The new spotlight landed squarely on Darcy's head. A collective gasp rippled through the ballroom, followed by a wave of frantic whispers. No one understood the bride's intention. On stage, the emcee was panicking, mopping his brow and desperately shuffling through his cue cards. What is this? This isn't on the schedule! What is she playing at?! Darcy's brows were knitted tightly, her gaze icy as it fixed on the stage. Beside her, Ione ground her teeth. "What is she trying to do?" Darcy shook her head slightly, her voice low and steady. "Don't worry. We'll handle whatever comes. I've done nothing wrong. I have nothing to fear." Across the room, Cindy's heart was in her throat. "Jethro, what is that witch plotting now? I'm scared for Darcy." Jethro's eyes were locked on Darcy, his every instinct screaming to rush to her side, to shield her. But the room was packed, and her mother sat right beside her. He could only clench his fists, forcing the impulse down. He took a deep, controlled breath and patted his sister's head. "Trust her, Cindy. She can handle this." Jethro had absolute faith in Darcy. Faith in her resilience, her ability to navigate any storm. She had faced hardship before and always emerged stronger. She had that strength. On stage, Zora spoke again, her eyes glistening with what appeared to be sincere emotion. "The lady under this spotlight is Darcy Gale. Zane's former girlfriend. His partner during the early years of building SummitCore Tech. "Ms. Gale, I want to thank you."With that, Zora bowed deeply towards Darcy. When she rose, she smiled, "Thank you for bringing such a wonderful man into my life. Before I went abroad, Zane was so reserved, so distant. When I returned, I found him gentle and considerate. I'm sure your efforts played a part in that. And at work, you were so dedicated. You brought in so many of the company's key clients. Yet, after your breakup, you walked away with nothing. Thanks to the solid foundation you built, I was able to achieve such outstanding results the moment I joined the company. And finally—" "Enough!" Zane's face was ashen with fury. He grabbed her arm, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "Stop this. Now." But Zora was beyond reason. Darcy hadn't wanted to attend the engagement, so Zora pulled strings and forced her to come. She had wanted to see anger, loss, and regret on Darcy's face. But Darcy had remained utterly, infuriatingly indifferent! Zora hated that. She seized all these things for one twisted purpose—to torture Darcy. Why wasn't she in pain?! If direct attacks didn't work, she would find another way. She would humiliate her in front of everyone. Zora's smile widened, sharp and malicious. "Finally, SummitCore is going public. In a few months, Zane and I will be among the wealthiest young couples in Aethelburg. Thank you for all your hard work for our company!" She bowed deeply to Darcy once more. A dead silence fell over the room, so profound that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone on stage and off was stunned. All eyes swiveled between Darcy, Zane, and Zora. In those few minutes, a full-blown soap opera had unfolded before them. Zane closed his eyes. He felt like a complete fool, exposed under the scrutiny of hundreds. The closest table down front was the Vance family.His grandfather, his father, and his half-sister—the one he'd always viewed as a rival—sat there. He didn't dare open his eyes. He couldn't bear to see their expressions. "Why would you say those things?" Zane's entire body trembled with suppressed rage. Zora looked down at the crowd, a contemptuous smirk on her lips. "Why not? I was sincerely thanking her. People will praise me for my grace and magnanimity." Zane couldn't tell if she was clueless or playing dumb. He ground out, "Look at this occasion! Look at the people here! Everything we do reflects on the Vance family. What do you think they think of us now? And of me?" He shoved her hand away violently. Zora immediately grabbed it back, her grip like a vice. Her warning was a venomous whisper. "Everyone is watching. If you don't want this to get even uglier, you will hold my hand and smile." The emcee, after a few stunned seconds and a sharp signal from the Vance family table, sprang back to life. He snatched the microphone with a booming, forced laugh. "Ah-ha! What a little prank from our lovely bride! You all looked so shocked—she really had you going, didn't she? Fantastic performance! Now, let's move on to the exciting prize draw everyone's been waiting for..." Backstage, Zora changed for the toasting part that would follow. She emerged to find Zane still in his original suit, unmoving. She went to loop her arm through his, frowning. "Why aren't you changed?" Zane violently wrenched his arm away. Caught off guard, Zora lost her balance and fell hard to the floor. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" she shrieked. Zane had used his full strength. The fall scraped the skin on her forearm. She glared up at him, furious. "Are you insane?! How am I supposed to toast like this?!"