Kaden Xavier’s strike was fast and vicious.

Mason Shaw didn’t even have time to dodge.

He scrambled up from the ground, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were dark as he glared at Kaden Xavier.

Then, without a word, he rushed forward and threw a punch of his own.

But Kaden Xavier dodged it with ease.

When he was fifteen, Kaden Xavier had trained in street fighting and even fought in underground rings.

Few people were a match for him.

"Kaden Xavier, have you lost your fucking mind?" Mason Shaw had shed all his usual gentleness, his composure shattered as he cursed at Kaden.

"What is your relationship with Wren?" Kaden Xavier rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"What’s that got to do with you?" Mason Shaw provoked him fearlessly.

"Mason Shaw, I’ll ask one last time. What is your relationship?" The man exuded a murderous, overwhelming aura.

The rampant aggression and madness raging in Kaden Xavier’s eyes shocked Mason Shaw.

He steadied himself, crossed his arms, and sized Kaden up nonchalantly. "What’s it to you how things are between her and me? What, is she your wife?"

"I’ve heard the rumors at the hospital these past few days. Wren Wynter saved your grandmother. With her charisma, it’s only natural that you’d fall for her. But I won’t give her up to you. She..."

"Yes. She is my wife," Kaden Xavier’s voice was bone-chillingly cold.

"..."

Silence fell for a few seconds.

Even though he had been mentally prepared, even though he had made his own bold predictions, hearing Kaden Xavier admit it himself still struck Mason Shaw as comical.

’What a small world.’

But so what?

He’d always had a weak moral compass, anyway.

Mason Shaw licked the corner of his mouth and gave a roguish smile. "Mr. Xavier, *ex*-wife, right? But I’m curious. Since you’re still entangled with your ’white moonlight,’ why are you obstructing Wren Wynter’s love life? Aren’t you afraid of angering your beloved?"

"Or is it that you only realized you’re truly in love with Wren Wynter after the divorce?"

Mason Shaw’s sarcastic words were like an X-ray, dissecting his psyche for all to see. Kaden Xavier’s expression faltered, and he tightened his lips. "Who told you we divorced? And even if we did, as long as I don’t let go, she is my woman in life, and in death, she will be the Mrs. Xavier buried by my side."

Mason Shaw understood the implication perfectly.

’As long as he hadn’t signed the papers or gone to the Civil Affairs Bureau, the divorce wasn’t official.’

But Mason Shaw truly didn’t understand why Kaden Xavier would cast aside such a wonderful wife to fool around with other women.

"Mason Shaw, if you know what’s good for you, stay away from Wren from now on."

’If I had known from the start that the married woman he wanted to pursue was Wren, I would never have given him the chance to get close to her.’

’Not even for that plot of land.’

"Mr. Xavier, I’ve coveted Wren since before her divorce. Now that she’s getting one, there’s even less reason for me to let go." Mason Shaw dusted off his clothes, his every word firm and deliberate. "After all, if you don’t cherish her, someone else will."

"Starting tomorrow, I will officially begin pursuing Dr. Wynter, and I won’t stop until she agrees."

"Mason Shaw, you dare?" Kaden Xavier’s voice was heavy, his cold eyes bearing down on him. "You think I don’t know what you’re plotting? If she gets hurt in the slightest because of you, I will make you regret it!"

Mason Shaw raised an eyebrow, a faint smile on his lips. "In what capacity are you warning me, Mr. Xavier? As her ’Mr. Ex-husband’?"

"Mason Shaw!"

"Kaden Xavier, don’t forget, you still owe me a favor."

"Anything but this! I’ll agree to anything else!"

"Does that include the Xavier Group?"

"Yes!"

Mason Shaw was stunned. He hadn’t expected Kaden Xavier to be so decisive.

He looked back at Kaden. In the shadows, he couldn’t even make out the expression on Kaden’s face.

"But besides her, I want nothing. Mr. Xavier, care to make a bet? Let’s see if Wren Wynter chooses you or me. Do you dare?"

"Fine. If you lose, get out of her sight for good." Kaden Xavier’s dark eyes were full of menace.

"Alright! And if you lose, Mr. Xavier, I want thirty percent of the Xavier Group’s shares. We’ll talk about a draw if it comes to that."

"Deal." Kaden Xavier didn’t hesitate for a second.

Mason Shaw wasted no more words with Kaden Xavier and strode into the Shaw Family villa.

’I’ve already won!’

’Although I haven’t spent much time with Wren Wynter, I can tell she’s the type of person who never looks back once she lets go.’

’So, even if I can’t win her over, she’ll never get back together with Kaden Xavier.’

***

The next day, Wren Wynter arrived at the hospital with dark circles under her eyes. Before she could even get near her office, her path was blocked by a huge bouquet of flowers.

She was instantly wide awake and took a few sharp steps back.

"Morning, Dr. Wynter." Mason Shaw’s gentle voice came from behind the flowers.

Wren Wynter moved around the bouquet, turning her head to meet Mason Shaw’s gaze. "Dr. Shaw, what is this...?"

"My, you have a short memory, Dr. Wynter. I made it very clear in front of Mr. Wynter yesterday that I would officially start pursuing you today. You can’t make me go back on my word, can you?"

Wren Wynter’s lips twitched as she forced a smile. "Dr. Shaw, you really shouldn’t have. Unfortunately... I’m allergic to pollen."

’The last time Kaden Xavier sent me flowers, it nearly killed me.’

Mason Shaw was startled and quickly tossed the flowers into a nearby trash can, his tone apologetic. "I’m so sorry, Dr. Wynter. I didn’t know."

"It’s fine. I never told you, so it’s normal that you wouldn’t know." Wren Wynter looked at Mason Shaw, hesitating to speak her mind.

’This was already making me uncomfortable, and in the hospital of all places. If anyone saw, the gossip would be everywhere.’

"Dr. Shaw, I feel I need to be clear with you. I haven’t finalized the divorce proceedings with my husband, so I’m not technically divorced. And even if I were, I have no intention of considering these things anytime soon. I’m sorry."

Wren Wynter felt a wave of relief after finally saying what she had been holding in all night, but Mason Shaw didn’t take it so well.

’Hasn’t she gotten over Kaden Xavier yet?’

He struggled to maintain his composure, forcing a nonchalant smile. "It’s alright. I understand."

"Good. Dr. Shaw, if there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work now." Wren Wynter said, then made a quick getaway.

’Seeing him now just felt so awkward.’

Meanwhile, Seraphina Sutton had also arrived at the hospital.

She hadn’t been able to contact Kaden Xavier for days because of the incident at the birthday party, and she was growing anxious, terrified that he and Wren Wynter would reconcile.

’I worked so hard to drive them to divorce, I even lost a child in the process. They absolutely cannot be allowed to reconcile.’

’If Kaden won’t see me, then I’ll just see Helen Sawyer and Old Madam Xavier.’

’As long as I can get on their good side, getting into the Xavier family will be no problem.’

Carrying a gift, Seraphina Sutton walked into the hospital room and greeted Helen Sawyer in a soft voice, "Godmother, it’s been a while. How is Grandma?"

Helen Sawyer looked up at the sound of her voice, her brows knitting together. She rose to her feet and angrily tried to shoo Seraphina away.

"Get out! You’re not welcome here!"

"Godmother, what are you doing? I came to see you and Grandma."

"Pah! Don’t call me Godmother! What kind of trash did you introduce to us last time? You nearly got both me and my mother hurt! Scram! Get your face out of my sight!"

Seraphina Sutton bit her lip, putting on a delicate, wronged expression as she looked at Helen Sawyer with tear-filled eyes.

"Godmother, I’m sorry. What happened last time was my fault. Please don’t be angry with me, okay? I didn’t know he was a liar. I’m a victim too."

"It’s one thing for you to be stupid enough to get scammed, but you had to drag us into it too! What were you thinking?!"

"That’s not it, Godmother, I didn’t... SOB... Dr. Wynter said acupuncture was needed, and I just thought it would be good for Grandma."