Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Captain Vance is Getting Married
"Joy, no matter what you decide, I’ll support you." Wren smiled faintly and stood up. "I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be right back."
She left the private room and went into the restroom. As she was coming out, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"Cole, you’ve been flying a lot lately. What’s wrong? Something on your mind?"
"Mind your own business."
It was Kaden Xavier.
Wren held her breath, pulling her foot back just as she was about to step out.
She really didn’t want to run into Kaden Xavier, afraid of stirring up more trouble.
"Cole, I’m getting married."
Felix Vance smiled, took a cigarette from his pocket, and offered it to Kaden Xavier. Kaden raised a hand to refuse, his brows tightly knitted, a faint sadness in his eyes.
"When?"
"Next week."
Felix Vance exhaled, the cloud of smoke obscuring his expression.
"Build a good life together."
"I will."
Kaden Xavier patted Felix Vance’s shoulder and turned to leave the restroom.
Wren listened to their conversation from inside the restroom. She didn’t come out until she was sure it was completely quiet outside.
She let out a sigh of relief, thankful she hadn’t run into Kaden Xavier.
"Dr. Wynter."
Felix Vance’s voice came from behind her, his tone carrying a hint of teasing. "What a coincidence, running into you here."
Wren’s body stiffened. She turned around awkwardly and greeted Felix Vance with a sheepish smile.
"Captain Vance, long time no see. Just now..."
Wren wanted to explain that she hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but the words caught in her throat. She realized any explanation would sound feeble.
She closed her eyes in frustration and gave Felix Vance a deep bow.
"I’m so sorry, Captain Vance. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just happened to be there."
"I know."
Felix Vance stubbed out the cigarette in his hand and tossed it into a nearby trash can.
In truth, he had seen Wren come out of the private room. He had brought Kaden Xavier over here on purpose, driven by his own selfish motives.
On one hand, he wanted to see Kaden Xavier’s attitude toward Wren; on the other, he wanted to see if Wren would have any particular reaction to the news of his marriage.
He just hadn’t expected Wren to actively avoid Kaden Xavier, unwilling to even face him.
It seemed the two of them had indeed had a very serious falling out.
Wren pressed her lips together, her hands fidgeting with her clothes. After a long pause, she finally managed to say, "Captain Vance, I heard you’re getting married soon. Congratulations in advance."
Felix Vance looked up, trying to find some subtle flicker of emotion in Wren’s eyes, but he was disappointed.
Other than her well wishes for him, Wren’s face showed no other emotion.
He gave a bitter laugh. He narrowed his eyes, looked down at his shoes, his feelings a tangled mess.
’Is this it?’
But he was truly unwilling to accept this. If it weren’t for the pressure from his family’s elders, perhaps he wouldn’t have caved.
"Dr. Wynter, how are things between you and Cole?"
The sudden question made Wren’s smile freeze, her expression becoming unnatural.
"There’s no chance for us anymore."
Wren answered nonchalantly. Her old passion for Kaden Xavier was long gone. All she wanted now was to focus on her career.
"Actually, Cole does have feelings for you. I can tell."
Wren gave a cold laugh. ’Belated affection is worthless.’ He says he has feelings for her now, but he has no idea her heart is already scarred beyond repair.
Three years ago, she had joyfully married him, thinking her dreams had come true. She never imagined it would turn out to be nothing but an empty fantasy.
"Captain Vance, are you in love with your fiancée?"
"Dr. Wynter, for families like ours, love is the greatest luxury."
Felix Vance lit another cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled the smoke.
In powerful families like theirs, love was an unaffordable luxury. Most would simply obey their elders’ arrangements, marrying a partner who would bring benefit to the family.
Felix Vance knew this well, which was why he had no other choice.
"You forge your own path. If you want to break free from your family, sometimes what you need is courage."
After saying this, Wren turned and left.
Felix Vance leaned his back against the wall, a bitter smile on his face, his eyes filled with endless desolation.
’Courage?’
’Courage alone isn’t enough. You also need leverage to negotiate with your family.’
’Unfortunately, I have none.’
Felix Vance threw the half-smoked cigarette onto the ground, stomped on it viciously a few times, and turned to leave.
When Wren returned to the private room, Joy looked at her strangely, wondering why she had been gone so long. "Wren, what took you so long?" she asked curiously. "Did you fall in?"
"I ran into an acquaintance, so we chatted for a bit."
Wren didn’t hide the fact that she’d chatted with Felix Vance, but she kept quiet about seeing Kaden Xavier. ’Since he didn’t see me, I can just pretend I wasn’t there.’
"An acquaintance? Who?"
"Felix Vance."
"Captain Vance?!" Joy exclaimed in surprise. "I thought he liked you! So? Did any sparks fly?"
Joy raised a teasing eyebrow, grinning at Wren.
Wren helplessly picked up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth, shaking her head with an amused smile. "He’s getting married next week. What nonsense are you talking about?"
"What?! He’s getting married?! What’s wrong with that Felix Vance? He says he likes you, then turns around and decides to marry someone else!"
Joy looked furious. She had actually been rooting for Felix Vance, thinking that unlike Kaden Xavier, he would be able to stand by Wren’s side unconditionally.
Moreover, the fact that he liked Wren was obvious to anyone with eyes, so how could he suddenly announce he was getting married?!
"You’ve all got it wrong. When did Captain Vance ever like me? We’re just friends."
"Only you would think that."
Joy glared at Wren irritably and propped her chin on her hands, pouting.
Crystal Nash pursed her lips into a smile. "You know as well as I do that Wren is famously clueless when it comes to romance. Still, who would have thought she’d marry Kaden Xavier right after graduation?"
Hearing Crystal Nash’s words, Wren’s expression became a bit dazed, her thoughts drifting back to the past.
’That’s right. I’ve always been clueless about romance. The boldest thing I ever did was marry Kaden Xavier right after graduation. Who could have known I’d give my heart to the wrong person in the end?’
"Enough about that. Come on, let’s drink!"
Joy raised her glass to Wren and Crystal Nash.
Wren smiled and downed her drink in one go.
The three of them drank until the middle of the night. They’d all had a little too much to drink, especially Wren, who could barely walk straight. She staggered out behind Joy and Crystal.
As soon as they stepped outside, she saw Ho-ran Park and Miles Shaw hurrying over, their faces etched with concern, to support their respective partners.
"Wren, are you okay? I can take you home."
"I’m fine, Ho-ran. You... you just take Joy... home. That’s enough. Don’t... don’t worry about me. I’ll call my brother to come get me in a little while."
Wren said to Ho-ran Park with a silly giggle. Ho-ran Park knew Finn Wynter, so hearing that he would come to pick her up, he felt a little more at ease.
