There's no telling when Arthur might suddenly go blind and heartless, pairing people off at random. Zephyr pressed his lips. "So... marrying me is the cleanest solution." Cindy's mind was a chaotic whirlwind. Part of her thought he was making perfect sense. Another part screamed that this was utterly insane. She liked Zephyr, sure. But get married without even dating? It was madness! She clutched her head, her expression dazed and confused. "I... I need to think!" Zephyr stood, bent one knee, half-squatting in front of her. His eyes were thick with feeling that wouldn't fade. "Yeah. No rush. Take your time. When you figure it out, come find me." After a while, he carefully closed the door and headed downstairs. Right then, the maid was just bringing out the dessert. Clara smiled and beckoned him over. "Zephyr, come have some." He gave her a polite, slightly strained smile. "Thank you, Mrs. Blackwood, but I won't keep you up. I'll head out." Clara watched him leave, bemused. What on earth is going on with that boy? ... Zane was deeply unsettled. The private investigator he'd sent overseas had come back with nothing. He should have been relieved. No findings meant Zora hadn't lied to him. At this point, he didn't care about the old bullying scandal at Quest University or whether her doctorate was legitimate. As long as her private life was clean, she hadn't cuckolded him, and the Vance family's reputation remained intact, he was willing to let the rest slide. Just as he thought he could breathe easier, Lilian chose to remind their grandfather about the "family discipline" that had been deferred from the engagement party. The excuse about the missed toast that day had been a thin veil; everyone in their social circle knew the real reason. It had become a favorite piece of gossip at every gathering. Hearing that, Harlan was furious. Compounded by Zane's refusal to break off the engagement despite his demands, Harlan's anger reached a boiling point. The punishment was finally meted out. Zane took seven lashes across his back. He recovered at home for a month. During that time, Zora handled company matters big and small. He'd barely healed when he heard Vance Group was set to partner with Stratagem Tech, planning to purchase their software. Zane clenched his teeth. He knew immediately it was Lilian's doing. He snapped, storming into the Group to find his father, Viktor.After a brief check with the executive assistant, the front desk waved him through. He rode the elevator to the top floor. Before he could reach his father's office, he ran headlong into Lilian and Darcy. Darcy's steps faltered for a fraction of a second. Seeing his stormy expression, Lilian raised an eyebrow. "Back healed already? I've been so swamped, I haven't had a chance to visit. My apologies." Zane's face darkened at her false concern, his jaw tight. But his gaze shifted involuntarily to Darcy. The look in her eyes was colder than ever, as if he were a complete stranger. He forced a stiff smile—a weak response to Lilian's pretense and a silent ache at Darcy's indifference. "I'm here to see Dad," he said, looking down. Lilian gave him a slow, assessing once-over. "Let me guess. You're here to convince him to scrap the Stratagem Tech deal and buy from SummitCore instead?" Hearing that, Darcy's brow furrowed as she looked at Zane. He gritted his teeth. "That's between Dad and me. None of your business." Lilian let out a soft, derisive laugh. "Oh, but it is. I'm leading this project. Of course it's my business. Let me save you the trouble. Whether Dad agrees or not, I'm pushing this through. Zane, you're almost thirty. Stop acting like a child who runs to Daddy when you don't get your way. If I were you, I'd put that energy into the company. Focus on making a better product instead of scheming for special treatment." Being dressed down like this in public made Zane's face turn an ugly shade of red. Fury bubbled inside him like a volcano on the verge of eruption. But this was Vance Group. A thousand eyes were on him. No matter how furious he was, he couldn't lose it. His hands clenched unconsciously at his sides. He took a deep, steadying breath, forcing his lips into a strained smile. "Thank you for the advice. I'll take it to heart. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go find Dad first. We can catch up later." Lilian had no interest in "catching up" with him. She gave him one last dismissive glance and turned to Darcy. "Ms. Gale, let me walk you out." At the main entrance, Darcy said gently, "Ms. Vance, I'm no longer the CEO." News from the Blackwood family had spread through the business circles, and Lilian had heard. She looked at Darcy with genuine sympathy. "You're a smart woman. You've seen firsthand how messy these old-money families can be. Take it from me, Jasper didn't come back out of the goodness of his heart. There's a storm brewing inside the Blackwood Group. Be careful. Know when to cut your losses and get out."