Kaden Xavier had clearly rushed back overnight.

Seeing Wren groggy and in her pajamas, the fury in his eyes burned even hotter. He seized her wrist, his grip so tight she cried out in pain.

"Wren! How can you be sleeping?!" Kaden Xavier’s low voice was practically a roar, a clear sign of his immense anger.

"Grandma was in critical condition yesterday! She had surgery, and it was touch-and-go! But you? You just left her all alone at the hospital and ran back here to sleep so soundly?"

Wren’s wrist throbbed from his grip, and the sudden onslaught of accusations shattered any lingering drowsiness.

Hearing Kaden’s words, she felt all the strength drain from her body.

’I stayed up all night, snatched Old Madam Xavier back from death’s door, and this is the thanks I get? This interrogation?’

She struggled to wrench her hand free, but he only gripped it tighter.

"Let go of me! I have to get to work."

"Work?" Kaden’s thin lips pressed into a firm line, his gaze chilling. "You’re still thinking about work? You’re coming to the hospital with me! Now!"

With that, he began dragging her downstairs, giving her no room to argue.

Still in her pajamas and slippers, Wren stumbled along as he pulled her.

They drove to the hospital in silence, the car moving at a reckless speed.

Kaden all but dragged Wren to the VIP floor where Old Madam Xavier was staying.

Just as they exited the elevator, they saw Ho-ran Park walking over from the nurses’ station, a medical chart in his hand.

He saw Kaden roughly dragging Wren.

Wren’s wrist was bright red and her clothes were in disarray. Ho-ran Park’s usually gentle expression hardened, and he strode forward.

"Mr. Xavier! Let her go!" Dr. Park said, reaching out to get between him and Wren.

Kaden was already furious, and the sight of Dr. Park only added fuel to the fire.

He violently shoved Wren aside and stepped in front of Dr. Park, his eyes icy and hostile.

"Dr. Park, this is between my wife and me. It’s none of your business."

"None of my business?" Dr. Park sneered, his eyes glancing at Wren’s red wrist. "From what I can see, Mr. Xavier, you treat your wife worse than a stranger! Yesterday, who was it that—"

"Senior!" Wren cut him off. Her voice was quiet, but it held the calm of utter exhaustion.

She rubbed her aching wrist and looked at Kaden. There was no anger in her eyes, only a hollow exhaustion. "What is it you want?"

Her indifferent, almost careless demeanor only infuriated Kaden further.

Just as he was about to speak, the door to the hospital room opened from within. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Old Madam Xavier was propped up on the raised hospital bed. Her face was still pale and weak, but her eyes were much clearer now.

She had vaguely heard the commotion outside, and now, seeing the scene at the doorway—especially Wren’s reddened wrist—her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Kaden! Let go of Wren! What is the meaning of this?!"

Kaden froze and released his grip on Wren, but his expression remained dark.

He walked to the bedside. "Grandma, how are you feeling?" he asked with concern. "I’m apologizing on Wren’s behalf. She won’t leave you alone at the hospital again."

"Kaden!" Old Madam Xavier cut him off, her gaze stern. "Who told you Wren left me here alone?"

Kaden faltered. "Mom did. She said she barely saw Wren before or after the surgery last night..."

Old Madam Xavier sighed, her eyes filled with sympathy and guilt as she looked at Wren.

She beckoned to Wren. "Wren, come here."

Wren walked silently to the bedside.

Old Madam Xavier took her hand and gently stroked the red mark on her wrist. Her voice softened. "My dear child, you’ve been wronged."

Kaden was completely stunned. "What? Grandma, what are you talking about?"

"Your grandmother is right," Dr. Park interjected. "Kaden Xavier, the ’heartless’ Wren you imagined? She’s the one who saved your grandmother’s life."

Kaden was suddenly at a loss for words, looking at Wren in astonishment.

"You were in the surgery last night?"

Wren’s silence was his only answer.

Kaden frowned. ’Could she really be that skilled?’

’Skilled enough to operate on Grandma.’

’It must have been because the hospital was short-staffed. They probably just called her in to assist.’

"If that’s what happened, why didn’t you explain?"

"There was nothing to explain," Wren said flatly.

Standing to the side, Dr. Park recalled Helen Sawyer’s attitude last night and Kaden’s behavior today.

He felt a surge of indignation on behalf of his junior.

Dr. Park snorted and jumped in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Are you getting it now, Mr. Xavier? Last night, this ’heartless’ wife of yours who ’abandoned Grandma’ was on her feet in an operating room for nearly six hours."

"And what do you do? You come back, don’t bother to get the facts straight, and treat the person who saved Grandma’s life like this?"

Just then, a soft sound came from the doorway.

Everyone turned to see Seraphina Sutton standing timidly in the doorway, holding a fruit basket and a bouquet of flowers.

She was clearly dressed up for the occasion. Her complexion was rosy, and she wore a loose-fitting skirt, though her belly showed no signs of pregnancy just yet.

"Grandma Xavier, Kaden, Dr. Wynter, Dr. Park..."

She greeted each of them, her voice soft. "I heard Grandma Xavier was ill, so I came to visit. Grandma Xavier, are you feeling any better?"

She walked in as she spoke, placing the basket and flowers on the bedside table. "It’s just a little something. I hope you have a speedy recovery."

Old Madam Xavier glanced at her and nodded, her tone polite but distant. "That’s very thoughtful of you, Miss Sutton. Thank you. I’m tired now and need to rest."

The words were a polite but clear dismissal.

The smile on Seraphina Sutton’s face stiffened. She stood there awkwardly, not knowing whether she should stay or go.

’I just got here, and this old hag is already trying to kick me out,’ she thought. ’Isn’t it obvious she’s targeting me?’

At that moment, another set of footsteps approached from outside the room.

A silver-haired old man in a well-tailored Tang suit entered, supported by a middle-aged man.

He was clearly there to visit the old madam.

"Celeste, how are you?"

The old man studied Old Madam Xavier with concern as he shuffled unsteadily to her bedside.

"Same old problems," she said. "I’m not dead yet."

Wren was about to step aside to give them space to catch up.

The middle-aged man beside the elder’s eyes lit up. "Miss Wynter, it really is you!" he said excitedly.

The old man turned, and when he saw Wren clearly, his face broke into a look of surprised delight.

"Young lady, it’s you!"

Everyone froze, including Wren herself.

"Arthur, you two know each other?"

Old Madam Xavier looked from the old man to Wren in confusion.

"Well," the man sighed, "it’s quite a coincidence. If this young lady hadn’t given me first aid that day, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be here to see you at all."

Wren looked closely at the overjoyed old man before her, and then recognition dawned.

"Sir, it’s you," she said. "Are you feeling better now?"