Darcy stopped and turned back to Ines, a cold smile on her lips. "Mr. Cross, what's the wager?" Ines blinked. "What?" "Let's make a bet. We'll bet on whether my mom is in this hotel. If she is, I win. If not, you win. The loser bows and apologizes." Ines snorted, "Why would I bet with you? Who knows what trick you're trying to pull?" "Since you know nothing," Darcy snapped, "then shut your damn mouth! You're giving me a headache!" "You—!" Ines was stunned. By the time he recovered, Darcy and Hugo were already disappearing around the corner toward the second-floor suites. He clenched his jaw and followed. Fine. Let's play this out. Let's see how you try to slander Zora. At the second-floor styling-room door, Hugo had just raised his hand to knock when the inner door swung open.Zane stood there, his eyes meeting Hugo's. A tense silence fell between them. The marks from their fight were still faintly visible on both their faces, though Zane's were better concealed with makeup for the occasion. Zane's gaze shifted. He saw Darcy. A wave of bitterness washed over him, followed by a faint, treacherous flicker of hope. Bitterness because she was here with Hugo. Were they together now? Hope because she'd said she wouldn't come. Yet here she was. Did that mean... she regretted her decision? Had she come to stop him? If she asked him to, what would he do? In those few seconds, a thousand thoughts about their past and a possible future raced through his mind. His throat tightened. "Darcy, did you come to see me?" Darcy's brow furrowed. "Is Zora in there?"She rose on her toes, trying to see past him into the suite. It was a large room; she couldn't see anyone without going inside. She hadn't answered his question. Instead, she'd asked for Zora. Zane's expression darkened. "You're really not here for me?" You and Zora are enemies. Why would you seek her out? Unless... you're just using her as an excuse to see me. He took a deep breath. "We can talk in the sitting room next door." Darcy had no patience for his assumptions. "Zane, listen carefully. Your fiancée, Zora, is suspected of abducting my mom. If she doesn't release her immediately, I will call the police and have them search this venue. Today is your engagement day. If the police show up and haul the bride away, how are you gonna explain that to the Vances?" Zane, who cared deeply about the Vance family's opinion and longed for their acceptance, stiffened. His face turned ashen. "That's impossible! Zora would never do that!" "Is that so?" Darcy's smile was icy. "I hope I'm wrong. But first, let me see her." Zane hesitated. Just then, Ines caught up. "Zane, don't let her near Zora!" Ines exclaimed. "Today is your big day. This woman is clearly here to sabotage it! She's obviously not over you and wants to hurt Zora. Don't let her succeed!" Darcy glanced at the man by the stairs, voice mild. "Mr. Cross, with that imagination, you missed your calling as a tabloid hack." Ines choked on his anger. She's mocking me again! His temples throbbed. Enraged, he moved as if to grab her. "You lay a finger on her, and you'll regret it," Hugo warned, stepping protectively in front of Darcy, his voice low and dangerous. "Hugo," Ines spat, "do you know what you look like right now? Like a king bewitched by a siren." The commotion at the door had finally drawn attention from inside. The two makeup artists inside, still working, glanced nervously at the door. "Dr. Moss, there seems to be some noise outside. Should you check?" Zora curved a red smile at the mirror. "Sure. After you finish my brows." By the time Zora swept to the door in her elaborate gown, the tension was at a breaking point. "Why is everyone standing out here? Come in and sit." She sweetly hooked her arm through Zane's. "Darling, why don't you invite them in? Especially Darcy. She's come such a long way. We must be good hosts." Darcy had zero patience for their lovey-dovey act. "Zora, why did you kidnap my mom? Where's she now?" Zora offered a wide, innocent smile. "Kidnap? That's such a harsh word. Today's my special day—I merely sent someone to fetch her for the celebration. 'Kidnap' makes it sound like some kind of crime." The moment she confirmed it, Ines' eyes widened in shock. Wait—she really is in this hotel? Zane's brow furrowed deeply, his gaze turning cold as it fixed on Zora.