Kaden Xavier’s office was huge.

Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the city skyline, and the afternoon sun streamed through the glass, casting large patches of light on the floor.

Kaden Xavier walked to his desk, casually taking off his suit jacket and draping it over the back of his chair.

He wore a light blue shirt underneath. Having rushed back, his back was damp with sweat, the fabric clinging tightly to his body and outlining the smooth lines of his muscles.

Wren Wynter’s gaze swept over him unintentionally, but then it suddenly froze.

On the left side of his back, a scar was faintly visible beneath his shirt, extending diagonally downward from his shoulder blade.

She knew exactly how he had gotten those scars.

She hadn’t expected that after five years, the long-healed wound would leave such a ghastly, conspicuous scar on his body.

’I wonder if Kaden Xavier’s future wife will mind.’

’I wonder if he regrets his past recklessness, his disregard for the consequences...’

"Wren? Wren!"

Seeing Wren Wynter spacing out, Leif Shaw prompted her softly.

Wren Wynter snapped back to reality and looked up to find everyone looking at her.

"What’s wrong? You look a little pale," Ho-ran Park asked with concern.

Wren Wynter averted her gaze and shook her head, forcing a smile. "It’s nothing. I just didn’t sleep well last night."

Kaden Xavier stared at her, and a flicker of concern rose in his eyes, but he silently suppressed it when she looked away.

He pushed a stack of photocopied documents across the desk. "This is the revised and finalized project proposal. Take a look." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Ho-ran Park took them and distributed a copy to everyone.

Wren Wynter took her copy and sat on the sofa. She flipped through a few pages but found it hard to focus.

The scar on Kaden Xavier’s back was like an indelible image, etched deep in her mind.

Along with it, the memory of their perilous encounter all those years ago resurfaced, sharper than ever.

The heart-stopping worry and grief from that time had not faded, even after five years.

She patted her cheeks twice, hard, then let out a breath and shook her head, trying to force her mind back to the work at hand.

But her movements were so abrupt and conspicuous that everyone turned to look at her, confused.

"Miss Wynter doesn’t seem to be on her game today," Kaden Xavier said, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Seeing that the others seemed to agree, he continued, "Why don’t we stop here for today? You can take the proposals back with you to review. If you have any questions, we can discuss them anytime."

Ho-ran Park, also worried about Wren Wynter’s condition, nodded. "Alright. In that case, we’ll take our leave for today."

The group stood up and left the CEO’s office.

Wren Wynter was protectively surrounded by her companions, like a moon surrounded by stars.

Her senior brothers all shared the same unspoken concern about her coming face-to-face with Kaden Xavier again.

"Wren, are you okay?" Leif Shaw asked, voicing everyone’s worry.

From before lunch until just a moment ago, Wren Wynter had been perfectly fine. But after seeing Kaden Xavier for only a short while, she had become listless and preoccupied.

Not wanting her personal issues to affect the project collaboration, Wren Wynter looked up and forced a smile. "I’m fine, Fourth Senior Brother. I’m just a little drowsy from not sleeping well."

"Miss Wynter!" Assistant Lynch called out, catching up to them. "Please wait a moment!"

The group stopped and turned around in unison.

Lucas Lynch walked up to Wren Wynter and handed her a box. "Mr. Xavier asked me to give this to you."

Puzzled, Wren Wynter took it and opened it. Inside were several eye masks. The material was smooth and soft, cool to the touch, and carried a faint herbal scent.

"These are An Shen eye masks. They help with sleep. Miss Wynter, you could give them a try," Lucas Lynch explained thoughtfully.

Wren Wynter froze, a wave of complicated emotions washing over her.

’Kaden Xavier isn’t the type to keep thoughtful little gifts on hand. It’s more likely he uses them often himself, so he keeps a stock in his office.’

’So, back in the office, did he misunderstand and think I was drowsy from lack of sleep? Is that why he compassionately suggested ending the meeting early?’

She opened her mouth and managed to croak out a dry, "Thank you."

Seeing her accept it, the polite smile on Lucas Lynch’s face relaxed. "If you find they work well, you can let me... I mean, let our Mr. Xavier know. He had them specially custom-made; you can’t buy them anywhere else."

"Okay," Wren Wynter replied, her hand tightening around the box. She felt a lump forming in her chest.

Lucas Lynch saw them into the elevator, bidding them a polite farewell and only turning to leave after the doors had closed.

Once they were outside the Xavier Group building, Leif Shaw leaned closer to Wren Wynter. "Wren, what did that Kaden Xavier give you?"

Wren replied, "Eye masks."

Leif Shaw tutted twice, then raised the file in his hand to change the subject. "I didn’t expect this Kaden Xavier to be so professional. But that still doesn’t change the fact that he’s a scumbag!"

Leo Crowe chimed in, "He’s very shrewd in business. The Xavier Group’s rapid growth in recent years is largely due to his leadership. Regarding the new revisions to the project, I think..."

Wren Wynter stood silently, not joining the conversation.

Those scars haunted her mind.

’I feel guilty,’ she thought.

After all, he only had them because he saved her. She didn’t want to be indebted to Kaden Xavier.

Wren Wynter took a deep breath and made a decision.

"Third Senior Brother, I remember your Scar Removal Cream works really well. Did you bring any with you?"

"I did," Leo Crowe replied, surprised. "Do you need it?"

Wren Wynter bit her lip. "I have a use for it. I want to get rid of some old scars."

Leo Crowe handed her the cream. "I was planning to give this to your third sister-in-law, but you can use it first. I’ll make more for her later."

Wren Wynter took it without hesitation. "Please apologize to Third Sister-in-law for me. I’m taking this for now."

"Honestly, you insisted on going to Aferia back then. And look what happened. A girl like you, getting scarred... If Teacher saw it, he’d be worried sick."

Leo Crowe sighed. None of them had wanted to see Wren Wynter take such a risk, but they couldn’t dissuade her from going to Aferia.

Knowing Leo Crowe had misunderstood, Wren Wynter didn’t bother explaining. She carefully put the cream in her bag. "Thanks, Third Senior Brother. I have something to do, so I’ll get going. See you later!"

With that, she took the cream, quickly slipped away from the group, re-entered the Xavier Group building through a different entrance, and went straight to the top floor where Kaden Xavier’s office was located.

The floor hadn’t changed much in five years. Wren Wynter walked to the office door and knocked, but there was no response.

She tried the handle, and the door opened right up.

She stepped inside, only to find the office empty.

Kaden Xavier wasn’t there.

Wren Wynter stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to enter or retreat.

She hesitated for a long moment before deciding to just leave the cream.

That way, she could deliver the medicine without having to face Kaden Xavier directly.

She walked to the desk and placed the cream in a conspicuous but out-of-the-way spot.

But before she could adjust its position, she heard voices from outside the door.

"Mr. Xavier, the matter with Tina Wallace has been taken care of."

"If they come again, just have security stop them."

It was Assistant Lynch and Kaden Xavier. Wren Wynter’s heart leaped into her throat.

In the next instant, as if possessed, she panicked and ducked under the desk.

The door was pushed open, and Kaden Xavier and Lucas Lynch walked in one after the other.

"There’s one more thing," Assistant Lynch continued his report. "Your mother called to inform you that she has a few more candidates for you to meet when you have the time."