Viktor was out for the evening. Only Olena and two servants were awake when Zane arrived home. Olena smiled as he entered. "What brings you home tonight?" Under the crystal chandelier, she immediately spotted the red mark on her son's left cheek. "Who did this?" she asked with concern, waving a servant over. "Get an ice pack." Zane shrugged off his jacket. He didn't want to worry her. "It's nothing," he said dismissively. Olena wasn't fooled. She frowned, guessing. "Was it Zora? How dare she lay a hand on you before you're even married!" "It wasn't her." Zane sat down on the sofa, exhausted, and took a sip of water. Olena was hard to deceive. She took the ice pack and applied it to his face, studying his expression closely. Suddenly, her face darkened."Don't tell me you went to see Darcy again?" Zane's hand holding the glass paused slightly. Olena knew she was right. A contemptuous smile touched her lips. "Throwing a fit because she can't have you? Trash from a low-class family, utterly lacking in grace!" Zane felt uncomfortable but offered no further explanation. He only briefly mentioned the intense competition between the two companies. "What?!" Olena was livid. "She's trying to ruin you! To ruin SummitCore! That little bitch!" "Mom," Zane said, feeling his mother's reaction was overblown and disliking her harsh words about Darcy. He stood up. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed." Olena followed him. "By the way, this weekend—the meeting with Zora's parents..." "I told Zora we're canceling. SummitCore's execs are meeting this weekend." Olena nodded in agreement. "Right. Company matters come first. This can wait." The next day, Olena went behind her son's back to visit Darcy. Inside a restaurant, Darcy poured coffee for her. After all, she was an elder. Moreover, Olena had been quite kind to her when she was with Zane. "Mrs. Vance, what brings you here?" Darcy asked first. Olena smiled, looking her up and down. "It's been a while, Darcy. You're even prettier and more poised than before." Darcy thanked her with a smile, knowing perfectly well she wasn't here for compliments. She quietly sipped her coffee, waiting. Sure enough, Olena didn't beat around the bush. "Darcy, I heard your company is competing with SummitCore?" "Yes. It's standard business competition." "But because of this, Zane can't eat or sleep properly. Could you let up for old times' sake? I know you're angry he broke up with you, but matters of the heart can't be forced." Darcy almost laughed. What a useless man Zane is, needing his mother to plead for him. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Vance. In business, we consider profit, not sentiment. Besides, that chapter is long closed for me. I've moved on." Olena's smile vanished. "Darcy, why make things so ugly? You're a girl. You'll be the one to suffer in the end." Darcy couldn't help but chuckle, "And how, exactly, will I suffer?" Olena's expression grew uglier. She slammed her cup onto the glass table. "Hmph. I didn't want to say this, but your attitude today is very disappointing. Before you broke up with Zane, were you truly faithful? Others might not know, but I do. You were seeing another man behind his back!" Seeing she was making a scene, Darcy grabbed her bag and headed out. "Stop right there!" Olena stood up, raising her voice behind her. "Your silence means guilt! You were already involved with another man!""Madam, can't you read the 'No Loud Talking' sign?" A deep, magnetic male voice came from behind them. Turning, Darcy was stunned. Boss? Jethro descended from a private room upstairs. He instructed Rowan to escort his clients out first, then walked over. Olena sized him up. His clothes were impeccable, his bearing aristocratic. She couldn't immediately place him. "Mr. Blackwood," Darcy said, addressing him. Only then did Olena realize—this was the eldest son of the Blackwood family, the current head of the Blackwood Group. The Blackwoods were Aethelburg's premier elite family, far beyond the Vances' league. Olena immediately switched to an ingratiating smile. "My apologies. A momentary lapse in manners. I hope I didn't disturb your meeting."Jethro's face was elegantly composed, but he wasn't one to be easily appeased. "You already have." His bluntness left Olena flustered. She picked up her bag. "Well then... Mr. Blackwood, I have matters to attend to. I'll take my leave." Once in the car, Olena told the driver to leave quickly. On the road, she calmed down and began to feel the scene in the restaurant was oddly familiar. Suddenly, it hit her—wasn't the man she'd seen Darcy meeting last year Jethro? A cold dread washed over her. ... Leaving the restaurant, there were a few steps. Distracted, Darcy almost tripped. Jethro caught her just in time.