Wren''s arms suddenly felt weightless, and he froze where he stood.

    "Luke, Gabe, I''m Grandpa."

    Reaching toward Gabriel, he found the boy darting away, unwilling to be held.

    Elena''s voice turned icy and mocking. "You barely spared them a nce all these years, and now you think you can just pick them up? To them, you''re a stranger."

    Crouching, Wren found himself unable to refute a single word.

    He clenched his fists. "I''m a man. How was I supposed to look after two toddlers?"

    "Oh, so a woman automatically should?" Elena''s coldugh cut the air. "You refused to care for the children, but did you ever fulfill a father''s duty? Nathaniel and Nichs—who raised them? And the Rainsworth Group-if I hadn''t juggled the crises, it would have gone under long ago."

    Seeing the quarrel spiraling, Wren hurried to change the subject.

    "Enough. Let''s stop." He heaved a long, weary sigh. "I''ll call the children home myself. If you want to join us, fine."

    With that, Wren turned and walked away.

    Elena, no longer angry, decided to drop everything and let Wren handle the mess on his own.

    Back at his quarters, Wren first phoned Nichs.

    Nichs hadn''t visited the Rainsworth residence in ages and barely spoke to his father. Wren had no idea what he was doing.

    The call connected quickly. Nichs sounded impatient. "Dad, what''s up?"

    "Nichs, New Year''s Day ising. It''s been ages since the family gathered. Do you have time toe home?"

    "Sorry, I''ve got matters to handle over the holiday. I can''t make it."

    "Working even on New Year''s Day?" Wren''s brows knit. "What could be so

    urgent? Come home and leave work forter."

    Nichs, sitting in a windowless room, tightened his grip on the phone without opening his eyes.

    "I told you, I''m busy. I''m noting. Goodbye."

    Wren opened his mouth to say more, but the line had already gone dead.

    Frowning even deeper, he had no choice but to dial Nathaniel next.

    Nathaniel didn''t refuse. "Dad, we cane for one meal. But you know

    Spa''s mom isn''t well; we need to

    I most of the day with her."

    "All right, that''s only proper."

    After settling the details with Nathaniel, Wren summoned the household staff and

    instructed them to prepare a proper New Year''s Day lunch.

    "Don''t forget to let Elena know that Nathaniel will be home for the holiday." "Yes, sir."

    Instructions given, Wren sat alone in the living room.

    When the housekeepers withdrew, he remained by himself, loneliness pressing heavily on his heart.

    Wren lifted his phone, wanting to find someone to chat with, only to realize there was no one he could call.

    In his younger days, he had cared only for his own ease and freedom, drifting from one trip to the next, and had et his ties with rtives and friends quietly fray.  fo

    Just as that gloomy thought settled in, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

    "Wren, are you home all by yourself?"

    The speaker was Wren''s older brother, Robert.

    After stepping inside, Robert nced around. When he failed to spot Elena, he

    walked straight in and sat down beside Wren.

    Wren asked, "Robert, what brings you here?"

    He looked puzzled.

    Robert sighed first, then said, “Since Dad passed away our family has drifted farther and farther apart New Year''s Day is almost here, so I thought we could gather everyone for a meal. How does that sound?"