The guests around him revealed surprised expressions upon hearing the name "Elder Hawthorne," and they all gathered around.

"So you’re one of Elder Hawthorne’s students. Forgive my ignorance."

"Miss Wynter, to have earned Elder Hawthorne’s favor at such a young age—your future is truly limitless."

In an instant, Wren Wynter became the center of attention.

These people might not recognize Wren Wynter, but in the academic world and even high society, Julian Hawthorne was a name that rang like thunder.

As his most mysterious and favored protégé, Wren Wynter’s own status naturally soared.

Wren Wynter was unaccustomed to such flattery. She simply responded with modesty, briefly answering a few questions about Elder Hawthorne’s recent health.

Just then, Tina Wallace walked over carrying a piece of cake, just in time to overhear the conversation.

An exaggerated look of shock spread across her face, her beautiful eyes going wide. "Oh my god! Wren, you... You’re actually a student of Elder Hawthorne? How did I never know that!"

Her gasp of surprise was just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

Wren’s heart sank.

She clearly remembered that the last time at Xavier Group, after Tina’s parents caused a scene, Assistant Lynch had mentioned, right in front of her, that she was there representing Elder Hawthorne to discuss a collaboration.

Back then, Tina Wallace had been dismissive of the fact, even saying, "And who does Elder Hawthorne think he is?"

But now, she was acting as if this was the first time she was hearing about it.

’Did she forget, or... was she deliberately putting on an act?’

Wren Wynter watched her, her expression unreadable, and didn’t expose this obvious lie.

Tina Wallace, however, seemed not to notice Wren’s reaction. She affectionately linked her arm with Wren’s, wearing a proud expression as if sharing in the glory, and boasted to the people around them.

"See? I knew it. Wren is so exceptional, she’s definitely not just anyone. You all don’t know this, but we’re the best of friends now."

She deliberately portrayed their relationship as extremely intimate, as if announcing to the world that she, Tina Wallace, was even capable of making Elder Hawthorne’s student her best friend.

Wren felt a wave of intense discomfort. She tried to pull away, but Tina clung to her tightly, forcing Wren to let her hang from her arm like an exquisite accessory.

Lana Xavier, watching from the side, couldn’t help but roll her eyes. ’This woman changes her act faster than you can flip a book. It’s a waste of her talent not getting an Oscar for that performance.’

Just as Wren was trapped in an awkward predicament by this over-the-top enthusiasm, a cool, familiar voice came to her rescue.

"What are you all talking about?"

Kaden Xavier had appeared behind them at some unknown moment.

He wore a dark gray bespoke suit today, forgoing a tie. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing his sexy Adam’s apple.

He was tall and stood ramrod straight, and his mere appearance commanded a powerful aura that instantly drew everyone’s gaze.

"Brother Kaden!"

Tina Wallace’s eyes lit up at the sight of him. She immediately let go of Wren and fluttered toward him like a butterfly. "You’re here! I thought you were too busy with work and wouldn’t make it."

Her tone was coquettish, dripping with obvious intimacy.

However, Kaden Xavier’s gaze passed right over her and landed directly on Wren, as if Tina Wallace was nothing more than a transparent decoration.

"What are you doing here?" he asked Wren, his brow furrowed slightly.

The smile on Tina Wallace’s face froze for an instant, but she quickly recovered and rushed to answer for her. "I invited Wren! Didn’t you know, Brother Kaden? Wren and I get along so well now. We’re already good friends!"

As she spoke, she tried to take Wren’s arm again, only for Kaden to subtly block her with a slight shift of his body.

Kaden Xavier completely ignored her chatter. He walked over to Wren, took her by the wrist, and said in a tone that brooked no argument, "Come with me."

With that, he pulled Wren through the crowd toward the terrace outside the banquet hall.

Tina Wallace was left standing there alone. As she watched them leave, her meticulously manicured nails dug deep into her palm. The probing, pitying gazes from the surrounding guests felt like needles piercing her skin.

On the terrace, the evening breeze was cool.

Kaden Xavier released her hand and turned to face Wren, his expression grim.

"Stay away from her. Have you forgotten how she used to treat you?"

His voice was laced with suppressed anger, directed as much at Tina Wallace as it was at Wren for not fighting back. ’How can this woman be so soft-hearted? How can she be so quick to forget?’

The cool evening wind cleared Wren’s head a little. She rubbed her wrist, which was red from his grip, and said with a hint of resignation:

"I never planned on forgiving her, much less becoming her friend. It’s all her own wishful thinking; she’s just being delusional."

’I just wanted to see what tricks she was trying to pull. I didn’t expect Kaden Xavier would have such a strong reaction.’

"From now on, don’t accept any of her invitations," Kaden Xavier said, his tone as domineering as ever.

"We’re divorced, Kaden Xavier. My life is—"

Before Wren could finish speaking, a suppressed sob came from behind them.

They both turned around at the same time to see Tina Wallace standing at the entrance to the terrace, her face ghastly pale as tears streamed down her cheeks.

She covered her mouth, her body trembling slightly, the very picture of devastation.

’She heard everything.’

Wren’s heart skipped a beat.

"So... so that’s how it is..."

Tina Wallace’s voice was broken and choked with sobs. "I was just being delusional. I’m sorry, Wren. I wanted to be friends with you so badly that I ended up bothering you... I’m so sorry..."

After saying this, she could no longer control her emotions. She turned, covered her face, and ran away, sobbing.

Throughout the entire ordeal, she never once glanced at Kaden Xavier. All of her pain and sense of being wronged were directed solely at Wren.

Wren stood frozen, watching Tina’s back disappear into the crowd. An indescribable feeling of irritation mixed with an imperceptible twinge of guilt washed over her.

She knew the other woman was acting, but in the eyes of the crowd, her words had just solidified her image as a cruel person who feigned innocence after getting what she wanted.

She was clearly the victim, yet she had been framed as the villain bullying a "best friend" who was trying to turn over a new leaf.

The feeling was utterly suffocating.

Kaden Xavier watched her complex expression, his frown deepening.

He knew Wren had once again fallen into the other woman’s meticulously designed trap.

This new "Tina Wallace" was far more difficult to deal with than the previous one.

Tina Wallace’s tearful exit was like a stone tossed into a placid lake, sending ripples through the party and making the atmosphere delicate.

Many guests’ gazes drifted, intentionally or not, toward the terrace, landing on Wren and Kaden Xavier with eyes full of curiosity and gossip.

Whispers broke out in the corners. Though the words were inaudible, the pointing fingers said it all.

Wren was at the center of the storm.

"See? I told you she was no good. She drove poor Tina to tears."

"Exactly. Tina reached out to her first, and she was so ungracious. She’s so full of herself."

"With Elder Hawthorne as her backer and Mr. Xavier protecting her, she’s letting it all go to her head."

The voices weren’t loud, but they buzzed like flies in Wren’s ears.

Kaden Xavier’s expression was so thunderous it looked like it could rain. He took a step forward, as if to stand up for Wren, but she pulled him back.

"Forget it." Wren shook her head, her face blank. "Let’s just go."

She didn’t want to stay here a moment longer and become the subject of their idle gossip.

The feeling of being manipulated and made a fool of filled her with a visceral sense of disgust.

Kaden Xavier looked at her weary profile, suppressed his anger, and nodded. "Alright. I’ll take you."

The two of them walked out of the banquet hall side by side, the complex stares of the crowd following them like shadows.

Lana Xavier was already waiting by the door. Seeing them emerge, she rushed over, her face indignant. "Wren, don’t listen to their nonsense! That Tina Wallace is the ultimate schemer, playing the innocent victim to get sympathy. It’s disgusting!"

"I know." Wren gave her a small smile. "I’m fine, don’t worry."

"How could you possibly be fine!"

Lana Xavier stomped her foot in frustration. "You’re just too good-natured, that’s why you always get bullied! If it were me, I would’ve tossed a glass of wine right in her face!"