Kaden was silent for a few seconds before speaking, his voice laced with fatigue. "From now on, if she calls, just put her off if you can."

Over the years, Helen Sawyer had used all sorts of tricks to send a variety of women his way. He really couldn’t understand why she was in such a hurry for him to remarry.

’Haven’t I made myself clear enough?’

"But Mrs. Sawyer said..."

Kaden Xavier shot him a dark look, his tone grim. "I’m the one who pays your salary."

A chill ran down Lucas Lynch’s spine. He straightened his shoulders. "Understood, Mr. Xavier. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

"Mm."

Lucas Lynch walked out, and the door closed behind him.

The office fell silent.

Wren Wynter, curled up under the desk, held her breath, not daring to move an inch.

She saw Kaden Xavier’s shoes stop less than a yard away from her.

She tried her best to make herself as small as possible, hoping not to be discovered.

Suddenly, she heard a RUSTLING sound, as if Kaden Xavier was rummaging through something.

’What on earth is he doing?’

’Why isn’t he leaving yet?’

Just then, Kaden Xavier’s leather shoes turned and headed toward the desk.

Wren Wynter’s heart nearly leaped out of her throat.

One step, two steps, three...

Abruptly, Kaden Xavier braced his hands on the desk and bent down, his exceptionally handsome face appearing in her line of sight.

THUD!

Startled, Wren Wynter smacked her head on the underside of the desk, the pain so sharp she nearly cried out.

She clapped a hand over her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.

"Who’s there?" Assistant Lynch’s voice came from outside the door. "Mr. Xavier, is everything alright?"

Kaden Xavier straightened up and looked toward the door, his tone calm. "It’s nothing. You can get back to work."

"Understood."

Wren Wynter was so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

’How could I be so unlucky? To hit my head right at this moment...’

Kaden Xavier’s deep-set eyes narrowed, as if he had seen something unbelievable and wonderful.

"You..."

His voice was very soft, a hint of bewilderment in its hoarseness.

Wren Wynter’s breathing grew ragged.

She stared at Kaden Xavier’s face, so close to hers, his gaze intense, and her heart hammered as if it would burst from her chest.

"Does it hurt?" Kaden Xavier asked with concern, reaching out a hand.

Wren Wynter didn’t move, forcing out the words through her embarrassment. "I... I was leaving something."

"Come out first," Kaden Xavier said, extending his hand further toward her.

Wren Wynter hesitated before placing her hand in his. ’I’ve already been seen,’ she thought. ’Hiding any longer would just seem pretentious.’

Then, using the support of Kaden Xavier’s hand, she emerged from under the desk.

Kaden Xavier stood still. The moment Wren Wynter stood up, they were so close she could smell the familiar scent of cedar on him.

"What were you doing hiding there?" Kaden Xavier’s tone was tinged with amusement.

"I was leaving something," Wren Wynter said, the tips of her ears burning.

"What is it?"

"Ointment... for scars."

Kaden Xavier froze for a moment, then let out a low chuckle.

His laugh was soft, but it tickled Wren Wynter’s heart like a feather.

"For me?"

"Mm, I don’t want to owe you..."

Kaden Xavier knew what Wren Wynter was talking about.

A while ago, he’d been sweating, and his shirt had gotten soaked through, revealing the scar on his back.

He hadn’t wanted her to know about it, and he certainly didn’t want her to feel guilty toward him because of it. Guilt wasn’t what he wanted.

Kaden Xavier looked at her, his scorching gaze landing on her face, which was right in front of him. He slowly reached out, gently brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead, his fingertip touching the small, red patch where she had hit her head.

"It’s red," he said, his tone tinged with self-blame.

Wren Wynter froze completely.

His fingertip was slightly cool, yet it lit a fire on her forehead.

That fire spread across her cheeks, over her earlobes, making her entire body burn with heat.

She wanted to pull away but found she couldn’t move.

Kaden Xavier’s gaze traveled from her forehead to her eyes, then from her eyes to her lips, where it lingered for a few seconds before returning.

"Wren," he called her name softly, his voice as hoarse as sandpaper.

Wren Wynter’s heart skipped a beat.

She saw her own reflection in his eyes and saw the emotion he had suppressed for five years, and suddenly, she was at a loss for words.

Time seemed to stand still in that moment.

The office was so quiet they could hear each other breathe.

Wren Wynter lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye.

The ointment was still on the desk, lying quietly under a file.

Kaden Xavier followed her gaze to the box of ointment, and the corners of his lips curved up slightly.

"Thank you," he said.

"Kaden Xavier, don’t get the wrong idea."

Wren Wynter tried to explain, but she felt like she was only making things worse. In the end, she gave up and said nothing more, turning to walk out of the office.

Suddenly, a powerful force gripped her wrist and pulled her back.

Wren Wynter lost her footing and fell right into Kaden Xavier’s lap.

"Mr. Xavier, there’s another document that needs your..."

Just then, Lucas Lynch pushed open the office door. He saw Wren Wynter sitting on Kaden Xavier’s lap and stood dumbfounded, his eyes wide with disbelief.

’Didn’t Miss Wynter just leave?’

’Why is she still here?’

’And it looks like I’ve come at a really bad time.’

"Do you want to lose your eyes?"

The menacing warning, spoken right next to Wren Wynter’s ear, snapped Lucas Lynch back to his senses. He lowered his head and scrambled backward in a panic.

"Mr. Xavier, I didn’t mean to! I didn’t see anything! I’ll leave right now."

Lucas Lynch was even thoughtful enough to close the door for them on his way out.

’Well, fam... am I going to have a job tomorrow?’

Once again, only Kaden Xavier and Wren Wynter were left in the office.

Kaden Xavier raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk on his face. "Wren, are you throwing yourself at me?"

Wren Wynter shot to her feet, her breathtakingly beautiful eyes filled with shame and indignation.

"You did that on purpose!"

Kaden Xavier held up his hands, a look of pure innocence on his face. "I’ve been wrongly accused. I just wanted to stop you from leaving. I had no idea you’d fall right into my lap."

"You!" Wren Wynter was so angry she had to laugh.

’I must have had too much time on my hands to even think of bringing him ointment.’

’Just asking for trouble!’

She shot Kaden Xavier a fierce glare, then turned and stalked out without a backward glance.

"Wren, it’s been five years. Are you willing to give me another chance?"

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "No, I’m not. And I’ll say it again, I only came to drop off the scar ointment!"

With that, she yanked the door open and strode out.

Wren Wynter’s voice was so loud that it echoed through the office. Even Assistant Lynch, who was outside, heard every single word.

’Ah, Mr. Xavier. The road to winning her back is a long one. Better keep at it!’