Butler Chandler watched Wren head upstairs, letting out a long sigh.

The next day, Wren gathered her things and prepared to go visit Julian Hawthorne.

’Her mentor, his wife, and her senior brothers must have been worried sick about her safety these past few years.’

She took a taxi to Moonwater Villa and, just as she had five years ago, confidently made her way to the study.

"Mentor, I’m back."

Julian Hawthorne turned, his eyes filling with affection and sympathy as he looked at Wren.

"You’ve lost weight, but you seem more spirited. Good."

Wren recounted the interesting and harrowing experiences from her five years in Aferia, and Julian Hawthorne nodded repeatedly as he listened.

"Second Senior Brother won’t be back until next month. He asked me to let you know."

"Let him be. He’s grown up. Besides, with the Yates Family keeping an eye on him, it’s hardly my place as his mentor to tell him what to do," Julian Hawthorne said, fanning himself.

Wren didn’t call out her mentor’s gruff words, knowing he had a soft heart.

While they were talking, several of Julian Hawthorne’s other top disciples arrived one after another.

"Mentor."

Ho-ran Park walked in, followed by Leo Crowe and Leif Shaw.

It was a rare occasion to see everyone gathered together. Wren smiled. "Is there something important for us to discuss?"

Julian Hawthorne nodded, sitting up straighter. He pulled a file from his drawer and handed it to Ho-ran Park.

"This is this year’s collaborative project. Take a look."

Ho-ran Park opened the file, and Wren and the others gathered around to look through it, all marveling at the proposal.

"This is an interesting project. You’ve got a good eye, old man." Leif Shaw gave Julian Hawthorne a thumbs-up.

Julian Hawthorne smacked him in the face with the fan he was holding.

Leif Shaw sheepishly ducked his head. He picked up the fan and handed it back to Julian Hawthorne. "Control your temper, old man."

"He’s right, this proposal is excellent. The blend of Eastern and Western approaches is particularly significant," Ho-ran Park agreed, nodding.

Wren continued flipping through the proposal, only to be shocked when she reached the last page and saw the Xavier Group at the top of the list of potential partners.

Her expression stiffened. She guessed this meant a potential collaboration with the Xavier Group.

"Mentor..." She looked to Julian Hawthorne.

"That’s right," Julian Hawthorne said. "The Xavier Group is my preferred choice for a partner."

"Old man, are you kidding me?" Leif Shaw exploded. "After that scumbag Kaden Xavier broke our little sister’s heart, you want to partner with him? Are you trying to make her die of anger?"

He not only stole their little sister away but also failed to cherish her.

If their mentor hadn’t held him back, he would have beaten the man to a pulp long ago.

Leo Crowe tugged on Leif Shaw’s sleeve and smacked him on the back of the head. "Are you an idiot? You’ve followed our mentor for years. Don’t you know what kind of man he is by now?"

"If our mentor were the type to abandon something that could benefit the country’s progress over a small personal grudge, he wouldn’t be our mentor," Ho-ran Park said, voicing his understanding of Julian Hawthorne.

His decisions were always driven by the desire to advance the industry. He chose partners based on solid capabilities, not personal relationships.

Wren understood as well. "Mentor, it’s alright. Kaden Xavier and I have been divorced for five years. We haven’t had any contact. It won’t affect the project."

’It was just a divorce, not some life-and-death feud.’

Besides, things between her and Kaden Xavier hadn’t deteriorated to the point where they would never speak to each other again.

Their world was only so big. As long as she remained her mentor’s student and wanted to continue studying medicine, she was bound to run into Kaden Xavier eventually.

There was no need for her mentor to sacrifice a major opportunity on her account.

"Your second senior brother has stated he won’t be participating in this project. Wren, will you?"

"I’ll do it," Wren answered decisively.

Seeing her determined expression, Julian Hawthorne nodded in satisfaction.

"I won’t be accompanying you this time. I’m getting old; you all need to learn to stand on your own. Eldest, you’ll be leading the team. Take your junior brother and sister, complete this project properly, and don’t embarrass me."

Their eyes began to sting.

Julian Hawthorne was eighty years old this year. His health was not what it used to be.

Ho-ran Park nodded. "Don’t worry, Mentor. We absolutely will not let you down."

A look of fatigue crossed Julian Hawthorne’s face. He waved his hand, dismissing them.

Wren rose to leave with the others, but Julian Hawthorne stopped her.

"Wren, stay behind."

After Ho-ran Park and the other two had left, Wren looked at Julian Hawthorne in confusion.

She watched as Julian Hawthorne took a box from another bookshelf and handed it to her.

"Your parents left this for you. Now that you’re back, I’m returning it."

Wren’s hands trembled with excitement as she opened it. Inside lay a letter, a bank card, and a share certificate.

Wren first picked up the letter. The familiar handwriting on the envelope made her nose sting and her eyes turn red.

She opened the letter. It was a simple message, urging her to take care of herself, never to accept being treated poorly, and not to lose herself, even in marriage.

Most importantly, it said: "The company has been acquired by the Xavier Group."

She had been married to Kaden Xavier for three years and never knew that the Wynter Family’s company had been acquired by the Xavier Family.

It was just that when the Wynter Family fell, Kaden Xavier hadn’t yet taken control of the Xavier Group; all its affairs were being temporarily managed by his uncle.

’Could his uncle have been the one who made a move against the Wynter Group?’

’Then what was this share certificate about?’

’Does Kaden Xavier know about this?’

With that thought, Wren opened the share certificate. She discovered that fifty-one percent of the Wynter Family company’s shares had actually been transferred into her name.

But because she was too young at the time, they were divided up amongst others.

The letter also urged her to seek help from her maternal grandfather after reading it.

Unfortunately, Wren had never met this elderly blood relative, and after so many years, she had no idea if he was even still alive.

Wren put the items away, gave Julian Hawthorne a deep bow, and turned to leave.

Julian Hawthorne watched her retreating figure, his brow tightly furrowed.

’He didn’t know if giving her these things was a blessing or a curse.’

’But there were some things she simply had to face on her own.’

That afternoon, Ho-ran Park led Wren and the others to the Xavier Group headquarters.

The receptionist recognized Wren and hurriedly, respectfully called out, "Mrs. X—"

Wren held up a hand to stop her. "I’m divorced from Mr. Xavier. Could you please contact Assistant Lynch for us? We’re here to discuss a project."

"Of course. I’ll call him right away."

When Assistant Lynch heard that Wren was with them, he frowned. After a glance toward the lobby, he rushed downstairs without a moment’s hesitation, personally greeting them with a warm welcome, not daring to show the slightest neglect.