Kaden Xavier’s gaze fell upon Wren Wynter, his eyes swirling with emotions too complex to decipher.

"The person who bailed out Seraphina Sutton was very discreet. We’re still investigating."

Wren Wynter froze, her mind inexplicably drifting as she stared into space.

"Wren, are you all right?"

Ho-ran Park’s voice pulled her back to reality. His eyes fell on the suit jacket Kaden Xavier had draped over Wren Wynter’s shoulders, and a flicker of displeasure crossed his face. He took a step forward, subtly positioning himself between Kaden and Wren.

"Mr. Xavier, thank you for your help today. But this is a hospital, and Wren needs to rest, so I won’t keep you."

The dismissal was blunt and far from polite.

Kaden Xavier shot him a glance, ignoring his hostility. He turned to Wren Wynter and said, "Be careful for a while. I’ll have some men follow you."

"There’s no need."

Wren Wynter rejected the offer without a second thought. "I’m not a child. I can take care of myself."

She slipped the suit jacket from her shoulders and held it out to him. "I appreciate the thought, but you should worry about yourself first."

The message was clear: stay out of her business.

Kaden Xavier’s expression darkened, but he didn’t press the issue.

He knew her personality; pushing too hard would only backfire.

He took the jacket and gave her a long, deep look. "I have to go. I need to make a trip to the police station."

The implication was clear: this matter was far from over.

Ho-ran Park watched Kaden Xavier’s back as he walked away. He didn’t relax until the man’s oppressive aura had completely disappeared at the end of the corridor. Breathing a sigh of relief, he turned to Wren Wynter and said, "I’ll take you home." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"You don’t have to, Ho-ran..."

"I have to."

Ho-ran Park’s tone left no room for argument. It was filled with the distinct, firm concern of a senior brother. "I’m worried about you."

The car was silent on the drive back to View Gardens.

Ho-ran Park gripped the steering wheel, his eyes flicking to Wren Wynter in the rearview mirror several times. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he kept stopping himself.

In the end, he was the one to break the silence. "Wren, about you and that Kaden Xavier..."

"There’s nothing between us."

Wren Wynter leaned against the window, her voice devoid of emotion as she watched the city lights stream by.

"Nothing?"

Disbelief crept into Ho-ran Park’s voice. "I find that hard to believe. The way he looks at you... it’s like he wants to keep you chained to his side."

"And today, the way he burst in, he looked like he was ready to kill someone."

Wren Wynter said nothing.

Ho-ran Park sighed, easing his foot off the accelerator. His voice softened. "Wren, I’m not trying to pry."

"I’m just... I’m just worried about you. Have you forgotten what you went through back then? Hasn’t this man caused you enough pain? Don’t get tangled up with him again."

"You’re overthinking things, Ho-ran."

Wren Wynter rubbed the bridge of her nose, her voice laced with exhaustion. "I’m not getting involved with him. It’s impossible."

She paused, as if gathering her words, then said softly, "In Aferia... I owe him my life."

Ho-ran Park slammed on the brakes. The car skidded to a halt by the roadside with a piercing SCREECH of tires.

He whipped his head around, his face a mask of unconcealed shock. "What did you say?"

"There was a problem with one of my aid missions. I needed some medicinal herbs, so he went with me to find them. We ran into danger, and he saved me."

Wren Wynter’s gaze drifted into the distance, as if she was reliving that war-torn afternoon. "If it wasn’t for him, I’d probably be dead."

The revelation was too much for Ho-ran Park. He opened and closed his mouth, but he was speechless for a long time.

He had always believed that for Wren, Kaden Xavier was nothing more than a painful part of her past, a mistake that should have been completely cut out of her life.

He’d never imagined their history was entangled in a matter of life and death.

The car was once again plunged into a long silence.

After a long while, Ho-ran Park started the car again, his voice raspy. "Even if... even if he saved you, you can repay that debt. It doesn’t mean you have to throw the rest of your life away on him."

"Wren, listen to me. Stay far away from him."

Wren Wynter didn’t reply, only burying her face deeper into her arms.

Back at View Gardens, after Ho-ran Park had left, Wren Wynter sat alone in the vast, empty living room.

Her senior brother’s words echoed in her ears. She knew he was right, of course.

But some ties weren’t so easily or cleanly severed.

Just as she was lost in thought, her phone rang. It was Kaden.

She hesitated for a moment before answering.

"We have a lead on that woman."

Kaden’s voice came through the receiver, grave. "She was using a fake identity, but based on the fund transfers in her bank account, the trail leads to the Wallace Family."

Wren Wynter’s heart skipped a beat. ’So it was the Wallace Family after all.’

"So, the person who bailed out Seraphina Sutton was the current Tina Wallace?"

"It’s almost certain."

Kaden’s voice grew cold. "This woman is absolutely not the real Tina Wallace."

The speculation sent a chill down Wren Wynter’s spine.

’If she isn’t Tina Wallace, then who is she?’

’And where is the real Tina Wallace?’

Wren Wynter found it hard to believe that someone could be surgically altered to look like another person so perfectly that there wasn’t a single flaw.

"You..." Wren began, but another call suddenly beeped through.

She glanced at the caller ID, and her pupils contracted slightly.

It was Tina Wallace.

"I have another call coming in. I have to go."

Wren Wynter said hurriedly, ending the call with Kaden before switching to Tina Wallace’s.

"Wren, it’s me."

Tina Wallace’s voice came through the phone, as gentle and cheerful as ever, with no hint of anything unusual. "Are you free tomorrow? A few friends and I are going riding at a stable in the countryside. I hear the scenery is beautiful. I wanted to invite you to come along and take your mind off things."

’Horseback riding?’

Wren Wynter’s mind raced.

On one hand, Kaden’s shocking revelation. On the other, a cheerful invitation from the very person who was likely behind it all.

Who would believe this wasn’t a setup?

This was clearly a trap.

And yet, a voice in her heart was screaming at her: ’Go!’

’You have to go!’

’She had to see with her own eyes what this woman wearing Tina Wallace’s face was really up to.’

’Rather than waiting passively for her to make a move, it would be better to walk right into her trap and see what she was planning.’

"Sure."

Wren Wynter heard herself answer in a cheerful tone, "I happen to be free tomorrow. What time? And where?"

On the other end, Tina Wallace seemed surprised by how quickly she’d agreed. There was a slight pause before she laughed and recited the time and address.

After hanging up, Wren Wynter stared at the darkened phone screen, her gaze hardening with resolve.

She would be there tomorrow.

Not only would she go, she was determined to see just how this drama was meant to play out.

The private equestrian club in the countryside was a picture of verdant lawns and fresh air.

When Wren Wynter arrived, Arthur was already waiting for her at the gate.

He was dressed in a handsome riding habit, his blond hair dazzling in the sunlight. On his face was the same impeccable, gentlemanly smile.

"The lovely Dr. Wynter," he greeted. "You look absolutely radiant today."

He stepped forward, reaching naturally to take the bag from Wren’s hand.