To prove her point, Wren Wynter spun around on the spot and laughed. "I’m perfectly fine, head to toe. You can both relax!"

Joy Lynch smiled through her tears. "I’m just glad you’re okay. Do you have any idea? I’ve been worried sick these past few years. I used to hate the news, but now I’m terrified I’ll miss a single report from Aferia!"

Hearing this, Wren Wynter felt her eyes well up.

’There’s nothing more wonderful than being missed by your family and friends.’

"This is true love, isn’t it?"

"You know it."

As she spoke, Joy Lynch grabbed Wren Wynter with one hand and yanked Crystal Nash with the other, piling into a private car.

"Come on, I’m throwing you a welcome-home dinner! I made a special reservation. I guarantee I’ll feed you so much you’ll gain ten pounds!"

In the five years Wren Wynter had been away doing aid work, she had become little more than skin and bones.

The moment she touched Wren Wynter’s hand, Joy’s heart ached so much she could hardly breathe. Her pace quickened, terrified she wouldn’t be able to order the best food to fatten Wren up.

Crystal Nash was being dragged so hard she nearly fell, rendered utterly speechless. "Slow down... I’m in heels!"

Joy Lynch called back from ahead without turning around, "This is slow!"

Seeing that her speed didn’t decrease, Crystal Nash put a hand to her forehead, completely exasperated. ’Forget it. There’s no reasoning with her...’

Wren Wynter watched them, one so boisterous and the other so resigned, and the smile on her lips grew brighter.

’Everyone’s still the same.’

’This is nice.’

「Half an hour later.」

The trio arrived in a flurry. Wren Wynter followed Crystal Nash and Joy Lynch into the restaurant.

As she walked, Wren Wynter took in the restaurant’s decor and was surprised to see a familiar figure sitting by the window.

It was Zane Langley.

He was dressed in a well-tailored gray suit, his features handsome. Across from him sat a young woman, beautifully dressed and elegant, who spoke with a shy timidity.

Zane Langley, in contrast, was clearly distracted, his eyes darting around the room.

Suddenly, his gaze landed on the entrance and locked directly with Wren Wynter’s.

The next second, he looked as if he’d just seen his savior, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise.

He interrupted the young woman in front of him and stood up, walking toward Wren Wynter.

"Ms. Wynter! When did you get back?"

"Just today," Wren Wynter answered with a smile. She glanced curiously behind him and couldn’t resist teasing, "What’s this? Your family forcing you on a blind date?"

Zane Langley gave a bitter smile, his face a mask of pure exasperation.

"Yeah. Her family’s well-off, and my parents like her, but I just don’t feel anything for her."

As he said this, he sighed, a rare helplessness coming over him.

But the next second, his eyes lit up and his tone shifted. "Ms. Wynter, can you do me a favor? I’ll owe you one."

"A favor?" A sudden realization dawned on Wren Wynter. "You’re not thinking of..."

"Yes," Zane Langley’s lips curved into a cunning smile. "That’s exactly it. Please, just play along!"

Back at the table, the young woman was on pins and needles, constantly glancing over at Wren Wynter and Zane Langley.

’We were supposed to be getting to know each other better. How could he just run off halfway through?’

’What does this man take me for?’

...

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Joy Lynch and Crystal Nash, Zane Langley led Wren Wynter back to his table.

The young woman looked at Wren Wynter, then back at Zane Langley, her expression puzzled.

"And this is?"

Wren Wynter offered a gentle smile and extended a hand. "Hello, I’m Wren Wynter. I’m Zane’s girlfriend. I just got back from abroad."

"Girlfriend?!" the young woman exclaimed in astonishment.

Fearing she wouldn’t believe him, Zane Langley naturally wrapped an arm around Wren Wynter’s slender waist in an intimate gesture. "I’m sorry, but I already have a girlfriend. I wanted to meet today to make that clear to you."

Wren Wynter’s body went stiff, but she forced herself to maintain her smile.

’Next time,’ she thought, ’I’m definitely not doing anything that makes me enemies like this.’

The young woman’s expression immediately turned sour. She looked Wren Wynter up and down, her tone dripping with unconcealed hostility. "How come I’ve never heard Auntie Shaw mention you? And you look older than him. Do you think his mother would approve?"

’Huh?’

’Am I old?’

’I’m in my thirties... I guess that technically makes me a middle-aged woman, doesn’t it?’

Before Wren Wynter could speak, Zane Langley cut in, displeased. "It doesn’t matter if she approves or not. All that matters is that I like her."

His words were like pouring oil on a fire. The woman’s voice grew shrill, and she turned her sharp, caustic glare on Wren Wynter. "Ma’am, do you enjoy robbing the cradle?"

Wren Wynter remained completely unfazed by the provocation. Instead, she smiled with confidence and poise. "I don’t believe age is everything. It’s too rash to define a relationship by age alone."

Zane Langley nodded in agreement. "Exactly! I like her precisely because she’s so exceptional. Even though she’s older than me, it can’t stop my admiration and affection for her."

Seeing Zane Langley so openly defending her, the young woman felt utterly humiliated. In a fit of anger, she grabbed the glass from the table and threw its contents at him.

"You have a girlfriend and you still come on blind dates? You’re a liar!"

The young woman stormed out of the restaurant on her sky-high heels.

Zane Langley wiped his face with a napkin from the table. He looked like a mess, but there was a satisfied smile on his face.

Wren Wynter felt a bit sorry for the young woman. "If you didn’t like her, why did you have to waste both of your time?"

"You’re right, you’re right. My mistake. I admit I was wrong."

Zane Langley’s apology seemed sincere enough, so Wren Wynter didn’t press the issue. "Enough with the smart remarks. Go to the restroom and clean yourself up."

"Roger that. On my way."

Wren Wynter and Zane Langley walked side-by-side down the hallway. After turning a corner, they parted ways at a fork, each heading in a different direction.

But from behind, a gaze silently followed them.

One person spoke respectfully to the distinguished man beside him, who was radiating a cold, imposing aura. "Mr. Xavier, Miss Wynter... it seems she’s in a relationship."

"You don’t need to remind me." A frosty chill settled over Kaden Xavier’s features, and the hand he had on the table clenched into a tight fist.

’He had waited for her for five bitter years, sending her messages every day, never once getting a reply.’

’So she’d found someone new.’

’He had thought she would end up with Shaun Quinn.’

A bitter smile touched Kaden Xavier’s lips. He picked up his glass and drained it in one gulp.

When Wren Wynter arrived at the private room, Crystal Nash and Joy Lynch had already ordered a table full of delicacies, including a large bottle of strong liquor.

"Planning on drinking until we drop?" Wren Wynter teased.

Joy Lynch shook her head and discreetly pointed at Crystal Nash. "She’s the one who wants to drown her sorrows."

Crystal Nash poured herself a full glass and raised it in Wren Wynter’s direction.

"Wren, welcome home! I’ll drink to that!"

With that, she drained the glass.

Wren Wynter picked up her glass and took a small sip.

’She couldn’t hold her liquor and had no intention of making things hard on herself.’

"Crystal, eat something. Don’t just drink." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Yeah, Crystal, we’re here for a welcome-home dinner, not to get smashed."

Crystal Nash gave a bitter smile, then took two invitations from her purse and placed them on the lazy Susan, sending one to Wren Wynter and the other to Joy Lynch.

"The day after tomorrow, come to my wedding."