sedan started to reverse, then sped recklessly toward her again.

Wren gritted her teeth and scrambled up, running toward the hospital entrance despite the excruciating pain in her knees.

The roar of the engine behind her grew closer and closer.

With another loud BANG, the silver-white sedan crashed into a pillar at the entrance.

White smoke billowed from the hood, and the car fell silent.

Wren leaned against the glass door, her legs gave out, and she slid to the ground.

She looked down at her hands. Her palms were covered in blood, and she couldn’t tell if it was from the scrapes or if she’d been cut by glass shards when she hit the ground.

Just then, Assistant Lynch ran over, his face etched with anxiety.

He anxiously checked Wren for injuries. When his gaze fell on the bloody wounds on her hands, his heart clenched.

’If Mr. Xavier finds out, he’ll probably skin me alive.’

"Miss Wynter, are you all right?"

Two security guards dragged Seraphina Sutton out of the car. "Let go of me! Do you know who I am? Lucas Lynch, if you dare touch me, Kaden won’t let you get away with it!"

The moment Lucas Lynch saw Seraphina Sutton, he was in disbelief. He never thought she would be so audacious.

"Miss Wynter, what do you want to do?"

"Call the police," Wren’s voice was cold and heavy.

She glanced at the frenzied Seraphina Sutton, finding her pathetic but impossible to pity.

Someone like her, who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals, didn’t deserve forgiveness.

...

「Meanwhile.」

Kaden Xavier had just gotten off his flight and turned on his phone, only to see hundreds of text messages and missed calls fill the screen.

Aside from the usual harassment from Seraphina Sutton, the rest were all calls from Lucas Lynch.

A sense of unease instantly washed over Kaden Xavier, and he quickly called him back.

"Mr. Xavier, something happened to Miss Wynter!"