"What are you doing here?"

Wren Wynter was startled by Kaden Xavier. She frantically composed herself, glaring at him with a hint of anger in her eyes.

Seeing her flustered state, a smile played on Kaden Xavier’s lips. He lazily propped up his chin, watching Wren Wynter with great interest.

"You seem to be very afraid of me."

"Why would I be afraid of you?"

Wren found it laughable and stood up to leave, but Kaden grabbed her wrist. She turned to glare at him, only to meet his mocking, smiling eyes.

"Let go!"

"Wren, that Scar Removal Cream works great."

Wren froze. She awkwardly pulled her hand back and turned away from him. "As long as it works."

"Mm, thank you."

Hearing Kaden Xavier’s thanks, she said nothing and left immediately.

The wedding finally ended. Crystal Nash had already left with Miles Shaw, and Ho-ran Park was taking Joy Lynch home, leaving Wren Wynter to go back alone.

She sighed to herself. ’Seeing all these couples is just making me feel so glum.’

"Wren, let me take you home."

Kaden Xavier approached from behind. Wren Wynter frowned, feeling a headache coming on.

’Why won’t this man just go away?’

"No, thank you. Mr. Xavier, you should probably stay away from me."

Wren Wynter took a step to the side, her expression calm as she spoke.

But Kaden Xavier, as if unable to comprehend her rejection, moved in the same direction.

Anger surged in Wren. She glared at him, her face ashen. "What on earth are you trying to do?!"

"Wren, it’s hard to get a ride here. Let me take you home."

"That’s not necessary!"

But after trying to call a car for ten minutes, Wren still couldn’t get a single driver to accept her request. This made her wonder if Kaden Xavier was secretly pulling the strings.

But he looked at her with such a pure and innocent expression that she couldn’t help but waver.

’Could I have misunderstood him?’

"Looks like it’s your unlucky day. Since you can’t get a ride, I guess you’ll just have to let me take you."

Kaden Xavier’s smug, triumphant look made Wren grind her teeth in frustration. But if she didn’t take his car, it was a long way from here to View Gardens. Was she supposed to walk back?

She shot Kaden Xavier a reluctant glance, preparing to leave with him.

Suddenly, a familiar figure hurried over, bypassing them to stand in front of Wren.

"Dr. Wynter, long time no see."

It was Mason Shaw.

The moment they saw Mason Shaw, the expressions on both Kaden Xavier’s and Wren Wynter’s faces changed. Wren breathed a sigh of relief; she’d never been so happy to see Mason Shaw.

Even her tone of voice became much gentler.

"Long time no see, Dr. Shaw."

"I saw you a moment ago but didn’t get a chance to say hello. Are you heading home now?"

Mason Shaw only had eyes for Wren, completely ignoring Kaden Xavier standing beside her, which infuriated Kaden.

He deliberately stepped forward, inserting himself between them and completely blocking Wren’s view. His tall frame towered over Mason Shaw as he looked down at him.

"Second Young Master Shaw, today is your brother’s wedding reception. Shouldn’t you be helping out?"

"I’m already done."

Mason Shaw replied with a smirk, but inwardly, he was cursing Kaden Xavier. ’After all these years, his possessiveness is still just as strong.’

Standing behind Kaden Xavier, Wren looked displeased. She walked right around him to stand in front of Mason Shaw, offering him a polite smile.

"Dr. Shaw, I was wondering if you might have time to give me a ride home? I can’t seem to get a car here."

"Of course, I have time."

Mason Shaw ignored Kaden Xavier’s warning glare and answered Wren with a wide smile.

Wren breathed a sigh of relief. She had been afraid Mason Shaw would deliberately say he was busy because of Kaden, which would have forced her to share a space with Kaden Xavier.

’After the divorce, the chances of us being stuck in the same room have actually increased.’

"Wren, Mason Shaw is up to no good. Don’t be fooled by him."

Kaden Xavier frowned, grabbing Wren’s wrist to warn her.

Wren was exasperated. Her brows knitted together as she shook off Kaden Xavier’s hand, her expression clearly impatient.

"Kaden Xavier, how many times do I have to tell you before you get it? We’re already divorced. Stop pestering me."

"Wren, I’m just trying to give you a friendly warning."

"Dr. Shaw and I aren’t exactly strangers. I can judge for myself whether he’s a good person or not."

Wren ignored him and left with Mason Shaw.

Watching the two of them leave, Kaden Xavier’s expression turned impossibly dark. He clenched his fists, his eyes filled with unwillingness to concede.

He picked up his phone and called Assistant Lynch. "Has the Shaw Family been involved in any collaborations with us recently?"

—

Mason Shaw drove Wren home. Along the way, he could tell she had a lot on her mind, but he didn’t point it out. Instead, he told a few lame jokes to cheer her up.

Wren could see Mason Shaw’s good intentions. She decided to stop thinking about things, shook her head, and started making small talk with him.

"Dr. Shaw, are you still working at the municipal hospital?"

"Not anymore."

"Why?"

Wren was surprised. Mason Shaw was such a skilled doctor; it was a shame for him not to be working at a hospital.

"No particular reason. I just felt a bit tired, and with a certain someone no longer there, it felt meaningless for me to stay."

She looked out the window awkwardly, and the atmosphere between them instantly grew tense.

Mason Shaw let out a soft chuckle and began to explain, "Don’t worry, I have a fiancée now. I won’t bother you anymore."

"That’s not what I meant..."

Wren quickly waved her hands to explain, her face filled with unconcealed panic. But Mason Shaw didn’t mind. He was used to being casual and could tell the difference between genuine and feigned feelings.

"By the way, back when you were hospitalized, there was a stormy night with thunder and rain. Do you remember it?"

"I do. I remember sleeping very soundly that day. I’ve never slept so well during a storm before. Why?"

Mason Shaw raised an eyebrow. ’Could it be she still doesn’t know what happened that night?’

"Nothing, it just suddenly came to mind." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Wren didn’t suspect a thing. "Five years have passed so quickly. I can’t believe you already have a fiancée, Dr. Shaw."

"What? You’re not going to say you regret it, are you? If that’s the case, I could talk to the elders in my family about calling off the engagement with my fiancée."

Wren’s heart jumped in alarm, and she quickly shook her head. ’That’s not what I meant at all!’

"No, no, no! I was just remarking on how fast time flies."

Seeing Wren so scared, Mason Shaw burst into hearty laughter. Only then did Wren realize she’d been played, and she couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed.

"But seeing Kaden Xavier get thwarted today was truly satisfying. I guess you could call it revenge."

"Revenge?" Wren asked, confused. "Revenge for what?"

"He didn’t even tell you about that?" Mason Shaw seemed surprised. He smiled and began to recount the events of that night. "He knew I was pursuing you, so he showed up in the middle of the night and beat me up. To this day, I still remember he didn’t pull that punch at all."