Meanwhile, in Aferia.

"Dr. Wynter, this patient’s bleeding won’t stop!"

Wren Wynter rushed over at the sound of their voice, not even having time to wipe away the sweat stinging her eyes.

The air was filled with the roar of continuous artillery fire, and dust and debris flew through the air from time to time.

At a time like this, no one dared to let their guard down.

The volunteer breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Wren approach. They quickly explained the patient’s condition before handing the case over to her.

Wren tried her best, but the bleeding still showed no signs of stopping.

Just then, a pair of large hands reached over from the side, joining in to help debride the wound with practiced coordination.

Supplies on the battlefield were extremely scarce.

Shaun Quinn took out a lighter and used a primitive method—cauterization—to stop the bleeding. The effect was immediate.

Wren looked at him with a complicated expression. "Thank you."

"Don’t mention it."

Shaun Quinn had a steady and reliable temperament, especially when it came to work. Wren was grateful for his company and assistance.

The two of them worked nonstop, and in the blink of an eye, evening arrived.

"Ready to get something to eat?" Shaun asked as he took off his white coat, his gaze fixed on Wren.

Wren nodded.

She wasn’t just exhausted, she was also starving.

"Dr. Quinn and Dr. Wynter, eating together!"

An older doctor walked over, looking at the two of them with a hint of playful teasing in his eyes.

Shaun pursed his lips into a small smile and subconsciously glanced at Wren beside him.

"Ah, to be young and still have the energy for a date! But why would people as young as you two think of coming here?"

Wren opened her mouth to explain their relationship, but the words caught in her throat, feeling awkward and difficult to say.

Dr. Dyer hadn’t been home in years and missed his family dearly. Unfortunately, with the constant warfare, there was always a shortage of personnel.

No one ever knew what the next second might bring.

A trace of melancholy flashed in Dr. Dyer’s eyes.

Shaun quickly said, "Yes, we were just about to find a place to eat."

Wren lifted the boxed meal in her hand. "Dr. Dyer, would you like to join us?"

Dr. Dyer smiled tactfully. "You young people have your own fun; I won’t get in the way. If you two end up together someday, remember to save me some wedding candy."

"That won’t happen!" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Wren retorted reflexively, completely oblivious to the way Shaun’s expression had darkened beside her.

Wren added, "Dr. Dyer, please don’t misunderstand. Dr. Quinn and I are just like brother and sister."

Dr. Dyer just smiled, shook his head, and left without another word.

Wren turned around, only to find that Shaun had already left at some point.

She hurried after him. "Senior Brother, are you angry?"

"No."

"No, you are," Wren insisted.

She had known Shaun since they were children and could always keenly sense his subtle shifts in mood.

Shaun didn’t break his stride, but his voice was a little heavier. "I’m not."

Wren quickened her pace and grabbed his arm.

"Here!"

She held out her hand. In her palm lay a piece of fruit candy—his favorite flavor.

"I just think it’s better to clear up unnecessary misunderstandings early. Don’t be mad anymore, okay?"

Shaun gave a bitter smile. ’Does she really want nothing to do with me that badly?’

「Back in their home country.」

Kaden Xavier gave Lucas Lynch an order. "Get me a flight to Aferia. For tonight."

He simply couldn’t wait any longer. The thought of Wren in a warzone had him constantly on edge.

Lucas Lynch hesitated. "Sir, you have a corporate strategy meeting scheduled for this evening. Won’t that be cutting it too close?"

He glanced at the information on his tablet and continued, "Aferia is in the middle of a war. The airport was bombed not long ago, so all direct flights have been suspended."

"Arrange a private flight!" Kaden Xavier’s tone left no room for argument.

After some difficulty, Kaden Xavier finally landed in Aferia.

As soon as he disembarked, his eyes fell upon a scene of utter devastation. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but rubble and ruined walls.

His security detail was on high alert. They had anticipated the situation in Aferia before they arrived, but they were still shocked by what they saw.

"Mr. Xavier, we’ve received the coordinates for the destination, but it’s located in a red-level danger zone."

The head of security placed his tablet in front of Kaden Xavier. The location was within the warzone.

They were paid well to provide protection, which meant risking their lives, but avoiding unnecessary risks was always the preferred option.

Kaden Xavier, however, was completely undeterred. "Go straight there."

The team leader nodded in acknowledgment. "Please be sure to stay close to us!"

Kaden Xavier’s group arrived in the warzone, and scenes they had grown accustomed to seeing on television unfolded before them in stark reality.

For the first time, Kaden experienced the thrill of a brush with death. But thinking of Wren in the midst of it all, he wished he could instantly fly to her side.

Inside the international medical base camp, the faces of the medical staff coming and going were etched with seriousness and fatigue. The condition of the soldiers was even more horrific, and occasionally, an injured medical worker would be carried past.

Kaden’s heart leaped into his throat, terrified that he would turn a corner and see Wren lying on a sickbed.

After weaving his way through a cluster of tents, he finally saw the person he had been thinking of day and night.

Wren was sitting in front of a stretcher, finishing up the treatment on a wound.

The soldier on the stretcher didn’t look very old, but he was missing the lower part of his leg.

Seeing this, the tightly wound string in Kaden’s heart finally loosened a bit.

The next second, he broke into a run toward her.

Wren felt someone suddenly grab her wrist. Annoyed, she looked up, ready to scold them, but froze when she met a pair of concerned and emotional eyes.

"Kaden Xavier? What are you doing here? You..."

Before she could finish, she was pulled into Kaden’s embrace.

A familiar scent enveloped her. Her face was pressed against his warm, solid chest, and she could even feel a dampness spreading on her shoulder.

"Thank God, you’re okay..." Kaden’s arms, holding her, were trembling, and his voice was choked with emotion.

Wren had never seen him like this before.

She could only reach up with her clean hand and gently pat his back.

"Yes, I’m okay."

"Dr. Wynter, how sweet! Who is this handsome guy?"

"Yeah, Dr. Wynter, don’t tell me this is your husband?"

"What are you talking about? Then what about Dr. Quinn?"

Wren ignored the teasing voices and pulled Kaden to a deserted corner.

Fatigue was evident in Wren’s expression. "Why are you here?"

Kaden avoided the question, grabbing her wrist and trying to drag her away. "Come back with me!"

Wren shook him off. "Kaden Xavier, don’t forget, there’s nothing between us now. I hope you’ll stop interfering in my life. I’m perfectly happy with how things are."

Shaun had heard from others that someone was looking for Wren. He’d subconsciously worried, so he quickly finished what he was doing and came to find her.

Unexpectedly, the first thing he saw was Kaden Xavier tugging at Wren, trying to drag her away with brute force.

Shaun stepped forward to block him. "Kaden Xavier, you have no right to take her away!"