Darcy walked him to his car. "Goodbye," she said, giving a small wave. Hugo had his suit jacket slung over his arm, the top two buttons of his dress shirt undone. He looked every bit the sophisticated, carefree heir. His eyes were fixed on her, filled with a tenderness that was hard to miss. Suddenly, his voice turned hoarse. "Are you with Jethro now?" Darcy was startled for a moment, then she nodded firmly. "Yes. We're together." Agony, sudden and overwhelming, crashed over Hugo like a tidal wave. He clutched his chest, instinctively taking two steps back. He wished this were a dream, a terrible nightmare.After a long pause, he spoke, his voice strained, "But do you really know him? Do you know about his past? He's not the man he seems! You're being deceived!" The barrage of questions went from bewildering to infuriating. Darcy bristled, her defenses rising as she glared at him. "I don't need to know his past. Everyone has a past; mine isn't pretty either. What matters is the present. The man he is now is good to me. He cares for me. That's enough." Pain flashed in Hugo's eyes. "And what about me? Am I not good enough? Don't I care for you enough? Why can you never see me?" He had thought Darcy was still healing from her failed relationship with Zane. He thought he had all the patience in the world. That if he stayed by her side, protected her, she would eventually see his worth and let down her walls. He never imagined that before his own spring could arrive, he'd watch her run joyfully into another man's arms. The sense of defeat was crushing. Darcy's lips parted. "Sorry."She'd said all there was to say too many times. Those who wanted to hear didn't need it repeated; those who refused wouldn't listen, no matter how often she said it. Now, all she could offer was an apology. Feelings couldn't be forced. A love born from calculation and comparison wasn't real love at all. With that, she turned to leave. Hugo's eyes were full of sorrow and stubborn refusal. "Jethro had a serious relationship. A decade ago, everyone in Aethelburg's upper circle knew about it." Darcy's steps faltered. A faint, bitter smile touched Hugo's lips. He continued, "Later, something happened. They were forced apart at the height of their feelings by their families. Darcy, compared to Zane, he's even more unsuitable for you. A breakup that brutal? It means a part of him will always belong to that first love. Are you sure you want to be with a man who forever carries another woman in a corner of his heart?"His voice dropped to a whisper. "Darcy, only me—I've got no past. I'm clean, body and soul. It's only you." Darcy turned back, her expression cool. "Then you should find someone who's just as 'clean' as you. That's not me." This time, she left decisively, without a single backward glance. That night, lying in bed, Darcy tossed and turned. Hugo's words echoed relentlessly in her mind. As much as she hated to admit it, they had gotten under her skin. She grabbed her hair in frustration, then rolled out of bed and booted up her laptop, trying to search for old gossip about the Blackwood family from a decade ago. But after scouring countless forums and blogs, she found nothing substantial. Frustrated, she stared at her phone. Should I just ask Jethro directly?But she'd said she didn't care about his past. She buried her face in her pillow like an ostrich. This is what happens when you let yourself fall. You become indecisive, insecure. Just then, a video call request from Jethro popped up. "I just heard you rushed home at noon. Is your mom alright?" His voice, tinged with both concern and fatigue, came through as soon as she answered. She saw him loosening his tie, leaning back in his office chair. He must have just finished a meeting. A pang of affection shot through her. She smiled softly and shook her head. "It's fine. All sorted." She made no mention of Hugo's visit. Come on—even the most understanding boyfriend would flip if he heard his girl's suitor showed up at her place.She didn't want to add to his stress. She'd made things perfectly clear with her mother; an incident like today wouldn't happen again. A shadow passed through Jethro's eyes, followed by an unreadable smile. "That's good. By the way, any plans for the weekend? I'll book it." With the summer heat growing more oppressive by the day, Darcy wasn't keen on going out. Remembering Jethro mentioning his family's private home theater, she replied without thinking, "How about your place? The villa you mentioned before." That would be the perfect time to casually ask about his youth. Much more natural. Jethro raised an eyebrow, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "Of course. Love that my girlfriend wants to tour my house." There was a hint of something suggestive in his gaze that instantly made Darcy blush. "Get your mind out of the gutter!" she scolded, flustered."Same place yours is." "You—!" "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing." His expression softened again, but his eyes were still searching. "Are you sure nothing else happened today?"