"No, I'm not sad at all! I'm actually thrilled!" She shook her head like a rattle, leaning back against the seat. "It's just too funny. Zora bounced over to show off that giant diamond ring, and I saw right through it. That's the same ring Zane gave me ages ago, with my initials engraved inside! Hilarious, right?" Darcy laughed, but tears started streaming down her face. "When he proposed to me, there was no ceremony. No flowers, no ring. He just brought it up casually. The diamond came later, delivered straight to my door by the jeweler. Zero romance. After we broke up, I sent back everything he ever gave me. Who knew he'd be that stingy, one diamond for two women? Zane is even nastier than I thought." The car fell silent for a moment. Darcy hit her own forehead in frustration. "I was so blind! How could I not see such a massive scumbag?! Ugh, I'm so stupid!"She hadn't really regretted the breakup itself. She loved, then she moved on. That was life. But today, Zane had sunk to a new low, redefining "scumbag" for her. Now, she truly regretted ever loving a man with such rotten character! Jethro pulled her close, tucking her into his arms. He took a tissue and gently wiped her tears. Her eyes were red-rimmed and watery as she looked up at him, shaking his arm. "Tell me, am I stupid? Are you laughing at me?" "No." Jethro's voice softened, a slight smile touching his lips. He tapped her nose gently. "Cutting your losses and walking away takes courage. You're braver than most." "Really?" "Really." Darcy gave a teary smile, burrowing deeper into his chest, her voice muffled. "I thought you weren't coming today..."His heart softened. He held her tighter, a brow quirking. "Would you have been upset if I didn't?" "Yeah." "Why?" "Because... I don't know. I just would have been. I felt relieved when I saw you." Pop. It felt like a balloon bursting in his chest. His heart gave a sudden, hard thump. His large hand settled on her head, ruffling her hair gently. "You have no idea how happy that makes me." ... In the suburbs of Aethelburg, a group of society ladies gathered in an old-style courtyard, sipping coffee. Maybe it was the spring air—the weather was pleasant, the view was lovely—so there were more people than usual. They chatted about men, luxury goods, and, of course, their children. "Clara, I saw the livestream of the awards ceremony the other day. Jethro was there, chatting with the district officials." The woman addressed, Clara, was often the center of attention in these circles. Clara smiled, setting down her coffee cup. "What awards ceremony? He didn't even mention it to me." "It was the district's Outstanding Tech Talent Achievement Awards. Someone from a Blackwood Group subsidiary won." The speaker pulled out her phone and replayed the ceremony, her long nails dragging the progress bar straight to the moment Jethro took a photo with Darcy on stage. "See? That's definitely your son." The others leaned in, admiring Jethro's sharp suit and elegant posture. Compliments for Clara flowed freely. Clara waved a dismissive hand, still smiling. "Oh, he's not that great. Almost thirty and not a single girlfriend in sight. Drives me crazy." The others laughed politely. "Come now, if Jethro wanted one, any girl in Aethelburg would be his for the picking." Clara sighed, "That boy is always busy, who knows with what." Seeing her mood shift, the others quickly changed tack. "Well, career comes first for young men." Only Olena in the group had remained silent, sipping her coffee quietly. When she saw the photo of Jethro and Darcy on stage, she couldn't help but grit her teeth. Darcy's getting bolder since leaving my son! How dare she pose so publicly with the Blackwood heir! Still, a nobody from a humble background like her would never be accepted by the Blackwoods. As the gathering dispersed, Clara was stopped by someone. She turned to see Olena approaching and frowned slightly. Olena had married into wealth as a homewrecker. A decade ago, she'd have been shunned by this crowd. But after being officially recognized and with her son proving himself capable in business, people had turned a blind eye and let her join. In this circle, Olena kept a low profile, paying her dues and pouring coffee. Clara had never really interacted with her and wondered what she wanted. "Mrs. Blackwood, I'm not sure if I should say this." Olena wore an expression of feigned conflict. Clara eyed her and made a silent judgment. Drama queen. "Then don't. Anything you 'aren't sure you should say' is usually bad news." As Clara turned to leave, Olena, gritting her teeth, hurried after her.