Silence hung for a moment. Then Jethro replied, "Alright." He understood her, respected her resolve, and didn't push further. But he still added, "Promise me you won't try to handle everything alone. You have to tell me if it gets difficult." Darcy's eyes crinkled with a smile. "I promise, my boyfriend." The last word instantly lightened the heaviness in Jethro's heart. That evening, after work, Darcy remembered she was running low on skincare products and drove to a nearby upscale mall. She had just entered the ground floor when she felt a gentle tug on her skirt. Puzzled, she turned around. A little girl stood there. Thinking she was lost, Darcy bent down to ask if she needed help finding her parents. The little girl spoke first, "A lady asked me to give you this." She pressed a folded note into Darcy's hand before scurrying away. Darcy frowned, unfolding the note. "If you want to know about Jethro's past, come to the private lounge on the 5th floor." Her brow furrowed. Her hand tightened around the paper. Who? Who's been following me? The girl had found her so precisely; it was no coincidence. She stared at the words again. Jethro's past... Could the person in the lounge be...? Darcy was a decisive person, but now she was torn. Part of her wanted to know; another part was afraid, especially of hearing it from a stranger.After a brief internal struggle, curiosity and a desire to confront whatever this was won out. She finished her shopping, then took the elevator directly to the fifth floor. A hostess was waiting by the elevator and silently led her to a private lounge. Inside, a decorative screen partially divided the room, lending an air of subdued mystery. Through the semi-transparent material, Darcy could make out a figure, but not whether it was a man or a woman. "You asked for me?" Darcy said calmly as she took a seat, placing her bag beside her. A soft laugh came from behind the screen. Then, the figure stepped out and sat opposite her. It was a woman. A beautiful woman. Blonde hair, blue pupils, dressed in a simple but elegant white dress with a straight neckline that highlighted her graceful collarbones.Her features were classically gentle, but a single beauty mark just below the right corner of her lips added a striking, unforgettable touch of allure. While Darcy was observing her, Annie was quietly assessing Darcy. A smile touched Annie's lips. So, his taste hasn't changed. Was it that he simply preferred this type? Or was it that he couldn't forget her? She arched a delicate brow, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I didn't think you'd come. No one wants to hear the past of their current boyfriend, right?" Darcy met her gaze evenly. "If I didn't come today, would you have stopped? Since we were bound to meet sooner or later, better to get it over with." Annie's smile widened slightly. "Now I see what Jethro likes about you, Ms. Gale. Your composure is quite remarkable." Jethro... She used his given name with familiar ease.Darcy suddenly knew who this was. "Pleasantries over," Darcy said, her tone cool. "Say what you came to say." Annie was briefly taken aback. Any other woman would've blown a fuse by now—hearing some random girl act all chummy with her boyfriend like that. Yet Darcy remained perfectly composed. For a strange moment, Annie saw a reflection of Jethro in Darcy. The same cool self-possession, the same unflappable calm. Memories of the man flooded her mind like a rising tide. She dug her nails into her palm, the sharp pain bringing her back. Annie stirred the coffee before her. "Do you know who I am? I'm Jethro's first love. His only ex-girlfriend. My name is Annie Roby." Darcy nodded. "I guessed as much.""You're not surprised?" "Surprised by what? It's normal for a man his age to have had relationships. He's never hidden it from me. Everyone has a past. I have one too. Nothing surprising about it." Annie had, of course, learned about Darcy's seven-year relationship with Zane through a private investigator. Annie's lips curved. "How magnanimous of you, Ms. Gale. To sit so calmly across from your boyfriend's ex. One might think you don't really care for him." Darcy's frown deepened. "What is your point?" Annie looked directly at her, her gaze intense. "Ms. Gale, my point is that I'm asking you to let him go. You and Jethro are completely wrong for each other." Darcy let out a cold laugh. "Whether we're right for each other is for us to decide. What gives you the right?" Annie's composure cracked, her voice rising with emotion. "Because you have no idea how much we loved each other! We didn't break up because we fell out of love. On the contrary, we were forced apart when our feelings were deepest. All these years, I haven't forgotten him for a single moment. I know he hasn't either. He's with you because he's settling. He's using you as my stand-in." The memory of the past was a fresh wound, sharp and painful. It was my dad's crime! So why was I the one who had to pay the price?!