After all, Lana Xavier had only recently returned from abroad. How could she possibly have friends in The Capital?

"Lana’s an adult now. It’s perfectly normal for her to have her own social life. You don’t have to worry, Godmother."

Seraphina Sutton chimed in at just the right moment, even thoughtfully helping Helen Sawyer set the table.

Wren listened quietly to their small talk, focusing on the food in front of her.

"Kaden, do you have any particular plans in the near future?" Old Madam Xavier suddenly asked.

"No," Kaden replied.

"In that case, take Wren to see Elder Yates next week. Tell him the item I entrusted to his care should now be returned to its rightful owner."

"Grandma, I might not be free next week. Can’t Kaden go by himself?" Wren protested.

"No. It must be the two of you," Old Madam Xavier said, her tone resolute.

Wren’s brow furrowed as she sank into deep thought.

’What in the world could it be that requires both of us to go?’

Seeing her opening, Seraphina quickly jumped in. "Grandma, since Dr. Wynter can’t make it, why don’t I go with Kaden instead? We often took the same flights when we were at the company, so we can look out for each other."

The words had barely left her mouth when Old Madam Xavier slammed her chopsticks down on the table, her face turning to ice.

"Have I not made myself clear? Miss Sutton, this is a Xavier family matter. It is not for an outsider like you to interfere."

"Grandma..." Seraphina began, but fell silent.

Beside her, Helen Sawyer tugged on her hand under the table, shooting her a look of displeasure.

Old Madam Xavier placed some food in Wren’s bowl, her expression softening into a benevolent smile. "Wren, eat up."

"Grandma, you’re the one who needs to eat more."

’The food in my bowl is already piled high as a mountain. It’s hard to tell who the patient is here.’

Old Madam Xavier shot an irritated glare at Kaden, who was sitting idly by. "Kaden Xavier, what is the matter with you? You haven’t served your wife a single piece of food all evening. What kind of behavior is that?"

"I was wrong, Grandma." Kaden was quick to apologize, promptly picking up a piece of meat and placing it in Wren’s bowl.

Wren didn’t particularly want to eat it, and in the end, didn’t touch it.

Kaden noticed but didn’t say anything.

’In the past, she would have eaten anything he gave her. She’d even be secretly happy about it.’

But now...

Throughout the meal, it seemed Old Madam Xavier was deliberately trying to patch things up between Kaden and Wren.

Sitting across from Kaden, Seraphina was practically seething with jealousy. The meal was tasteless to her, but there was nothing she could do about it.

She stretched her lips into a forced smile and said slowly, "Kaden and Dr. Wynter’s relationship is so good. You’d never know they’re about to get a divorce."

Seraphina was clearly saying this just to be malicious.

She knew perfectly well that Old Madam Xavier couldn’t stand hearing about the divorce—it was the very reason the old woman had been hospitalized—yet Seraphina had to bring it up anyway.

Sure enough, Old Madam Xavier threw her chopsticks onto the table. Her face fell as she pushed back her chair and stood up.

"Grandma!"

Wren was frantic, terrified that Seraphina’s words would anger the old woman enough to send her back to the hospital.

She rushed forward to steady Old Madam Xavier, shooting Seraphina an icy, warning glare over her shoulder.

’She just had to bring up the one topic she shouldn’t have.’

Seraphina was secretly delighted. ’Finally got rid of that old hag and Wren.’

She gleefully picked up a piece of food and put it in her mouth, completely oblivious to the thunderous expression on Kaden’s face across the table. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He shot to his feet, his expression cold and dark as he loomed over Seraphina, who was still eating.

"Kaden, what’s wrong?"

Helen Sawyer asked timidly, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere.

"Mom, if you’re finished, please go upstairs and keep Grandma company."

She knew exactly what he meant by that.

She glanced at Seraphina before leaving.

Seraphina also sensed something was amiss. She looked up to speak, but Kaden grabbed her by the collar and hauled her to her feet.

"Kaden, what are you doing? You..."

"Seraphina Sutton, out of consideration for the child you just lost, I have tolerated you time and again. I’ve tolerated you showing up uninvited, and still, you insist on pushing your luck, is that it?"

"Kaden, what are you talking about? I don’t understand."

"I told you not to use my name. You know perfectly well why Grandma was hospitalized, so why did you have to bring up the divorce in front of her? Were you doing it on purpose?!"

Seraphina waved her hands frantically, her eyes wide with panic and fear.

"Kaden, I... I didn’t mean it, please believe me! I was just envious of your relationship with Dr. Wynter. I really didn’t mean to say it."

Kaden stared at her in silence, his eyes simmering with anger and impatience.

’He used to think Seraphina was empathetic and understood the pressure he was under. Now, he just saw her as someone with no sense of propriety, who would say things without even thinking.’

"I’ll have the driver take you home. Don’t come here again."

Kaden let go of Seraphina and called for the driver, instructing him to take her back to Azure Dragon Bay.

Once her panic subsided, all that remained in Seraphina was jealousy.

’All I did was mention the divorce. Was it necessary to be so dramatic?’

’For all I know, that old hag did it on purpose just to make Kaden throw me out.’

Seraphina seethed with resentment but didn’t dare argue with Kaden. For now, all she could do was leave obediently.

Wren helped Old Madam Xavier back to her room and sat her down on the sofa, gently rubbing her back to soothe her. "Grandma, please don’t be angry. It’s not worth getting sick over Seraphina."

Old Madam Xavier took Wren’s hand, her gaze softening as she sighed. "I’m sorry you had to suffer like this. People of her sort are full of schemes. You and Kaden are the real family; you must trust and support one another."

At these words, Wren lowered her gaze.

’Support one another?’

’If it weren’t for Grandma’s health, I wouldn’t even want to be friends with Kaden.’

’But it’s only a matter of time...’

After a moment of silence, Wren forced a smile. "I know, Grandma. You’re the one who really needs to rest."

The old woman smiled. "I’ve learned to let things go. Don’t you worry about me."

Wren poured a glass of warm water for the old woman, watched her drink it, then helped her lie down before turning to leave the room.

As Kaden was heading upstairs, Wren happened to be coming out of her grandmother’s room.

They met in the hallway, and both stopped in their tracks.

Under the warm yellow light of the wall sconces, a subtle tension hung in the air.

Wren lowered her eyes and moved to sidle past him, but he caught her wrist.

"Wren," he said, his deep voice carrying a barely perceptible tension.

Wren looked up at him calmly. "What is it?"

Kaden’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he seemed to weigh his words. "How’s Grandma?"

But as soon as the words were out, even he felt how weak and inadequate they sounded.

"She’s fine. Nothing serious," Wren replied, her face devoid of expression. "But next time, I’ll have to trouble you, Mr. Xavier, to manage your little mistress. If we’re going to put on an act, then don’t let her come and tear down the stage. Grandma doesn’t have enough lives to survive her theatrics."

Her words were like small thorns, pricking him lightly.

His grip on her wrist tightened, and his brow furrowed. "Wren... I didn’t know she was coming. She..."

"That has nothing to do with me." Wren pulled her wrist free. "I only care about Grandma’s health. As for your personal life, I couldn’t care less, and I won’t overstep my bounds."