"I understand... Thanks," Felix Vance sighed softly.

Wren Wynter shook her head. "I should be the one thanking you. You only got hurt because of me..."

"Come on, don’t be so formal with me. Aren’t we friends?" Felix Vance’s lips curved into a smile as he raised an eyebrow at her.

Wren Wynter froze for a second, then nodded. "We are."

A fresh wave of frustration washed over Felix.

A short while later, Felix’s car pulled up in front of her apartment building.

"Drive safe," Wren reminded him earnestly before getting out of the car. "And remember, don’t get your wound wet. Make sure you change the dressing."

"Don’t worry," Felix nodded, watching her get out of the car and walk into the building. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

He didn’t look away until her figure disappeared from sight. He leaned against the steering wheel, his mind a chaotic mess.

’Wren is such a good person. How could Kaden not know how to cherish her?’

Back home, the first thing Wren did was get Lucky settled.

She used Kaden’s suit jacket to make a temporary little bed in a corner of the living room, then found some water and food for the puppy.

The little dog was very well-behaved. After eating and drinking its fill, it curled up in its new bed and fell asleep.

She looked at Lucky’s matted, dirty fur. She knew you shouldn’t bathe a stray dog right after bringing it home.

’I’ll have to find time to take him to the vet for a check-up.’

Wren went back to her room, took a shower, and changed into her pajamas. The moment she lay down on the bed, her phone rang.

She picked up her phone. It was Kaden.

She stared at his name flashing on the screen, her lips thinning into a line. She waited several seconds before finally answering.

"Wren." Kaden’s voice came through the receiver, laced with exhaustion. "You called me earlier? What’s wrong?"

Wren clutched the phone, staring at the ceiling. She recalled the terrifying incident from earlier, and a self-deprecating glint appeared in her eyes. "It’s nothing," she said. "Wrong number."

Kaden was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Seraphina’s condition isn’t great. The doctor said her mood swings are too extreme, and the pregnancy is still unstable."

"I’ll probably be home late tonight. You should get some rest."

"Okay," Wren replied, her tone cold. "Anything else?"

"...No."

"Then I’m hanging up."

Before Kaden could say another word, Wren hung up.

She tossed her phone aside, rolled over, and buried her face in her pillow.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t disappointed.

She thought she was already used to it.

But every time Kaden dropped everything for Seraphina, her heart couldn’t help but ache with a dull, persistent pain.

He was, after all, the man she had loved for so many years.

Even though she had decided on a divorce, forgetting a love that was etched so deeply into her soul was not that easy...

’But it’s okay,’ Wren thought. ’If it keeps hurting, eventually, I’ll just go numb.’

With time, she would eventually claw this deep-seated love out of her heart.

And then...

...she wouldn’t feel pain anymore. And she wouldn’t care about him anymore...

The next morning, Wren got up early to prepare breakfast for Lucky. She planned to take him to the vet when she got back from work.

She changed into a sharp blouse and slacks, tied her long hair into a low ponytail, and grabbed her bag, ready to head out.

Just as she opened the door, she came face-to-face with Kaden, who was about to come in.

He looked like he hadn’t slept at all. There were faint, dark circles under his eyes, and he was still wearing yesterday’s shirt, his tie hanging askew.

They stared at each other in the doorway, the atmosphere thick with awkwardness.

Kaden spoke first. "Wren, about last night..."

"I have to get to work," Wren cut him off coldly, stepping past him. "Excuse me."

She didn’t want to hear his excuses.

No amount of explaining could cover up the fact that he had left her all alone, late at night, to go to another woman.

He was by another woman’s side when she was in danger.

"Wren." Kaden’s brow furrowed. He grabbed her wrist, his voice laced with exhaustion and suppressed irritation. "Can you stop this?"

’She’s becoming more and more unreasonable,’ he thought.

"Seraphina’s situation is really bad. She’s all alone in The Capital, no family or friends, and she’s pregnant with Asher Lynch’s child. I can’t just ignore her—"

"I never said you couldn’t," Wren retorted, yanking her hand free without hesitation. She turned to face him, a sliver of suppressed fury simmering deep in her otherwise calm eyes. "Go ahead and take care of her. I have no problem with it. So, can I please go to work now?"

Kaden was infuriated by her impenetrable attitude. He was about to snap, but then he remembered her words from the phone call last night—’Wrong number.’ His chest tightened as if something was lodged there, making it hard to breathe.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to be patient. "My phone was on silent last night. I called you back the second I saw the missed call. Did something happen? Or..."

"I already told you, it was a wrong number," Wren scoffed, her patience finally snapping. "Kaden, I don’t care what’s going on with you and Seraphina. Stop bothering me with your drama!"

She had had enough.

This same old story, over and over. Even if he wasn’t tired of it, she certainly was.

With that said, she turned and walked toward the elevator.

Kaden stood frozen, watching her back disappear as the elevator doors closed. He slammed his fist into the wall.

He felt like he was going to lose his mind.

’Wren was never like this before.’

’Before, she would get angry. She would cry. She would argue with me.’

’But she would never be like this—so calm and distant, pushing me so far away.’

’She won’t even listen to my explanations.’

’What in the world is wrong with her?’

For some reason, Kaden felt the distance between him and Wren truly widening...

「At the airline’s medical office.」

The moment Joy Lynch saw Wren, she hurried over, her eyes sparkling. "Wren! You’ll never guess! I went to see our senior again yesterday!"

Wren was organizing the day’s physical examination files. She looked up. "Oh?"

"I brought him dinner, and even though he refused to take it at first, I just forced it on him!" Joy Lynch giggled excitedly. "He still barely said a word to me, but at least he didn’t kick me out! I think that’s huge progress!"

"If I just keep trying, I might be able to win him over!"

Seeing her friend’s giddy expression, Wren couldn’t help but laugh. "You like my senior that much?"

"Of course!" Joy Lynch declared without a moment’s hesitation. "That stoic, ascetic type is totally my kryptonite!"

Joy cupped her cheeks. "And he’s so gentle! Even though he always looks so stern, he’s incredibly meticulous..."

She trailed off, then suddenly thought of something and lowered her voice. "By the way, Wren... your senior... has he ever been in a relationship?"

Wren nodded. "Not as far as I know."

"He only has eyes for medicine and research. In college, they nicknamed him the ’Medical Ascetic.’"

Joy’s eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously? Then... he’s not... uninterested in women, is he?"

"Oh no, it’s not that," Wren said after a moment’s thought, a smile playing on her lips. "He just genuinely thinks relationships are a waste of time that would be better spent studying a few more case files."

Joy breathed a sigh of relief, her fighting spirit instantly renewed. "Good! I love a challenge!"

"Just wait until I win him over! I’ll treat you to dinner to celebrate!"