A sharp rebuke rang out from behind Nathaniel Quinn.

They both turned at the sound.

A man in a black polo shirt and black straight-leg jeans strode toward them. Standing over six feet tall, he moved to shield Wren Wynter.

"How can a grown man like you lay a hand on a girl?"

He was a veteran and couldn’t help but step in when he saw the strong preying on the weak.

"Mind your own business and get lost!" Nathaniel Quinn raged.

"I’m making it my business," Zane Langley said dismissively.

Nathaniel Quinn gritted his teeth. "Fine. Don’t blame me for what happens next."

"Perfect. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good fight." Zane Langley cracked his knuckles, radiating a righteous aura.

With that, he gestured for Wren Wynter to go.

Wren Wynter hesitated, unable to just leave him to fend for himself.

Besides, Nathaniel Quinn was not someone an ordinary person could afford to offend.

As if sensing her worry, Zane Langley calmly reassured her, "Don’t worry. He’s no match for me."

"Sir, if he gives you trouble later, remember to come find me at View Gardens. My name is Wren Wynter," she said, too worried to leave it at that.

"Alright." Only after Zane Langley agreed did Wren Wynter flee.

She glanced back and saw that Nathaniel Quinn was completely outmatched, almost as if he were being toyed with.

Not long after escaping, Wren Wynter ran into Mason Shaw, who was arriving by car.

Seeing her panting, he couldn’t help but be curious.

"Miss Wynter, what happened?"

"I ran into a mad dog." Wren Wynter’s face was a little pale. Still worried, she had Mason Shaw drive back to the restaurant entrance.

But they were long gone. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Miss Wynter, what exactly happened? Maybe I can help."

Wren Wynter was silent for a moment, then told Mason Shaw everything that had just happened from start to finish.

Mason Shaw was surprised. He hadn’t expected Wren Wynter to know Nathaniel Quinn.

Nathaniel Quinn was notoriously short-tempered. That passerby was likely in for a world of hurt.

"Don’t worry, I’ll have someone look into it. Let me take you home first."

"Okay." Wren Wynter felt helpless but had no choice but to agree.

’Anyway, I left him my name and address. If he runs into trouble, he should come find me.’

"How do you know Nathaniel Quinn, Miss Wynter?" Mason Shaw asked, feigning nonchalance.

"We’re not close. He’s the son of a family friend," Wren Wynter answered ambiguously.

She and Nathaniel Quinn really weren’t close. Their interactions since childhood had always been because of Kaden Xavier.

Now that they were on the verge of divorce, there was no need to let outsiders know about their connection.

"Miss Wynter, it’s best you don’t associate with him. He and Kaden Xavier, the CEO of the Xavier Group, are like brothers. If you truly offend him, your life will inevitably become more difficult."

Hearing Mason Shaw’s friendly warning, Wren Wynter just hummed lightly in response.

’I’ve already offended him. And badly.’

’But thinking back, I’d never been on bad terms with him before. He was the one who always looked down on me and slandered me with vicious words.’

「Meanwhile」

Nathaniel Quinn returned to the private room, fuming, a clear handprint on one of his cheeks.

Kaden Xavier was looking at a news brief on his phone, one leg crossed over the other. Hearing the commotion, he lifted his gaze. "What happened to you?"

There were very few people who could get the better of Nathaniel Quinn.

"Cole, how did I never see it before? Wren Wynter is no sweet little girl—she’s a vicious tigress! Look at this handprint on my face. She’s the one who slapped me!"

"And I ran into some dumbass who just had to stick his nose in it. Once I find him, I’ll fucking kill him."

The memory of being pinned to the ground in public made Nathaniel Quinn burn with humiliation.

Kaden Xavier, who had been about to tease Nathaniel Quinn, immediately turned cold. A dark glint flashed in his eyes as he asked in a low voice,

"You saw her?"

"I saw her, right at the entrance, but she just ran off. Cole, you have to back me up here! That woman slapped me for no reason! I’ve never been humiliated like this in my entire life!"

"What did you say to her?" Kaden Xavier’s voice was deep and stern.

Nathaniel Quinn choked on his words. He tugged guiltily at the corner of his mouth, his gaze shifting away.

"I didn’t say anything."

"Really?" Kaden Xavier’s dark, haunting eyes fixed on Nathaniel Quinn, as if trying to see right through him.

The stare sent a chill down Nathaniel Quinn’s spine.

"I... I just said some things... telling her to know her place. I really wasn’t that harsh!"

The words had barely left his mouth when Kaden Xavier suddenly stood up. He loomed over Nathaniel Quinn, his explosive aura impossible to ignore.

Nathaniel Quinn felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him, making him instinctively want to shrink back.

"How many times have I told you? Don’t go looking for trouble with Wren Wynter." Kaden Xavier’s voice was exceptionally deep and chillingly cold.

A coldness Nathaniel Quinn had never seen before churned in those deep eyes. "Nathaniel Quinn, do my words go in one ear and out the other?"

Nathaniel Quinn swallowed hard, forcing himself to argue, "Cole, Wren Wynter started it! Look at my face."

"Why did she hit you?" Kaden Xavier cut him off, taking a step forward.

"I-I just told her a few home truths..." Under Kaden Xavier’s glacial stare, Nathaniel Quinn’s voice grew smaller and smaller. "Cole, you’re doing this to me over a woman? We’ve been brothers for so many years. What’s Wren Wynter? Just some woman you got tired of playing with."

"Shut up."

Kaden Xavier abruptly grabbed Nathaniel Quinn by the collar, hauling him out of his seat.

"Nathaniel Quinn, this is your last warning. Wren Wynter is my wife. Now and in the future. If you dare speak to her disrespectfully again, don’t blame me for forgetting we’re brothers."

Nathaniel Quinn trembled, terrified by the ruthless look in Kaden Xavier’s eyes.

He had never seen Kaden Xavier with such an expression—a look that seemed to promise he would be eaten alive, making his blood run cold.

"Cole, I... I get it..." Nathaniel Quinn’s voice trembled. "I won’t go looking for trouble with her again..."

Kaden Xavier released his grip.

Nathaniel Quinn collapsed back into the chair, gasping for breath.

Kaden Xavier straightened his cuffs, his usual cold, severe expression returning.

"Remember what you said today." Kaden Xavier picked up his jacket. "I have something to do. I’m leaving."

"Cole, where are you going?" Nathaniel Quinn asked hastily.

Kaden Xavier didn’t answer, striding straight out of the private room.

「At that moment」

Mason Shaw’s car had already pulled up to the entrance of View Gardens.

"Miss Wynter, we’re here."

Mason Shaw turned to look at Wren Wynter in the passenger seat. Her complexion was still poor, and her eyes held the lingering traces of shock.

Wren Wynter snapped back to reality and unbuckled her seatbelt. "Thank you for driving me home, Dr. Shaw."

"You’re welcome."

Wren Wynter opened the car door, got out, and walked into View Gardens.

She took off her coat, walked into the living room, and sat on the sofa, but she couldn’t calm her racing thoughts.

Nathaniel Quinn’s vicious words still echoed in her ears, and she had no idea what had happened to the passerby who had stood up for her.

’If only I had asked for his name and contact information.’

Wren Wynter rubbed her temples in frustration, forcing herself to focus on her surgery the next day.

After some time, the doorbell rang.

Wren Wynter looked up at the wall clock. It was already past ten at night.

’Who could be looking for me at this hour?’

She put down her files, walked to the door, and looked through the peephole.

When she saw the person outside, Wren Wynter’s face immediately darkened.