A few days later, Wren Wynter once again received an invitation to an afternoon tea party, jointly hosted by several of Corvidale’s socialites.

Tina Wallace’s name was written prominently in the host section of the invitation.

Lana Xavier was the first to object when she found out. "You’re still going? Haven’t you learned your lesson from last time? That’s not a tea party, it’s a trap!"

"If I don’t go this time, she’ll just find another reason next time."

Wren’s tone was calm. "I can avoid her for a while, but not forever."

The tea party was held in the rooftop garden of a high-end club. The atmosphere was quiet and elegant.

Tina Wallace was once again dressed to fit in perfectly, weaving through the crowd in a lavender Chanel-style suit.

She chatted and laughed with the various socialites, every gesture radiating elegance, as if she were born to be a part of this circle.

Her eyes lit up when she saw Wren, but she didn’t cling to her with the same over-the-top enthusiasm as last time. She simply smiled, nodded, and went back to attending to her other guests, her restraint perfectly measured.

Wren found a quiet corner to sit down, a glass of lemonade in hand, and observed in silence.

’This Tina Wallace... she’s too perfect.’

’Perfect, like an actress performing a role from a script with flawless precision. Not a single crack in the facade.’

After a long while, Tina Wallace finally came over, carrying a plate with two delicate macarons, and sat down across from Wren.

"The desserts here are quite good. You should try one."

She pushed the plate forward. There was a faint smile on her face, but her eyes held a subtle, probing look.

Wren looked at her and decided to take the initiative.

"Miss Wallace, I’m very sorry about what happened at the last birthday party."

She began, her tone sounding quite sincere. "My attitude that day wasn’t very good. I embarrassed you."

Tina seemed taken aback that she would apologize first. She froze for a moment, and then her eyes immediately reddened.

"Don’t say that. It’s not your fault. It’s all my fault for being such a jerk in the past. I did so many terrible things, it’s only natural that you wouldn’t trust me."

She lowered her head, her voice tinged with grievance and a choked sob. "Honestly... I really just want to be friends with you. I have no other intentions."

"But, Brother Kaden... does he have some misunderstanding about me? I get scared whenever I see him. I always feel like he really hates me."

Her words were so full of grievance and innocence, shifting all the blame onto Kaden Xavier.

Watching Tina’s pitiful and delicate act, Wren felt that strange sensation rise up in her again. At the same time, however, a pang of guilt over the last party emerged uncontrollably.

’Maybe Kaden really did overreact, and I was just being prejudiced?’

Just as her resolve wavered and she began to let her guard down, a tall figure cast a shadow over them both.

Kaden Xavier had appeared behind them at some point, and his expression was not pleasant.

"What are you talking about?"

he asked, but his gaze was locked directly on Wren.

Tina shot up like a frightened deer, instinctively shrinking back and calling out timidly, "Brother Kaden..."

Kaden didn’t even glance at her, his eyes fixed on Wren.

In the distance, Assistant Lynch received a look from Kaden, slipped away unnoticed, and pulled out his phone to make a call. "Help me check Miss Tina Wallace’s entire itinerary for the past half-month. The more detailed, the better."

Kaden’s frown deepened as he watched Tina acting like a startled bird.

For some reason, that expression reminded him of someone else—Seraphina Sutton, who had once used the very same weak and innocent look to put on countless acts for him.

Just as the atmosphere grew tense, a blond, blue-eyed foreign man walked over. He wore a well-tailored casual suit, carried himself elegantly, and had a charming smile on his face.

"Tina, is this the Dr. Wynter you’re always talking about? She’s just as beautiful and elegant as you said."

The man spoke fluent Chinese and walked straight up to Wren.

"Hello, beautiful lady. My name is Arthur. I’m a friend of Tina’s."

He bowed slightly, took Wren’s hand from the table, and gallantly pressed a light kiss to its back.

Wren froze completely.

The next second, her hand was yanked back with great force.

Kaden pulled Wren behind him, his large frame acting as a wall between her and Arthur. His dark eyes were like ice.

"Let go." Wren tried to pull back her wrist, which he was gripping painfully.

Kaden didn’t budge, merely staring coldly at Arthur.

Tina quickly stepped in to smooth things over, a hint of panic on her face. "Brother Kaden, don’t misunderstand. Arthur just got back from overseas. This is just a custom where he’s from."

"Is that so?"

Kaden’s lips twisted into a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. "Since he’s in China, he should do as the Chinese do. We don’t have a custom of kissing a strange lady’s hand here."

His words were blunt. The smile on Arthur’s face froze for a second, but he maintained his composure and shrugged.

"My apologies. I was too forward."

"Since you know you were being forward, stay away from her."

Without giving anyone a chance to react, Kaden grabbed Wren’s wrist and turned to leave.

"Kaden Xavier, what do you think you’re doing!" Wren stumbled from his pull, annoyed.

"You think he was just observing a custom?"

Kaden didn’t stop walking, his voice squeezed through his teeth. "That Tina Wallace is suspiciously friendly. What kind of good person would her friends be?"

"That’s prejudice!"

Wren couldn’t help but retort.

Tina’s words were still ringing in her ears, and she was feeling guilty. Kaden’s high-handed behavior made her feel he was making a mountain out of a molehill and being completely unreasonable. "I think you’re the one who’s mistaken. She just wants to be my friend. Can’t you be less impulsive?"

Kaden stopped abruptly and turned back to look at her. His gaze was as deep as a pool of icy water, sending a strange panic through Wren’s heart.

The tea party ended on a sour note.

On the way back, Kaden drove himself. The pressure in the car was terrifyingly low.

Wren leaned against the window, watching the streetscape fly by. Neither of them spoke.

She was still angry about what had just happened, feeling that Kaden was too overbearing and had completely disregarded her feelings and the dignity of others.

Kaden, for his part, was sulking, angry that she was so soft-hearted and couldn’t see through that woman’s disguise.

The car pulled up to the entrance of View Gardens. Wren unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to get out.

"Stay away from her from now on." Kaden’s voice, muffled and forceful, sounded from behind her.

Wren’s movement paused. She turned back to meet his bottomless dark eyes.

"My business is none of your concern."

With that, she slammed the car door without a second glance, leaving Kaden with nothing but her resolute back.

Kaden watched the tightly shut gate and slammed his fist on the steering wheel. The horn blared, a long, piercing sound that startled a few birds from the wall.

He took out his phone and dialed Assistant Lynch. "What have you found?"

"Mr. Xavier, I’ve found a few things."