Darcy saw the caller ID too. She pushed him away, her voice cold. “Someone’s looking for you.”
Zane answered the phone, covering his mouth, his voice low. “Hello?”
Whatever Zora said on the other end made his expression instantly tense. “Stay right where you are. I’ll handle it.”
Hanging up, he turned back to Darcy. “There’s an emergency at the company. I have to go.”
Without waiting for a response, he sprinted to the elevator and disappeared downstairs without a backward glance.
It wasn’t until Zane was in his car that he realized how harsh his actions had been.
He’d just told Darcy he was calling off their engagement and left without any attempt to console her.
But Darcy loved him so much. She would understand.
While waiting at a red light, he thought about it and sent Darcy a message, “I’ll explain everything in person once I’m done.”
…
With Zane gone, Darcy stood in the corridor, turning toward the window as tears streamed down her face without a sound.
It’s for the best. This day had to come eventually.
She took a few deep breaths, wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, and waited a moment longer before going to buy the water.
By the time she returned to the room, her composure was restored, no different from when she had left.
Ione looked behind her, seeing she was alone. “Where’s Zane? Did he go back?”
Darcy made a sound of affirmation and stepped forward to tuck the blankets around her mother.
Ione took her hand. “Have you been crying?”
Surprised by her mother’s sharp observation, Darcy paused, then smiled. “No. A small bug flew into my eye by the window.”
Ione looked skeptical. “You and Zane… there isn’t a problem, is there?”
Darcy desperately wanted to tell her mother it was over. But remembering the doctor’s warnings, she decided to keep it to herself for now.
“No, there isn’t. You should rest.”
Ione pressed, “Is the engagement still on?”
“Just sleep,” Darcy deflected.
Seeing her daughter didn’t deny it, Ione felt relieved. “Good. Don’t hide things from me.”
…
When Zane arrived at the scene, Zora was being yelled at, a man pointing his finger in her face.
Zane immediately pulled Zora behind him. “Let’s talk this through properly. Yelling at a woman isn’t very impressive!”
The man, seeing him protect Zora, assumed he was her partner and his bluster diminished slightly.
“Your woman hit my car! I just picked it up today!”
Zane followed his gaze. The brand-new BMW had a large dent in its rear bumper. A rear-end collision.
Is that all? Zane frowned. “Have you called the police? Wait for them to determine fault. She’ll pay for whatever damages she’s responsible for.”
The BMW owner put his hands on his hips, still full of attitude. “I already called them. They’ll be here any minute.”
Zora tugged on Zane’s sleeve. He turned and reassured her in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid. Once the police determine fault, we can leave.”
“I’m so sorry, Zane. I haven’t been back in the country long. I’m still not used to the roads here.” She looked at him apologetically.
“It’s fine,” Zane reassured her.
He then called Rex, sent him the address, and told him to get there quickly.
Soon, the police arrived.
The responsibility was clear, no one was hurt, and there was no dispute about the accident, so the process was swift.
Seeing how shaken Zora looked, Zane felt a pang of concern.
He instructed Rex, “Stay and help handle the rest.”
Then, he and Zora got into his own car and drove away.
Rex, left standing on the curb, fell into silence.
He called me out late at night just to handle Dr. Moss’ fender bender?
I’m just a tool to him!
…
In the car, Zora was profusely apologetic.
“I’m so sorry. It’s such a minor thing, but I made you come all the way out here.”
She paused, then continued, “I heard you had something to handle today and left work early. I hope I didn’t interrupt.”
Zane knew she was kind-hearted and hated being a burden.
His tone was gentle. “You didn’t interrupt. Zora, please stop apologizing. I’m happy to help you.”
The car came to a stop at a red light. He turned slightly, catching her gaze.
Zora blushed, lowering her lashes. “You’re too good to me. I’m afraid I can never repay you.”
Zane’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Some words almost broke free from his chest, but he managed to suppress them in time.
For some reason, his thoughts drifted abruptly to Darcy at the hospital.
The messages he’d sent her on his way here had sunk without a trace. She still hadn’t replied.
He wondered if she was angry.
“Since it’s late, let me treat you to a late-night snack. How does that sound?”
Zora’s voice pulled him back to the present.
Zane pressed his lips together. “Okay.”
…
That night, Darcy returned home. After washing up and getting into bed, she found she couldn’t sleep.
She got up helplessly, read some graduate school prep books for a while, and then, feeling tired, suddenly remembered something she hadn’t done yet.
She went to the storage room and opened the suitcase she had packed earlier.
Inside were all the gifts Zane had given her during their relationship, including the engagement gifts.
The hotel reservation had long been canceled.
The only thing left to return was this box of gifts.
She opened a delivery app on her phone and immediately scheduled a pickup for the next morning.
After finishing this, she went back to bed.
…
The next morning, while eating breakfast, Darcy heard a knock at the door. Opening it, she found the delivery driver she had scheduled.
She handed the packed box over and paid the fee on the spot.
The objects that held all the love between her and Zane were now gone.
From now on, they would go their separate ways.
All that remained was the formal resignation process. Once she officially left SummitCore, she and Zane would truly be nothing but strangers.
After breakfast, Darcy went to the company. As she approached the building, she noticed a Mercedes-Benz van parked in the plaza.
It looked brand new, as if just purchased.
She didn’t think much of it, assuming it belonged to a visiting client.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.