Wren Wynter?

’Why is she here?’

Seraphina Sutton’s mind raced as a devious plan quietly formed.

She leaned forward slightly from her position against Nathaniel Quinn’s shoulder. Her voice, thick with sobs and self-pity, was deliberately raised, as if to ensure the person outside could hear.

"Kaden, Nathaniel, I know it’s all my fault. If... if it weren’t for me, Kaden and Dr. Wynter wouldn’t have reached the point of divorce. I’m the one who doesn’t belong, the one who ruined their marriage."

"If... if my existence is really causing so much trouble, I... I’d rather just disappear! I’ll take Asher’s child and go somewhere no one knows us..."

As she spoke, her tears flowed even more freely, her expression one of utter devastation.

Just as she’d expected, Nathaniel Quinn couldn’t bear to see it and quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

"Seraphina, what nonsense are you talking about! How could this be your fault? If anyone’s to blame, it’s a certain someone who’s ungrateful, malicious, and completely devoid of compassion!"

"I’m sure she and Grandpa Xavier must have schemed together to threaten Kaden back then. That’s the only way this whole situation could have happened. Otherwise, you never would have married Asher Lynch, and you certainly wouldn’t be raising a child all by yourself."

Listening to Nathaniel Quinn’s baseless, twisted accusations, Wren Wynter’s brow furrowed.

’Scheme with Grandpa Xavier?’

’I didn’t even know anything about that, okay?’

After speaking, Nathaniel Quinn turned to Kaden Xavier. Emboldened by the alcohol, he asked, half-joking and half-testing.

"Cole, seriously, you’re not getting sentimental about divorcing that woman, are you? Are you worried a divorce would cause a shake-up in Xavier Airlines’ shares and affect the stock price? Or... are you afraid the rumors will hurt Seraphina?"

Nathaniel Quinn had always believed that Kaden Xavier had special feelings for Seraphina Sutton but was held back by his marital status and public opinion.

Kaden Xavier was already on edge from Wren Wynter’s divorce lawsuit and the phone call from Hugh Hale. Now, hearing Seraphina Sutton’s self-reproach and Nathaniel Quinn’s nonsense, his mind was a tangled mess.

He needed a reason to convince himself.

Alcohol and frustration clouded his judgment. Without much thought, he went along with Nathaniel Quinn’s line of questioning. With a mix of reckless spite and impatience, he coldly spat out a single word.

"Yes."

The word wasn’t particularly loud against the noisy musical backdrop.

But for Wren Wynter, standing right outside the door, it pierced her eardrums with crystal clarity and stabbed straight into her heart.

The color drained from her face. A dull, gory ache spread from her heart through all her organs.

He’d admitted it.

The reason for not divorcing wasn’t because he still had feelings for her.

It wasn’t because of their seven years of marriage.

It certainly wasn’t for any of the reasons she had once humbly fantasized about.

It was only because he was worried about the shares and stock price.

And because he was afraid the rumors would hurt Seraphina Sutton.

She couldn’t listen anymore.

If she stayed another second, she was afraid she’d lose control, storm in, and do something even she would find despicable.

Little did she know that a few seconds after she turned and left, Kaden Xavier, having spat out that "yes," downed a large gulp of hard liquor inside the private room.

The harsh liquid burned his throat, incinerating the last of his reason.

He saw the "I get you" look on Nathaniel Quinn’s face and slammed his glass down, the sound of glass hitting marble piercing the air.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over Nathaniel Quinn with a cold, sharp warning.

"Wren Wynter is my, Kaden Xavier’s, legal wife. From now on, watch your mouth and your attitude toward her. And another thing..."

He paused mid-sentence, his gaze shifting to the instantly frozen Seraphina Sutton.

"Seraphina is Asher Lynch’s wife—my brother’s widow. I look after her, and that’s all. Don’t make any more ridiculous jokes about us."

Nathaniel Quinn was stunned by the sudden, harsh warning. It sobered him up considerably, and he looked embarrassed. But intimidated by Kaden Xavier’s presence, he could only nod resentfully.

"...Got it, Cole."

The pitiful expression and trace of triumph on Seraphina Sutton’s face froze completely.

She never expected Kaden Xavier to distance himself so thoroughly.

She instinctively glanced at the door again. It was already empty.

’Good thing Wren Wynter heard Kaden Xavier’s "yes" earlier.’

’My objective has been achieved!’

In an instant, the flicker of panic in Seraphina Sutton’s heart was replaced by a twisted sense of glee.

’After hearing that, Wren Wynter should give up all hope, right?’

Kaden Xavier paid no mind to their reactions, feeling nothing but annoyance.

He stood up and grabbed his jacket.

"I’m leaving. Seraphina, go home and rest early. Don’t drink too much."

Without waiting for a response, he walked straight out of the private room.

Meanwhile, Wren Wynter, having returned to her apartment alone, locked the door from the inside and slid down against it to sit on the floor.

She didn’t turn on the lights.

Kaden Xavier’s "yes" was the last straw, crushing the final vestiges of fantasy she held for this marriage.

There was no sadness, no anger—just a complete and utter death of the heart.

Perhaps this was what they meant when they said the greatest sorrow is a dead heart.

’It’s for the best.’

’This way, I can finally let go of my last shred of hesitation.’

She wiped her tears, picked up her phone, and dragged all of Kaden Xavier’s contact information into her block list. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Then, she sent a message to Lawyer Jordon.

"Lawyer Jordon, please expedite the filing materials. I don’t want to see him again. Let everything proceed according to the law."

After sending it, she turned off her phone, buried herself under the covers, and forced herself to sleep.

’Tomorrow, there’s still so much to do.’

The next day, Kaden Xavier, in a rare move, did not go to the office early.

He stayed in the empty villa, distractedly handling emails, but his eyes kept darting to his phone and the front door.

He was waiting.

Waiting for Wren Wynter.

However, he waited from morning until nightfall, and the villa remained so quiet that only his own breathing and the ticking of the clock could be heard.

Wren Wynter never showed up. There wasn’t a single message.

He finally couldn’t take it anymore and picked up his phone to dial the familiar number.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy..."

He tried calling from another number, but still got the same automated message.

The WeChat message he sent was met with a glaring red exclamation mark.

She had blocked him.

This time, on everything.

’How could she be so heartless?’

’Not even giving me a chance to explain?’

He shot up in frustration, grabbing his car keys, ready to rush out and find her.

’Even if I have to tear this city apart, I will find her and demand an explanation!’

Just then, his phone rang.

His heart leaped, thinking it was Wren Wynter, and he answered immediately.

"Kaden!"

Seraphina Sutton’s gentle yet wronged voice came from the other end.

"Are you... free today? It’s my birthday, and I know a lot has happened recently and you’re in a bad mood, so I shouldn’t be bothering you. But... I’m a little scared being all alone. Could you... have dinner with me? Just for a little while..."

The refusal on the tip of Kaden Xavier’s tongue got stuck in his throat.

He rubbed his throbbing temples and finally gave in, exhausted.

"Send me the address."

The address he received was for a Western restaurant known for its romantic atmosphere. Kaden Xavier drove there, his thoughts in turmoil.