The moment Wren Wynter saw Kaden Xavier, an indescribable feeling welled up inside her—a mix of complexity, irritation, and a sliver of disappointment she refused to admit even to herself.

’Wasn’t he supposed to be waiting for me at the entrance to View Gardens? Why is he with this woman?’

Kaden Xavier’s gaze was fixed on her as well. The moment he saw Shaun Quinn beside her, his eyes turned icy, filled with undisguised jealousy and rage.

Tina Wallace, however, seemed oblivious to the turbulent undercurrent between them. She just smiled and said, "We couldn’t get a private room either. You don’t mind if we share, do you?"

Without waiting for a response, she pulled Kaden Xavier inside and sat down across from them.

Instantly, the atmosphere in the small private room became unbearably awkward.

Shaun Quinn scoffed, then unhurriedly placed a piece of food on Wren Wynter’s plate. "Junior, eat up. Don’t let some irrelevant people ruin your appetite."

He put special emphasis on the words "irrelevant people."

Kaden Xavier’s expression darkened even further.

But Tina Wallace, playing the part of a master moderator, chimed in with a beaming smile, "Miss Wynter and Dr. Quinn seem so close. A talented man and a beautiful woman—you two look so perfect together."

Her words were a compliment on the surface, but in reality, she was just adding fuel to the fire.

Sure enough, Kaden Xavier’s knuckles turned white as he gripped his teacup.

To Wren Wynter, the food was tasteless, and she felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.

"I’m done eating."

Kaden Xavier abruptly set down his chopsticks, stood up, and tossed out the cold words before turning to leave.

"Hey, Brother Kaden, wait for me! I need to explain what happened last time!"

Tina Wallace quickly stood up and gave Wren Wynter and Shaun Quinn an apologetic smile. "So sorry, I have a family emergency. I have to go."

With that, she hurried out after him.

Finally, only the two of them remained in the private room.

Shaun Quinn looked at Wren Wynter’s expressionless face and sighed. "Still hungry?"

Wren Wynter shook her head. "I’ve lost my appetite."

Her perfectly good birthday was ruined, just like that.

By the time the two of them returned to View Gardens, it was already dark.

Shaun Quinn walked her to the door and ruffled her hair. "Don’t overthink it. Get some rest."

Wren Wynter nodded.

After seeing Shaun Quinn off, she was about to go inside when a dark figure emerged from the shadows.

It was Kaden Xavier.

He held a long, rectangular gift box, offering it to her.

"Happy birthday." His voice was low, laced with a barely perceptible nervousness.

Wren Wynter looked at him but didn’t take it.

Kaden Xavier wasn’t annoyed. He simply opened the box himself.

Inside, a scalpel lay nestled.

This was no ordinary scalpel. The handle was made of some unknown type of ebony, inlaid with a silver-thread phoenix spreading its wings. The blade glinted with a cold light. One glance told you it was a priceless, custom-made piece.

Wren Wynter’s breath caught. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

This was the first real gift he had ever given her.

Back when they were married, he’d given her countless pieces of jewelry and designer bags, but not a single one had ever truly touched her heart.

Only this scalpel.

He knew she was a doctor. That the scalpel was her weapon, her creed.

"Don’t you like it?" Kaden Xavier asked uneasily when she didn’t react.

Wren Wynter snapped back to reality and took the scalpel from his hand. She ran her fingertips over the cold blade, a hundred emotions swirling within her.

"Thank you." In the end, that was all she said.

Back home, Wren Wynter placed the scalpel on her desk. Under the light, the phoenix on the handle looked lifelike.

She was lost in thought when her phone suddenly rang. It was an unfamiliar overseas number.

She hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Wren, guess who this is?" came a familiar, teasing male voice from the other end.

Wren Wynter froze, then cried out in pleasant surprise, "Cousin, stop joking around! Are you back?"

"Clever girl."

The man on the other end chuckled. "Ten o’clock tomorrow morning, Corvidale International Airport. I don’t want to walk out of the airport all by my lonesome, so remember to come pick me up."

The news that Finn Wynter was returning to the country was like a stone tossed into a lake, sending ripples across the calm surface of Wren Wynter’s heart.

This cousin of hers was famously elusive, having spent years overseas managing the family business. He was remarkably capable and considered the most outstanding leader of his generation in the Wynter Family.

The two of them had been close since childhood, but in recent years they had rarely seen each other, only managing to stay in touch through occasional phone calls.

His sudden announcement that he was not only returning but also shifting his business focus back to the country left Wren Wynter feeling more curious than surprised.

The next morning, she made a point of waking up early. She spent a long time in her walk-in closet before choosing a dress that was both comfortable and presentable.

Just as she was about to leave, the doorbell rang.

When she opened the door, Kaden Xavier’s handsome face appeared before her. He was dressed in casual clothes today, his hair was neatly styled, and he looked refreshed and energetic—a far cry from his dispirited state yesterday.

"Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride." He got straight to the point, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Wren Wynter frowned. "No, thanks. I’ll drive myself."

"The way to the airport is tricky, and the traffic gets bad."

Kaden Xavier simply took her bag, grabbed her hand, and started pulling her outside. "Take my car. It’ll be faster."

His entitled attitude made Wren Wynter laugh in exasperation. "Mr. Xavier, have you forgotten that we’re divorced? What right do you have to meddle in my business?"

"The right I earned when you accepted my gift yesterday." Kaden Xavier glanced back at her, a hint of a roguish smile in his eyes.

Wren Wynter was speechless.

In the end, she got into Kaden Xavier’s car.

As the car drove smoothly toward the airport, Kaden Xavier asked, seemingly offhandedly, "Who are you picking up? A friend?"

"That’s none of your business," Wren Wynter replied flatly.

Kaden Xavier’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Wren, do you really have to talk to me like this?"

Wren Wynter couldn’t be bothered to argue. She just leaned against the window and closed her eyes to rest.

Kaden Xavier watched her peaceful, sleeping face in the rearview mirror, feeling a mix of helplessness and exasperation.

「Ten AM, Corvidale International Airport.」

Wren Wynter immediately spotted the figure who stood out from the crowd.

Finn Wynter was dressed in a well-tailored gray trench coat over a white turtleneck sweater. Beneath his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes were deep and sharp.

He was tall, with an elegant demeanor that also carried the commanding presence of someone in power. His appearance alone drew countless eyes.

"Wren."

He strode toward Wren Wynter, his face breaking into a genuinely doting smile as he opened his arms and gave her a huge hug.

Wren Wynter returned the embrace.

Finally seeing a loved one again, the familiar warmth made her eyes well up.

"Cousin, you’re finally back."

Following behind Wren Wynter, Kaden Xavier saw this and his face instantly darkened.

He stepped forward, discreetly pulled Wren Wynter out of Finn Wynter’s arms, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as if staking a claim.

"Mr. Wynter, long time no see."

He extended a hand, his tone polite, but his eyes were filled with hostility.