The usual forty-minute drive took Darcy only twenty. She wasn't one to linger; she went straight for what she needed, bought it, and left without fuss. After loading the groceries into her car, she got a call from her mother. Ione reminded her, "The seasonings are running low. Could you pick up some more from the supermarket?" After hanging up, Darcy turned back toward the basement-level supermarket. The seasonings were on a high shelf. She stretched several times but couldn't reach them. She wanted to call a stock clerk, but with the holiday, staff was scarce. "Need this?" A low voice sounded behind her. Darcy frowned. That voice...She turned. It was indeed Zane. She took a sharp breath. Is Aethelburg just too small, or is this supermarket too small? Of all people... While she didn't want the seasoning bottle from his hand, compared to wasting more time, accepting Zane's "help" didn't seem so bad. He owed her far more than this anyway. "Thanks," she said, pushing her cart to leave. But Zane grabbed the cart, stopping her. Darcy glared at him. "What now?" Zane pressed his lips together. "It's been three months." Three months of what? Darcy looked completely baffled. "Darcy, you've punished me long enough." Darcy was speechless. How many times did she have to say it? They were over!She had a feeling that explaining again would be pointless. He was trapped in his own world, convinced this was just her way of punishing him. The thought made her laugh involuntarily. How pathetic, how desperate must I have been before to give him this much confidence? "If you like the cart so much, keep it," Darcy said, calm and detached, picking up the items from the cart. But Zane grabbed her arm again. Instant anger flared. Darcy's brow furrowed. "Zane, what the hell do you want?" His cold eyes fixed on her. "You know Prof. Reed's star student, Bram?" "So what if I do?" "You seemed very friendly with him last time. Are you two—" Darcy forcefully shook off his grip. "We're just friends. Of course, a dirty mind sees dirt everywhere." "Just friends is good," Zane said suddenly.Darcy couldn't help a cold laugh. "You're the one about to get engaged to your so-called 'true love.' What right do you have to ask who I see? Worry about yourself first!" "Who said I'm getting engaged?" Zane frowned. "I never said that." Darcy didn't want to argue. Whether he got engaged or not was none of her concern. The point was, he needed to stop bothering her! She strode away. Zane started to follow, but Zora called out to him. "Zane! There you are. I've been looking for you." Zane's expression was icy, his gaze sharp as he looked at her. The air around him turned so cold that Zora hesitated. After a moment, she dared to step closer and take his arm, smiling. "What's wrong?" Zane stared at her for a beat, then removed her hand. "Did you tell people we're getting engaged?" Zora froze. She had only told Darcy. So he must've run into Darcy just now. "So... you just saw Darcy? She told you?" She lowered her eyes, a self-mocking smile touching her lips. "So, in your heart, she's always first. No matter what she says, you believe it." Her suddenly dejected expression stabbed at Zane's heart. He quickly tried to explain, "No, I just—" He faltered, unsure why he'd reacted that way. How could he doubt Zora because of a few words from Darcy? Zora was his lifelong dream. "I'm sorry, Zora. I didn't mean to accuse you." "Hmm." Zora's response was flat. She withdrew her earlier warmth. My mother was right. Some men push their luck. The nicer you are, the more they forget their place. She decided to let him stew for a few days. Sure enough, on the drive back, seeing Zora's continued silence, Zane knew he'd been wrong.After parking, he pulled her into a hug. "Zora, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you. It was my fault." Zora leaned against his shoulder, a triumphant smile curving her red lips. "Just this once, Zane. Don't let it happen again." Meanwhile, Darcy carried her groceries back to her car. She glanced again at the spot downstairs from this morning. John was gone. Probably left. She felt relieved and carried the bags home. But as she reached her floor, she saw John again, pacing in front of her door. He had been trying to think of an excuse that would move Ione and Darcy. Ione was easy to predict—he'd known her as weak and indecisive from the start. But Darcy... she didn't look like she'd be easy to win over.