Susan furrowed her brow in thought. "Don't worry. Keep asking around. If they are unwilling to sell, we can raise the price." "Mom, if we raise the price any higher, I'm afraid we won't have that much cash on hand." "I plan to sell a few of the companies under my name." Zora was shocked. "Wouldn't that be too risky?" Susan reassured her. "No. Based on my analysis, once SummitCore Tech goes public, its market value will increase tenfold, maybe twentyfold. This amount of money is nothing." Hearing her mother say this, Zora felt at ease. Still, being cautious, Zora went to confirm with Lucian. "Before, you said SummitCore Tech had very high investment value, comparable to foreign tech companies with huge growth potential. Are you sure that's true?"Lucian's voice was flat. "If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do." Zora gritted her teeth. This Lucian, he never knows how to talk to me properly. However, the next second, Lucian's lazy drawl came through the phone. "I've sent you a report from a top international investment firm. I heard from a junior of mine that this firm is preparing to invest in SummitCore." With that, he hung up with a sharp click. Zora opened the investment report. Although she couldn't understand the professional jargon, seeing the analysis of SummitCore and, at the end, the recommendation to "increase investment by ten billion dollars," she immediately felt reassured. His sister is still in my hands. He wouldn't dare lie to me. Just then, an old friend called Zora again. "Hey, girl! Paradise Club just got fresh stock. This batch of gigolos is super-hot. You sure you're not coming?"Zora had always refused before. But this time, she suddenly didn't want to. The mere thought of how miserable married life would be made her shiver. Might as well indulge and splurge before the wedding. After all, once married, she'd be Mrs. Vance. Every word and action would be scrutinized. ... The weather was perfect that day, and the "Outstanding Tech Talent" award ceremony kicked off right on time. Darcy woke up early and applied tasteful, light makeup. "My daughter is so beautiful, even prettier than a movie star," Ione smiled, bringing breakfast out from the kitchen. She had fully recovered, been discharged, and, under Darcy's guidance, learned to make the best use of the video doorbell and security cameras. If anything seemed off at the door, she'd call the police immediately. Fortunately, since their parting at the hospital, John hadn't shown up again. Darcy put away her compact mirror and hugged her mother's neck playfully. "That's all thanks to your good genes, Mom." "How are things with Hugo?" Ione asked out of the blue. Darcy was stunned. "What do you mean? We're just friends." Ione sighed, "I think he's quite nice. Why not give him a shot?" "Mom, he's Zane's childhood friend, his best buddy. There's no possibility between us." Ione was surprised Hugo was such close friends with someone like Zane. But she still advised, "He is not Zane. "If you really don't like him, I can help you meet other people. There are several nice young men around your age in our neighborhood." Two consecutive hospital stays had made Ione prioritize her daughter's future like never before. What if I pass away one day and she's still alone? How could I rest in peace? She needed to find Darcy a suitable partner soon. Darcy, however, had a headache. When her mom started pushing marriage, she could give any meme a run for its money. Sure enough, age flips some switches you can't turn off. Darcy grabbed her bag and hurried to put on her shoes. "I'm running late, gotta go. As for my love life, don't worry. I... I already have someone I like." Before Ione could ask who it was, Darcy was out the door. Ione wondered if it was Jethro. In truth, Darcy had just blurted it out to stop her mother from setting up blind dates, never imagining where Ione's thoughts would wander.At nine, Darcy drove to the award ceremony hall. She scanned the entrance but didn't see Jethro or Rowan. Her eyelashes lowered quickly, masking the flicker of disappointment in her eyes. Rowan mentioned he'd probably come today... Entering the venue, she found quite a few people already there. Her arrival caused a momentary stir of surprise. Most attendees were older. A young woman like Darcy was the only one of her kind. Some immediately recognized her and came over to shake hands. "Hello, you must be Ms. Darcy Gale. I watched your last product launch. It was brilliant." "Ms. Gale, you're even more stunning in person than on screen." Darcy shook hands and exchanged technical insights with them, smiling and responding gracefully. But her gaze kept drifting toward the entrance.As the host took the stage, the small talk ended, and the ceremony officially began. Darcy found her seat. Her fingers hovered over her WhatsApp, hesitating. She wanted to text her boss, ask why she didn't see him here today.