"Hahaha, the more you struggle, the more excited I get! Women like you always act so high and mighty, looking down on people like me. What gives you the right?! What gives you the right to look down on me?!"

The enraged driver pinned Wren’s hands, his eyes gleaming with a sick, crazed light.

With that, his mouth descended toward Wren’s fair neck.

’This man is definitely insane.’

Wren’s eyes widened in terror as she began to struggle with all her might.

But her hands were pinned, and no amount of effort could free them.

Just as his mouth was about to touch her, Wren mustered all her strength and slammed her head against his forehead.

With a dull THUD, the man’s grip on her hands loosened for an instant.

Wren seized the opportunity, twisting her wrists in an attempt to escape, only to be forced back down.

The driver glared at Wren, his eyes savage. He looked even more unhinged, terrifyingly so.

"You bitch, trying to escape? I’ll torture you to death!"

With that, he reached out and began to rip at Wren’s clothes.

The sound of ripping fabric was exceptionally jarring in the silence.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Wren had no more strength to fight back; she had used up every last bit of her energy.

’She wanted to subdue him by targeting his pressure points, but she never got the chance.’

Despair instantly flooded her mind.

"Help! Is anyone there?"

The moment the words left her lips, the driver slapped her across the face.

A trickle of blood instantly appeared at the corner of her mouth.

She could feel the coppery taste of blood filling her mouth.

"Damn it! You can scream your lungs out, but no one will come to save you!" the driver sneered, his face a mask of cruelty.

The weight on top of her was too heavy, too savage, crushing all of Wren’s hope.

’Am I going to be violated?’

"ARGH!"

A deafening scream tore from the driver, and the weight on her was suddenly gone. A familiar, clean scent slowly enveloped her.

"You want to die!" Kaden Xavier’s cold, cruel voice rang out.

Wren opened her eyes to see Kaden Xavier’s handsome features and commanding presence.

He exuded a terrifying, bloodthirsty aura. His dark eyes, devoid of any warmth, were fixed on the driver he had thrown to the ground as his fists rained down on the man’s face.

"Who let you touch her?" Kaden Xavier demanded, a terrifying murderous intent churning in the depths of his eyes.

When Wren had gotten into the car earlier, he’d noticed the driver’s shifty expression. Sensing something was amiss, he had Assistant Lynch investigate and discovered it was an unlicensed cab.

What’s more, the man had a severe mental illness.

The moment he learned this, he had rushed after them without a second’s delay.

If he had arrived a moment later... The thought alone sent a wave of panic through Kaden Xavier, shattering his composure.

"It hurts! Stop! Please, stop hitting me!"

But no matter how the driver begged for mercy, Kaden Xavier had no intention of stopping.

When Assistant Lynch arrived, he was greeted by the sight of the man’s face, completely covered in blood, a mangled mess of flesh.

"Kaden Xavier..." Fearing he would kill the man, Wren called out in a hoarse voice. Only then did he seem to snap out of it, releasing the half-dead man.

"Turn around. All of you," Kaden Xavier commanded coldly.

He then took off his suit jacket and draped it over Wren. He wiped the blood from his hands with a handkerchief before daring to touch her.

"Don’t be afraid, Wren. I’m taking you home."

Kaden Xavier held Wren tightly, as if it were the only way to reassure himself that she was truly safe.

Yet he didn’t dare to hold her too tightly, for fear of hurting her.

His warmth seeped into Wren’s skin, and she could clearly feel Kaden’s unease.

"I’m okay. Thank you for saving me." She managed a weak smile before fainting the very next second.

"Wren!" Kaden cried out in alarm.

"Mr. Xavier, what should be done with this man?"

"Send him to Myria." Kaden Xavier’s heart ached as he gently scooped Wren into his arms, his profile turning dark and severe. "Let the people there ’take good care’ of him."

"Yes, sir."

The driver panicked. He fell to his knees and grabbed Kaden Xavier’s leg, pleading, "I was wrong! I was really wrong! Please, don’t send me to Myria!"

Kaden Xavier’s icy gaze swept over the driver. The undisguised, vicious killing intent in his eyes was enough to make the man fall back onto the grass in terror. A foul, acrid smell began to emanate from between his legs.

He had pissed himself in fear.

"You like doing that sort of thing, don’t you? Fine. We’ll have you ’service’ twenty men a day. Let’s see how you like being forced."

With that said, Kaden Xavier strode away, carrying Wren in his arms.

Assistant Lynch shot the driver a contemptuous glance, then waved his hand. A few bodyguards appeared and dragged the man away.

Kaden Xavier gently placed Wren in the car and turned on the heater.

"Sir, where to?"

"The hospital," Kaden Xavier said coldly.

He glanced at Wren beside him, frowned, and corrected himself. "No. Back to View Gardens."

"Yes, sir."

Throughout the drive, the unconscious Wren kept a death grip on Kaden Xavier’s shirt, her eyelashes trembling.

Kaden Xavier held her gently, whispering soothingly, "It’s all right, Wren."

「Half an hour later.」

Butler Chandler saw Kaden Xavier carrying Wren in and asked anxiously, "Mr. Xavier, what happened to the young miss...?"

"Prepare some hot water."

"Yes, sir." Butler Chandler replied instinctively. He asked no further questions and turned to carry out the order.

Kaden Xavier summoned the Xavier family’s doctor to View Gardens to examine Wren.

Only after the doctor confirmed she was physically unharmed did Kaden’s anxious heart finally settle.

"Sir, after an ordeal like this, the physical injuries are secondary. The main concern is her psychological well-being. If possible, I recommend you find a therapist for her to prevent long-term trauma."

"I see." Kaden Xavier’s brow furrowed.

Butler Chandler entered with a basin of hot water. Seeing Wren unconscious on the bed, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of concern.

"Sir, allow me."

Kaden Xavier shook his head. He took the basin from Butler Chandler, set it on the floor, and wrung out a washcloth to gently clean Wren’s face.

Her cheek was badly swollen and the corner of her mouth was split. Her brow was furrowed, as if she were trapped in a nightmare.

"Wren, I’m so sorry." Kaden was filled with self-reproach.

’If only I had been more insistent, she wouldn’t have gone through this.’

Just then, the voices of Shaun Quinn and Ho-ran Park drifted up from downstairs.

Kaden Xavier’s expression tensed. He tucked the blanket around Wren and was about to leave, but she grabbed his hand.

When Shaun Quinn and Ho-ran Park reached Wren’s room, they saw Kaden Xavier reaching out to smooth the furrows from her brow.

Shaun Quinn’s face instantly turned cold. He strode forward and grabbed Kaden Xavier by the collar. "Kaden Xavier, what did you do to her?"

Ho-ran Park rushed over and placed a hand on Shaun’s. His voice was grave. "Second Brother, let him go. Little Junior Sister is resting. Don’t wake her. We can talk about this outside."

The two of them had come to persuade Wren not to join Doctors Without Borders, never expecting to find her injured.

Kaden Xavier calmly pried Shaun Quinn’s fingers off his collar and turned to sit on the edge of Wren’s bed.

Seeing this, Shaun grew even more furious. "What right do you have to be by her side? Her life wouldn’t be such a mess if it weren’t for you!"

Kaden Xavier didn’t answer, but his hand holding Wren’s tightened. His lips pressed into a thin line, and a dark glint flashed in his eyes.

"Second Brother, that’s enough," Ho-ran Park said, trying to restrain Shaun.

But Shaun shook him off and, with a sneer, moved to push Kaden away.

But when he saw their tightly clasped hands, his expression darkened.

"This time, I failed to protect her."

Kaden stared at Wren’s swollen face, and a fresh wave of guilt and remorse washed over him.

Shaun sneered, his face impassive. "Since you can’t protect her, you should step aside for someone who can."

"And who might that be? You?" Kaden glanced at Shaun, his eyes dark and heavy.

Then, he gently patted the back of Wren’s hand, and her tight grip miraculously loosened.

Shaun’s eyes darkened as he witnessed this. It was as if something was caught in his throat, and he couldn’t make a sound.

Kaden Xavier rose to his feet and met Shaun’s gaze.