Wren’s heart stirred. She stared blankly into Zane Langley’s dark eyes, and the sounds around her seemed to freeze in that instant.

Memories flooded her mind like a spring.

Back before she had married Kaden Xavier, Asher Lynch had always teased Zane, joking that Wren would have to offer herself in marriage to repay him. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Seeing her zone out, Zane Langley thought he had scared her and quickly, nervously tried to explain.

"Professor, I was just kidding. Please don’t take it to heart."

Wren snapped back to reality and gave an embarrassed smile. "It’s fine. I don’t mind."

Zane let out a sigh of relief. "I was worried you hated me, Professor. I thought my joke about you marrying me had scared you speechless."

"Do I seem that timid to you?"

"That’s good, then."

Wren patted Zane’s shoulder. "Thank you for saving me so many times. Let me treat you to a meal some other day to show my gratitude."

"No need, Professor. It was nothing. I would’ve helped anyone in that situation."

"You’re quite noble." Wren chuckled softly. "I was a student at A University, too. I can’t believe that in the time I’ve been away, my alma mater has produced so many scumbags like that."

Zane knew exactly who she meant by "scumbag" without her having to say it. He just smiled, looking unconcerned.

"There are plenty of people who do whatever they want just because their dad is on the board of directors. Silas Fawcett is just one of them."

"Doesn’t the president do anything?"

"Can he? The president has to beg his dad for donations to build new buildings. He wouldn’t dare interfere."

Wren fell silent, but inside, she was already planning. ’I need to find a time to talk to the president. Leaving a scumbag like that at the school is just toxic for the environment.’

Suddenly, a girl ran over to Zane, holding a gift box and a letter.

Wren watched from the side, knowing exactly what the girl was up to. She just smiled without a word, her gaze toward Zane filled with playful teasing.

"Zane... Zane! I like you! Please go out with me!"

Zane seemed quite skilled at handling these situations. He smiled and pushed the gift back, only accepting the girl’s letter.

"Thank you for your feelings, but I already have someone I like. I’m sorry."

When the girl heard that Zane liked someone, the light in her eyes instantly dimmed.

Her gaze fell on Wren, who was standing beside Zane, and her eyes turned red.

Wren saw the misunderstanding and immediately waved her hands in dismissal.

"You’ve got it wrong. I’m Zane’s professor. We’re not... what you’re thinking."

"You’re lying! I’ve never seen you before. But... I admit I can’t compete with you. You’re prettier than me. I accept it. Zane, I wish you happiness."

With that, the girl turned and ran off.

Wren could only give a helpless smile.

’That girl is actually kind of cute,’ Wren thought. ’I told her I was his professor, and she still didn’t believe me.’

At that moment, Wren’s thoughts drifted back to her own college days.

She had once written a love letter to Kaden Xavier, too.

It was the first love letter she had ever written.

She still remembered how, when Kaden received it, he had calmly placed the letter under his desk without any intention of reading it. He had even warned her.

"Get rid of those thoughts. We’re not right for each other."

She just watched him stand before her, like an unattainable god.

The Wren of back then was insecure and timid.

Having lost her parents, she naturally felt she wasn’t good enough for Kaden Xavier, that she was a burden. He deserved the best.

Somehow, that love letter later ended up in Seraphina Sutton’s hands.

In front of everyone, Seraphina exposed her secret girlish crush.

It was as if her last shred of dignity had been torn away.

She had been so foolish back then, failing to see the disgust in Kaden’s eyes as he stood nearby.

If she had known then that Kaden Xavier hated her, no matter how much she liked him, she never would have been so eager to marry him.

Zane waved a hand in front of her eyes, forcibly pulling her thoughts back to the present.

"Professor, what are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, just some unimportant things. What’s up?"

Zane gestured toward her, giving her a strange look. "Professor, your phone’s ringing. Aren’t you going to get that?"

"Oh, right."

Only then did Wren realize her phone had been ringing for a while.

She pressed the answer key, and a trembling, low voice came from the other end.

"Wren, something’s happened to Grandma."

Seraphina Sutton returned to Azure Dragon Bay in a panic.

Her hands were still stained with blood, and she was clutching a small knife.

’The old hag has to be dead this time, right?’

’As long as the old hag is dead, Wren and Kaden will definitely get a divorce. Then Kaden will have no one to rely on. I’ll be there to comfort him, and I’ll win his heart.’

’Becoming Mrs. Xavier will be just around the corner!’

’Anyone who stands in my way of becoming Mrs. Xavier has to die!’

Seraphina snapped back to her senses. The small knife in her hand clattered to the floor. She scrambled into the bathroom, trying to wash the blood from her hands with water.

’They won’t find out.’

’There’s no way I’ll be discovered!’

She looked up at her reflection, reached out a blood-stained hand to touch the mirror, and her expression went slack.

’Seraphina, oh, Seraphina, you’ve really outdone yourself. You’ve learned how to kill.’

Her reflection was staring back at her with a mocking gaze. Seraphina snatched her hand back as if she’d touched a hot potato.

"She was the one in my way! It’s that old hag’s fault! I... I just wanted her to change her opinion of me! Yes, it’s not my fault!"

Before she could react, the person in the mirror changed again, taking on the appearance of Asher Lynch.

This terrified Seraphina.

She fell right to the floor.

Then, "Asher Lynch" stepped out of the mirror, walked over to her, and knelt down, caressing her cheek.

"Seraphina, I’m so disappointed. You couldn’t even protect our only child, and now you want to marry someone else. Do you look down on me that much?"

"No, that’s not it! I didn’t, Asher! I didn’t! It was your cruel fate! You can’t expect me to be a widow for the rest of my life!"

"Really? Is that what you truly think? Or was it that you never wanted to be with me in the first place, that you’ve wanted to marry Kaden Xavier all along?"

Seraphina shook her head repeatedly, her consciousness starting to blur.

"It’s true! It’s all true!"

"Then how did the child die? Seraphina, you are too cruel. You killed our child. It was you! You murderer!"

"It wasn’t me! Asher, it wasn’t me! It was Wren Wynter! She’s the one who harmed our child! If you’re going to blame someone, blame her, not me!"

Panic began to cloud Seraphina’s eyes. She shrank into a corner, hugging her knees, and started muttering nonstop.

’Why does everyone blame me?’

’I didn’t do anything wrong. I just want a better life. What’s wrong with that?’

’Everyone looks down on me, they all despise me... Fine! I’ll just get rid of every obstacle in my way!’

"Seraphina, are you home?"

Suddenly, Nathaniel Quinn’s voice echoed from the living room.