The butler accepted the bag of medicated patches with a heavy heart, murmuring, "Mr. Chase, that's very thoughtful of you." Chase considered correcting the butler's formality, but with Wendy's imminent arrival, he decided against it. He simply nodded and followed. The butler proceeded in silence. Mr. Chase was a good man, yet his young charge disliked him, preferring the Harrison man instead. The butler, a fixture in the Quinn family since before Paul and Mandy's marriage, was long overdue for retirement. He had watched Wendy grow up and knew of her past with Henry, a man none of them had ever liked—not for his background, but for his character.

Inside the Quinn estate's main hall, powerful figures filled the space. It was precisely the kind of event Chase loathed. He wasn't a social climber, but the Quinn family's son-in-law had to maintain appearances; anything less would be embarrassing. He held his head high, walking confidently beside the butler.

"Hey, did you hear? Henry's back." "Of course. I knew Wendy still had feelings for him. She only married Chase out of heartbreak after Henry's engagement. Mark my words—this divorce will happen quickly." "But Henry returned with a daughter." "So what? The Quinn family could raise a dozen children without blinking."

In a corner, a group of Wendy's elite academy classmates commanded attention. After greeting her parents, Stella joined them.

"I saw Henry, too. Doesn't the Harrison family despise him? Why is he here?"

The Harrisons still considered Henry a disgrace. His return with another woman's child? They'd prefer he remain unseen. Yet, his custom suit and Patek Philippe muddied perceptions. Stella observed him, drink in hand. He remained the former Harrison heir; his movements were graceful, even after years abroad. He navigated the incessant gossip with quiet dignity, responding gently to those who approached, otherwise remaining composed. It was almost pitiable.

"Who cares what the Harrisons think? My sister's happiness is all that matters," Stella declared.

One of the Lyn girls tugged Stella's skirt, whispering, "But your sister's still married. Where's her husband?"

"He just arrived," Stella snapped. "At an event like this, the only reason he's invited is because he married my sister."

The girls' gossip intensified. "Now that Henry's back, and your sister clearly still cares for him, do you think she'll divorce Chase and marry Henry?"

"Absolutely," Stella confirmed. "She's admitted to being tired of Chase for years. They should have divorced long ago."

As she spoke, Chase entered behind the butler. All eyes turned, curious and judgmental. Remaining calm, Chase nodded a greeting before heading to his mother-in-law's room.

"Mom." He avoided correcting her title, wanting to avoid upsetting Mandy on her birthday, especially since the divorce hadn't been publicized.

Mandy, gloomy all day, brightened at his arrival. He chatted with her, lifting her spirits, then presented a carefully chosen gift.

"I remembered you liked this painting. I had it brought over from overseas. Happy birthday."

Mandy loved art, collecting works by established and emerging artists—the latter being within Chase's budget.

"This is lovely. Just having you here makes me happy."

Privately, Mandy inquired, "You and Wendy…" The cooling-off period had passed, but Wendy's recent absence left the matter unclear. She genuinely liked Chase.

Meeting her gaze, Chase answered truthfully, "The divorce is finalized."

"But Wendy's been out of the country… how…" Understanding dawned, bringing tears to her eyes. "You poor thing."

Chase patted her hand gently. "Mom, I don't feel sorry for myself. This is a new beginning. I loved her. Wasting time with someone you love is still beautiful, even without a happy ending."

"Oh, that girl, Wendy…" Mandy sighed. "Henry's here, too. Have you seen him?"

"We met at the house, and also at the hospital where I'm interning. His daughter was ill."

After further conversation, Mandy offered Chase a check. "This is for you. I know you want to study abroad; you'll need a place to live."

"I can't accept this, Mom." Chase returned the check, producing Wendy's unused bank cards. "These belong to her. We were married, not in some arrangement."

"You silly child…" Wendy appeared from the next room, looking exhausted despite flawless makeup. Even on her mother's birthday, she'd been handling business. She entered, surprised to find Chase and Mandy holding hands.

Wendy placed a hand on Chase's neck. "You're late," she said calmly, but with irritation. They hadn't spoken in a while. She'd expected to find him waiting. Instead, there was only silence and Joy's scattered toys.

"Had a surgery," Chase said, subtly withdrawing from her touch. Their divorce necessitated distance, despite public appearances.

"Let's go downstairs then," Wendy said, assisting her mother. "It's about time."

With one on each side, Mandy felt her heart ache.