"What happened?" Kaden Xavier’s voice was tight.

His mind went blank, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the phone.

The panic of losing Wren Wynter coiled around his heart again, plunging him into an icy abyss and sending his heart hammering in his chest.

Even his heartbeat was flying.

"Miss Sutton tried to murder Miss Wynter. She hit her with her car. We’re at the hospital where Miss Wynter works now," Lucas Lynch reported dutifully. "Miss Wynter only suffered minor injuries."

Even knowing Wren Wynter only had minor injuries, Kaden Xavier couldn’t suppress the panic and fear gripping his heart.

His thin lips pressed into a tight line, his narrow eyes filled with a chilling, murderous intent. "I’m on my way. Did you call the police?"

"Yes, the police have her in custody. Miss Wynter plans to press charges. Mr. Xavier, should you..."

"Do whatever she wants."

Kaden Xavier hung up. The temperature around him dropped so suddenly that people passing by flinched and gave him a wide berth.

「Meanwhile, in the examination room.」

A nurse was cleaning Wren Wynter’s wound. Shards of glass were embedded in her fair palm, a gruesome sight.

The sharp, stinging pain made Wren Wynter’s brow furrow.

’Have I offended some god recently? Why is everyone trying to harm me?’

"Dr. Wynter, just bear with it a little longer. We’re almost done," the nurse said comfortingly. Even she thought it looked painful.

Lucas Lynch stood to the side, looking utterly mortified.

"Okay," Wren Wynter said, turning to Lucas Lynch. "Assistant Lynch, please don’t blame yourself. This wasn’t your fault. It’s getting late, why don’t you go home and get some rest?"

Wren Wynter’s thoughtfulness only made Lucas Lynch feel more ashamed. "No, it’s fine, Miss Wynter. I’m not tired. Mr. Xavier is back; he should be here any minute."

The words had barely left his mouth when Kaden Xavier burst in.

The man was dressed in the deep blue fabric of a captain’s uniform. The extra stripe on his epaulets signified his exceptional authority and seniority.

His tall, imposing frame of 185 centimeters emanated an intangible sense of pressure.

"Wren." Kaden Xavier’s gaze locked onto her beautiful, gentle features, his deep voice stripped of all its usual coldness.

Usually so impassive, he now completely forgot to hide the terror in his eyes.

Wren Wynter glanced up at him.

The icy look she gave him made Kaden Xavier’s heart stop. His gaze fell to the wound on Wren Wynter’s palm, and his pupils contracted as a towering rage surged within him.

’Seraphina Sutton, how dare she?!’

Wren Wynter spoke, her voice devoid of emotion. "If you’re here to plead for Seraphina Sutton, then we have nothing to talk about."

"I’m not here to plead for her," Kaden Xavier explained, his brow furrowed.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"To see you." Kaden Xavier’s deep, dark eyes flickered. "I’m sorry. I didn’t handle this well."

"It has nothing to do with you. You don’t need to apologize to me. As for Seraphina Sutton, I won’t let her get away with it this time." Wren Wynter’s every word was as unyielding as iron.

"Okay."

Wren Wynter was taken aback.

’Kaden Xavier isn’t defending Seraphina Sutton? But she’s his unforgettable first love.’

"You’re really not here to plead for Seraphina Sutton?" Wren Wynter was still skeptical.

Last time, he had resorted to underhanded means just to get her to drop the charges against Nathaniel Quinn.

"I’m not."

Hearing this, a flicker of emotion disturbed the calm surface of Wren Wynter’s eyes.

’Have pigs started to fly? Or is this just some roundabout tactic of his?’

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Kaden Xavier’s shoulder from behind and shoved him violently to the ground.

Shaun Quinn’s eyes were ice-cold. "Kaden Xavier, you have the nerve to show your face? Let me tell you, I will see this through to the end. I’ll make sure that woman rots in jail. Don’t even think about helping her escape justice."

He had sped over the moment he heard Wren Wynter had been in an accident.

"I won’t help her escape justice," Kaden Xavier said in a low voice.

Wren Wynter’s expression was placid. She reached out, placed her hand on Shaun Quinn’s, and shook her head.

"Kaden Xavier, I don’t want to see you right now. Please leave."

"Wren..." Kaden Xavier felt a sharp prick in his heart, as if from a needle.

Shaun Quinn said coldly, "Didn’t you hear her? She told you to get lost."

Kaden Xavier gave her one last, reluctant look before turning and leaving the examination room.

In the hallway, Lucas Lynch approached him and said in a low voice, "Mr. Xavier, Miss Sutton is requesting to see you. The police have approved a visit."

Kaden Xavier paused, a flash of disgust in his eyes. "When?"

"You can go now."

"Arrange for a car."

「Detention Center Visiting Room.」

Seraphina Sutton was wearing an orange detention center vest. Her hair was a mess, and her makeup was smudged beyond recognition.

Her hands were cuffed as she sat on the other side of the glass partition. The moment she saw Kaden Xavier walk in, tears streamed from her eyes.

"Kaden, Kaden, you’re finally here!" She threw herself against the glass. "You have to save me! I don’t want to go to jail, I really don’t want to go to jail..."

Kaden Xavier sat down across from her, his expressionless face separated from hers by the thick glass. His intimidating aura was on full display.

His stare made Seraphina’s skin crawl, but she couldn’t afford to care.

She sobbed, her voice trembling. "Kaden, I didn’t mean to. I really didn’t... I just love you too much. I was so scared, scared you would leave me... I didn’t want to kill her, I just wanted to scare her..."

"Seraphina Sutton, you should be grateful Wren is still alive." Kaden Xavier’s indifferent tone was laced with a bone-chilling cold, making it clear he had no intention of dwelling on their past.

If Wren Wynter’s luck had been any worse, he would have been looking at a cold corpse.

If that had happened, he would have killed Seraphina Sutton.

Seraphina Sutton’s heart dropped. Her panic mounted, and tears streamed down her face. "Kaden, for the sake of our past, for Asher’s sake, please save me, okay? I promise, I’ll never go near Wren Wynter again. I’ll stay far away from you both. I’ll never..."

"There is no ’after.’ You’re on your own now." Kaden Xavier’s voice was as cold as ice.

He would not give her another chance to hurt Wren Wynter, nor would he show any mercy.

With that said, he turned and walked toward the door.

Seraphina Sutton froze, then began pounding on the glass like a madwoman, her voice a desperate, resentful scream. "Kaden! Kaden, don’t go! You can’t do this to me! You promised you’d take care of me for life! Asher is watching you from heaven! How can you face him after this?"

’How could her Kaden be so cold and heartless to her?’

’What does that bitch have that I don’t!’

’Her only regret was not killing Wren Wynter!’

Kaden Xavier didn’t look back.

The door closed behind him, shutting out Seraphina Sutton’s hysterical screams.

’I’ve long since repaid my debt to Asher Lynch!’

「The same day, in another visiting room at the detention center.」

Nathaniel Quinn sat in a chair, looking at Seraphina Sutton on the other side of the glass.

She was a tear-streaked mess, looking both pathetic and pitiful.

"Nathaniel, Nathaniel, save me..." Seraphina Sutton pleaded through the glass. "You’re the only one who can help me..."

Nathaniel Quinn was silent for a long time before asking, "Were you the one who drove the car that hit Wren Wynter?"

Seraphina Sutton shook her head frantically. "It’s not what you think... I didn’t mean to hit her! The car went out of control..."

Nathaniel Quinn’s expression was complicated. "Do you know what the sentence is for attempted murder?"

"Nathaniel, please help me... for the sake of our many years of friendship."

Nathaniel Quinn closed his eyes.

"You said you’d always be on my side. You said you’d never let anyone hurt me..."

Nathaniel Quinn’s fingers slowly tightened into a fist on the table. He said hoarsely, "Seraphina, this is attempted murder. I can’t help you get off. There were too many witnesses, and the hospital’s security cameras caught everything."

Seraphina Sutton bit her lip. "Yes, you can."

Nathaniel Quinn froze.

"Just say... you were the one driving." Seraphina Sutton stared at him intently. "Didn’t you always say you liked me? Didn’t you say you’d do anything for me? Nathaniel, this is the only thing I’ve ever asked of you in my entire life... Help me. Take the fall for me this one time."

Nathaniel Quinn looked as if he’d been struck by lightning, his face a mask of disbelief. "You want me to take the fall for you?"