"Let’s just keep to ourselves. We don’t need to get tangled up in each other’s lives," Wren Wynter replied calmly, turning to watch the streetscape fly by outside the window.

’A good ex should act like they’re dead, shouldn’t they?’

’Besides, it seemed they weren’t suited to be friends, either.’

Kaden Xavier took a deep breath, a faint loneliness flickering in his eyes. He practically ground out the words through clenched teeth, "Wren Wynter, you’re ruthless!"

’Was she ruthless?’

Wren Wynter didn’t argue. The man’s magnetic, yet sarcastic, voice once again filled her ears.

"So you went and found some kid who’s still wet behind the ears? Looks like your taste has taken a nosedive."

’Wren Wynter recalled the scene at the restaurant, playing along with Zane Langley’s act. Kaden must have seen it and gotten the wrong idea.’

’Let him misunderstand. It didn’t seem necessary to explain.’

Kaden Xavier took her silence as confirmation, and a bitter smile touched his lips.

’She just hadn’t chosen him.’

The two of them fell silent again. The ringing of Kaden Xavier’s phone shattered the quiet like a hammer blow.

Wren Wynter couldn’t help but glance at the car’s display. The call was from Helen Sawyer.

Kaden Xavier hung up without a second thought.

But the caller was persistent, calling back again and again. The incessant ringing was grating in the cramped space of the car.

Wren Wynter ventured, "Is it because I’m here that you can’t answer?"

"No."

The phone rang again. Before Kaden Xavier could react, Wren Wynter reached out and pressed the answer button.

"Kaden, are you busy? Why aren’t you answering my calls? Did you meet Tina? What did you think of her? Do you like her?"

Helen Sawyer’s words came out in a torrent. Wren Wynter pieced it all together and understood. She guessed Kaden Xavier had been at the restaurant for a blind date.

Wren Wynter couldn’t quite put a name to the feeling in her heart, but she listened calmly to the conversation between mother and son.

’Her heart no longer stirred for Kaden Xavier.’

Kaden Xavier shot a sideways glance at Wren Wynter, then replied in a displeased tone, "Not great."

"Why not?" Helen Sawyer’s voice rose an octave. "I spent ages finding Tina! She’s from a good family. What’s not to like?"

"I didn’t meet her."

"What?! You didn’t go? You stood her up?!" Helen Sawyer erupted. "What am I supposed to do with you? It’s been five years! How much longer do you plan on being single? Other people have kids in kindergarten already, and you don’t even have a partner!"

’Kaden Xavier has been single for five years?’

’Was he waiting for me?’

"Don’t tell me you want the Xavier family line to end with you! How can you face your grandmother if you act like this?"

At the mention of his grandmother, Wren Wynter’s eyelashes fluttered.

’Grandma had been gone for a long time now. She was starting to forget what she looked like.’

Perhaps sensing the shift in Wren Wynter’s mood, Kaden Xavier’s tone grew cold. "You don’t need to worry about my life. Besides, in Grandma’s heart, she only ever had one granddaughter-in-law." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Without waiting for a response, Kaden Xavier hung up and turned off his phone.

"Wren, do you want to go see Grandma together?"

"I’ll go by myself." Wren Wynter had no desire to get tangled up with him. "Was Mr. Xavier dissatisfied with his blind date? Why didn’t you even meet her?"

"Wren, you know you’re the only one for me. You know this wasn’t my idea." Kaden Xavier turned to look at her, searching her face for any sign that she cared, but he found nothing.

"It wouldn’t matter even if it was your idea. We’re long divorced. It’s perfectly fine for you to remarry, and I sincerely hope you find someone you love," Wren Wynter said from the heart.

Kaden Xavier’s expression darkened. He unconsciously tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his voice tinged with anger. "So is your ’someone’ that greenhorn kid?"

"Who I like has nothing to do with you! Just like who you like and marry has nothing to do with me." Wren Wynter averted her gaze, her voice perfectly calm. "Kaden Xavier, your irrational behavior is becoming a problem for me."

Wren Wynter’s words were like a knife stabbing straight into his heart.

’He seemed to recall saying those very words to her once.’

In the past, whenever they fought over Seraphina Sutton, he had always felt Wren was being irrational. Only now, standing in her shoes, did he finally understand how she must have felt.

It felt as if all the strength had been drained from Kaden Xavier’s body. For the first time, he felt a pang of guilt toward Wren Wynter.

He took a deep breath. "Wren, that’s not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean? Kaden Xavier, don’t you get it? We’re divorced! Even if Zane Langley and I were a couple, it would still have nothing to do with you!"

At her words, it felt as if a hand had seized Kaden Xavier’s heart, squeezing so tightly he could barely breathe.

Wren Wynter glanced out the window. "This is it."

The car pulled to a stop outside the gates of View Gardens.

After a quick "thank you," Wren Wynter hastily pushed the door open and scrambled out.

She didn’t want to stay a second longer, nor did she want to exchange another word with Kaden Xavier.

Kaden Xavier watched until Wren Wynter was inside, then leaned back against his seat and silently lit a cigarette.

He gave a bitter tug at the corner of his mouth and covered his eyes with his free hand.

He didn’t know how long he sat there outside View Gardens. It was only when his phone rang with an urgent call from Assistant Lynch that he finally drove away.

Butler Chandler was coming out of the kitchen with a tray of tea when he saw Wren Wynter push the door open and step inside. His face lit up with excitement.

"Miss... Young Miss! You’re finally back!"

Wren Wynter looked around the familiar house, and a sense of being home washed over her.

For the past five years in Aferia, she hadn’t had a single night of peaceful sleep. She would often just be drifting off when a new group of wounded patients would be rushed in.

But she had found it fulfilling.

"Young Miss, you’ve lost weight," Butler Chandler noted, his eyes tinged with sadness.

He had watched Wren Wynter grow up. In his heart, she was like his own daughter.

Wren Wynter walked over, gently patted his shoulder, and smiled. "Uncle Chandler, don’t worry. They didn’t mistreat me over there. I was just really busy."

"You have to remember to eat, no matter how busy you are. I’ll go make you a bowl of noodles so you can get something in your stomach. Starting tomorrow, I’ll have the kitchen make some nourishing soup for you."

"Thank you, Uncle Chandler."

When the steaming bowl of clear noodle soup was placed in front of her, Wren Wynter’s eyes lit up.

You couldn’t get cooking like Uncle Chandler’s in Aferia, and she had really been craving it.

"Uncle Chandler, your cooking is still the best."

"Young Miss, will you be leaving again?"

Butler Chandler’s question made Wren Wynter pause, mid-bite. She feigned a casual air.

"I’m not sure yet..."

On this last trip, she had learned a great deal, but she had also come face-to-face with her own powerlessness at times.

She was exhausted, but she wanted to continue her work.

"Young Miss, you were gone for five years. You’re not going to leave again, are you?" Butler Chandler asked, his face etched with worry.

At the time, he only knew that Wren Wynter was going away on a long trip. It wasn’t until later that he found out she’d gone to such a dangerous place.

He had been so worried he hadn’t slept properly for nights, constantly on edge, terrified something would happen to her. If she got hurt, he wouldn’t be able to face her parents in the afterlife.

"Young Miss, please... please don’t go. If anything were to happen to you, how could I ever face the Master and Madam?"

"Uncle Chandler, don’t worry. I’m with Doctors Without Borders. We have international protection. Nothing will happen," Wren Wynter soothed.

"But..."

Wren Wynter ate the last bite and let out a little burp. "I’m full. Uncle Chandler, I’m tired, so I’m going to get some rest. Good night."