Wren Wynter shook off Kaden Xavier’s hand, a cold sneer in her eyes. "Captain Vance is just here to wish Grandma a happy birthday. What, is Captain Xavier jealous of even this?"

Kaden Xavier was struck speechless by her retort. His Adam’s apple bobbed, the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat.

Under the warm yellow light of the hallway sconces, the profile of her face in her champagne-colored gown was soft, but the distance in her eyes sent him into a panic.

"Wren." Kaden Xavier’s voice deepened, carrying a note of concession he himself hadn’t noticed. "That day at the hospital, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have pushed you..."

Wren’s eyelashes trembled, and she said nothing, but his next words nearly made her lose control.

"But you shouldn’t have pushed Seraphina, either."

He had gone to check the security footage, but it just so happened to be broken that day.

And Seraphina Sutton had no reason to lie about the baby.

’How ridiculous!’

’All he had to do was go to the security room and check the footage to see if I’d pushed her, yet he chose to take his old flame’s word for it.’

’What a huge difference it makes to be loved versus not loved.’

Wren Wynter looked at the man before her, the corners of her lips curling into a cool, detached smile. "It’s all in the past."

With that, she turned to leave.

Anxious, Kaden Xavier subconsciously grabbed her wrist.

Her wrist was so slender he didn’t dare use any force, but her skin was so fever-hot it made his chest ache.

"Us..." His throat tightened, his deep eyes staring straight at her. "Is there really no future for us?"

Wren Wynter stopped but didn’t turn around, her eyes downcast.

"Mm."

’How could there ever be a future for us?’

Kaden Xavier’s hand froze. He watched helplessly as Wren pulled her hand back. The hem of her champagne-colored dress brushed past his pant leg as she walked toward the banquet hall without a single glance back.

He stood rooted to the spot. From the end of the hallway came the sounds of guests chatting and laughing, making his own corner seem exceptionally desolate. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Wren was getting farther and farther away from him...

"Kaden!" Helen Sawyer’s enthusiastic voice rang out. She walked over in her high heels, smiling as she said, "What are you doing just standing there in a daze? Come on over!"

Kaden Xavier forcibly suppressed his emotions and turned to see Helen Sawyer leading two unfamiliar women toward him.

The older of the two wore a dark green qipao and a proper smile, accompanied by a young girl in a pink gown.

She looked to be in her early twenties, with exquisite makeup, and the light in her eyes as she looked at him was almost blinding.

"This is Mrs. Chandler and her daughter, Chloe." Helen Sawyer introduced them with a smile, deliberately nudging Chloe toward Kaden Xavier. "Chloe just returned from her studies in Britton. She studied business administration, so you two should have a lot to talk about."

Kaden Xavier gave a perfunctory nod, his mind elsewhere. "Mrs. Chandler, Miss Chandler."

Chloe Chandler extended her hand, her smile sweet. "Mr. Xavier, it’s an honor. I’d heard of Xavier Airlines even when I was abroad, but I never expected its leader to be so young."

Kaden Xavier gave her hand a polite shake and let go, his gaze drifting involuntarily toward the banquet hall.

Wren was standing by the dessert table. That guy, Felix Vance, had somehow managed to sidle up to her again.

He was holding a glass of juice and talking to her, a fawning smile on his face.

His intentions toward Wren were written all over his face.

Kaden Xavier’s gaze darkened.

"Kaden?" Helen Sawyer nudged his arm and lowered her voice. "I need you to focus."

Chloe Chandler followed his line of sight. Her eyes darkened when she saw Wren, but then she smiled again. "That must be Mrs. Xavier, right? She’s very beautiful. But... she and that gentleman seem to be having a very nice chat."

The words were a test, but they also held a hidden barb.

Kaden Xavier’s expression turned cold, his icy gaze sweeping over her. "Miss Chandler, my wife’s social interactions do not require commentary from others."

Rebuffed, Chloe Chandler’s smile froze on her face.

Suddenly, Seraphina Sutton staggered over from the direction of the garden, clutching her stomach. Her face was pale, and her forehead was beaded with sweat.

"Auntie... Kaden..." Her voice was weak, her body on the verge of collapsing. "My stomach... it hurts so much..."

Helen Sawyer was startled and quickly supported her. "What’s wrong? Weren’t you fine just a moment ago?"

Kaden Xavier frowned deeply. "Sit down first."

"It hurts... It just started hurting all of a sudden..." Seraphina leaned against him, her eyes red-rimmed. Her fingertips clutched his sleeve, the very picture of frailty and helplessness. "Kaden, I..."

Helen Sawyer grew anxious and quickly ordered, "Quick, call the family doctor!"

She turned to Kaden Xavier and said, "You stay here and entertain Mrs. Chandler and Chloe. I’ll take Seraphina to see the doctor."

Seraphina bit her lip and looked at Kaden Xavier, reluctance hidden in her eyes. But the waves of cramping in her stomach were real, so she could only nod. "I’ll have to trouble you then, Auntie."

Helen Sawyer supported Seraphina and left in a hurry. Before going, she didn’t forget to shoot Kaden Xavier a glare, signaling him to be a good host to the Chandlers.

Once they left, the atmosphere became even more awkward.

Chloe Chandler, however, acted as if she hadn’t noticed. She sidled a little closer to Kaden Xavier and deliberately softened her voice. "Mr. Xavier, I heard you and Mrs. Xavier have been married for three years? Your relationship must be wonderful. However..."

Her smile grew even sweeter as she hinted meaningfully, "A man like you ought to have a few more people taking care of him. I don’t mind waiting, and I’m not looking for any official status. As long as I can be by your side..."

Kaden Xavier took a step back, the warmth completely vanishing from his eyes. He warned in a cold voice, "Miss Chandler, please have some self-respect."

Chloe Chandler was momentarily stunned.

She clearly hadn’t expected Kaden Xavier to avoid her like the plague.

"I have a wife, and I will never divorce her in this lifetime." Kaden Xavier was blunt, sparing her no embarrassment. "Excuse me."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Chloe Chandler frozen to the spot, her face alternating between red and white.

Mrs. Chandler quickly pulled her daughter aside and scolded her in a low voice, "Are you crazy? Saying something like that right to his face!"

"But I like him!" Chloe Chandler stared at Kaden Xavier’s tall, straight back, biting her lip in frustration. "So what if he’s married? What makes that Wren Wynter worthy of him? Mom, stay out of this. I have my ways..."

By now, Helen Sawyer had helped Seraphina Sutton to a guest room, and the family doctor arrived shortly after.

After the examination, the doctor said with a serious expression, "Miss Sutton’s pregnancy is a bit unstable. She’s experiencing large emotional fluctuations and is likely exhausted. She needs to rest quietly and must not be agitated any further."

After seeing the doctor out, Helen Sawyer closed the door and returned to the bedside.

Seraphina Sutton was sitting up against the headboard, her face still pale. She looked incredibly weak.

"Did you hear that?" Helen Sawyer sat down on the edge of the bed, her tone reasonably gentle. "The doctor said you need to rest well and keep calm."

Seraphina Sutton looked up with teary eyes. "Auntie, it’s just... seeing Kaden being so good to Dr. Wynter, it makes my heart ache..."

Helen Sawyer patted her hand, the pressure neither too light nor too firm.

"Seraphina, you are Asher’s wife, and you are carrying Asher’s child. Kaden is taking care of you because Asher saved his life. This is a matter of sentiment, but it is also a duty."

Seraphina Sutton’s heart skipped a beat, her fingers tightening unconsciously.

"You are now my goddaughter, which makes you Kaden’s godsister." Helen Sawyer stared at her intently, a clear warning in her words. "Between a brother and a sister, you should act like one."

Seeing the color instantly drain from Seraphina’s face, Helen Sawyer slowly added the final sentence: "Do not covet what you shouldn’t. Otherwise, it will do no good for you, or for your child."