The next day, a termination notice was posted on the hospital’s bulletin board. The content was simple and clear:

[Nurse Audrey Aldridge is hereby terminated for gross violation of professional ethics and hospital regulations.]

The news spread through the hospital like wildfire. The rampant rumors from the past few days died down overnight.

Those who had been pointing fingers at Wren Wynter now tacitly kept their mouths shut. However, their gazes now held a new mix of curiosity and awe.

When Leo Crowe found Wren Wynter, his face was still etched with guilt.

"Junior Sister, I really didn’t expect it to blow up like this. I’m sorry for causing you trouble."

"This wasn’t your fault, Leo."

Wren Wynter was organizing project materials and didn’t even look up. "With people like that, if it wasn’t you, they’d just find another target. We just need to focus on our work."

She acted as if it were nothing, as if last night’s fiasco was just an insignificant little episode.

Leo Crowe looked at her focused profile, a mix of admiration and heartache welling up inside him. In the end, it all melted into a sigh as he turned and threw himself back into his work.

However, while they wanted to let the matter rest, someone else did not.

Kaden Xavier arrived at the hospital in the afternoon.

He hadn’t called ahead. Dressed in a crisp suit, his appearance in the hospital corridor drew looks from many of the medical staff.

He was originally there to inspect the project’s progress, but he happened to overhear a few nurses whispering. Although they fell silent the moment he approached, a few scattered words—"Dr. Wynter," "ex-wife," "homewrecker"—still found their way to his ears.

His expression darkened instantly.

"Assistant Lynch," he said, his voice turning cold, "go find out what rumors have been circulating about Dr. Wynter in the hospital recently."

"Yes, Mr. Xavier." Assistant Lynch didn’t dare delay and left immediately to carry out the order.

Kaden Xavier strode toward the conference room. When he pushed the door open and saw Wren Wynter and her senior colleagues engrossed in their work, the fire in his heart subsided slightly.

"Mr. Xavier?" Ho-ran Park was the first to notice him, looking somewhat surprised.

Wren Wynter looked up, and when she saw his grim expression, her heart skipped a beat.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to hear who’s been badmouthing my... ex-wife."

Kaden Xavier’s gaze swept over Wren Wynter, the chill in his tone making the temperature in the conference room drop a few degrees.

Wren Wynter frowned. She had a good idea what this was about.

"It’s just some pointless gossip. There’s no need to pay it any mind."

"Pointless?"

Kaden Xavier sneered. "They’re painting you as some kind of degenerate concubine who threw the imperial harem into chaos. You call that pointless?"

Listening from the side, Leif Shaw almost burst out laughing. ’What an analogy. Absolutely perfect.’

"Kaden Xavier, this is my business."

Wren Wynter stood up and pulled him out the door. "Stay out of it. I can handle it myself."

"How are you going to handle it? By letting them sling mud at you?"

Kaden Xavier grabbed her wrist, his grip tight. "Wren Wynter, when will you ever learn to rely on me for once?"

Just as they were locked in a standoff, Assistant Lynch hurried over, his expression grim.

"Mr. Xavier, I found it. There’s... there’s a post online about Miss Wynter, and it includes an edited audio recording."

Things escalate online much faster than in the real world.

Tina Wallace had edited her own voice out of the recording, leaving only the embellished gossip of the other nurses. She then paired it with a highly inflammatory title:

"Scorned Rich Wife Stops at Nothing to Remarry, Seduces Multiple Male Doctors", which she posted anonymously online.

The post set off a firestorm.

Netizens are most enthusiastic about these kinds of wealthy family secrets and scandalous gossip.

In an instant, Wren Wynter was thrust into the eye of the storm. The comments section was flooded with filth, too vile to read.

"See, I knew it. How could a divorced woman just behave herself?"

"Doctors Without Borders? Sounds noble, but who knows how dirty she really is behind the scenes."

"I feel so bad for Mr. Xavier. To be stuck with an ex-wife like her, he must have had terrible luck for eight lifetimes."

As Kaden Xavier looked at the post on his phone, the atmosphere around him grew frighteningly oppressive.

He immediately gave the order: "Take it down. All platforms. I don’t want it up for a single second longer!"

But just then, a shrill female voice shattered the hospital’s tranquility.

"Wren Wynter, you shameless bitch, get out here!"

Helen Sawyer had arrived.

She seemed to have timed her entrance perfectly, storming in with the air of someone catching a cheating spouse in the act. Trailing behind her was Tina Wallace, a look of utter grievance on her face.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" Kaden Xavier’s brow furrowed deeply.

"If I didn’t come, my son’s very soul would be stolen away by this homewrecker!"

Helen Sawyer shoved Kaden Xavier aside and pointed a finger at Wren Wynter’s nose, spewing vitriol. "You’re divorced, but you’re still haunting us like a ghost, coming to the hospital to pester my son! Have you no shame? What terrible luck did the Xavier Family have to marry a jinx like you!"

Tina Wallace chose that moment to grab Helen Sawyer’s arm, gently trying to placate her. "Auntie, please don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health over."

"I’m sure Miss Wynter didn’t do it on purpose. Maybe... maybe she just loves Brother Kaden too much."

Her words were the perfect blend of a manipulative schemer and a fake innocent.

Wren Wynter’s senior colleagues all rushed out, their faces livid.

"You old hag, watch your mouth!"

Leif Shaw, being the most hot-tempered, was already rolling up his sleeves.

"What? Did I say something wrong? A divorced woman, hanging around a bunch of men all day. Who knows what her intentions are!"

Helen Sawyer sized Wren Wynter up with a venomous glare.

Just as the scene descended into chaos, Kaden Xavier finally exploded.

"Enough!"

His furious roar stunned everyone into silence.

He walked up to Helen Sawyer and Tina Wallace, his eyes as cold as ice. "Security! Escort these two ladies out!"

"From now on, without my permission, they are not to set foot in any property owned by the Xavier Group. Not a single step!"

"Kaden! You’re kicking me out for this bitch?"

Helen Sawyer was in disbelief.

"Brother Kaden..."

Tina Wallace’s eyes reddened, and she looked as if she was on the verge of tears.

But Kaden Xavier didn’t even spare them a glance. Security guards quickly moved in and half-dragged, half-escorted the two women away.

The world was finally quiet.

Kaden Xavier turned to face Wren Wynter, his eyes full of apology and exhaustion.

"I’m sorry."

Wren Wynter didn’t say a word. She just looked at him quietly, her eyes holding a bottomless weariness.

She wasn’t afraid of the rumors or the insults, but she was tired of this endless entanglement.

Ho-ran Park stepped forward, shielding Wren Wynter behind him. His expression was more serious than ever before.

"Mr. Xavier, I think we need to reconsider our collaboration."

He looked at Kaden Xavier and said, word by word, "We’re quitting this project. Junior Sister, let’s go."

With that, he took Wren Wynter’s arm and left the hospital without a backward glance.

Leif Shaw and Leo Crowe exchanged a look and immediately followed them.

Kaden Xavier was left alone, standing in the empty corridor, his face so dark it looked like it could drip water. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

It was completely dark by the time Kaden Xavier returned to the Xavier family’s old residence.

The living room was brightly lit. Helen Sawyer was sitting on the sofa, sipping ginseng tea while complaining on the phone to Mrs. Wallace.

"Tell me, do you think my son has been put under a spell by that homewrecker? He’s abandoning his own mother for her..."

BANG!

The main door was kicked open with tremendous force, creating a deafening crash.