Ione slapped away her hand reaching for the phone. "The produce online is never fresh. We have to go to the market." She pushed Darcy toward the bathroom. "Wash your face. Do a good job." Darcy found it amusing. "I wash my face properly every day." After washing up and getting dressed, Darcy walked into the living room. "Alright, Mom, let's go." Ione looked her up and down and frowned with distaste. "You're dressed too casually. Put on a nice dress." Darcy blinked. For grocery shopping? Seriously? "Of course it's necessary," Ione said firmly. "When you look good, I look good by association." Darcy's mouth twitched.This little old lady—over sixty—and she's started comparing appearances. A flaw she didn't have in her youth, she's picking up now. She found it funny but didn't argue. She went back to her room, changed into a nicer dress, and put on heels. "Put on a little powder, do your eyebrows—go for something refined," Ione added another requirement. Darcy shook her head in amused resignation and followed her mother's instructions, applying light, natural makeup. But instead of heading to the market, they turned into a coffee-and-bites diner not far from their apartment complex. Ione offered a needless explanation. "We haven't had breakfast." Darcy just said, "Oh," but a strong sense of foreboding settled in. When she was led to a table where a man around her own age was already sitting, everything clicked into place.Darcy instinctively took a step back, turning to leave. Ione grabbed her arm. "This is Ms. Palmer's nephew. He works in the civil service, just got promoted to department head this year. He might not earn as much as you, but the job is stable. "His looks might not compare to Jethro's, but he's decent. Just talk to him." At the mention of Jethro, Darcy's heart skipped a beat. "Mom, what are you talking about?" Ione sighed knowingly, "Don't think I didn't know. Weren't you secretly dating Jethro?" Darcy's eyes widened. She had intended to tell her mother about their relationship, but Annie's sudden appearance had disrupted those plans. Things had spiraled from there. She hadn't realized her mother already knew. Was this the legendary maternal intuition?"Not exactly," Ione admitted. "I got up to use the bathroom late one night and heard you two on the phone. The tone you used... anyone with half a brain could guess." Darcy let out a bitter laugh. "You knew, and you're still setting me up on a blind date?" "Of course!" Ione said matter-of-factly. "But you broke up, didn't you? The news said he had a secret child and the mother came forward. He didn't even try to suppress the story, so he must be admitting it's true. And I've been observing. You two haven't spoken on the phone at night even once lately. You definitely broke up." Darcy was genuinely impressed. "Mom, you have a real talent for espionage. Sixty is a great age to start a new career. Want me to find you a job as a spy?" "Stop joking around!" Ione's face went stern as she sighed, "It's for the best you broke up. There's always a barrier between a wealthy family like that and ordinary folks like us. Better to make a clean break now than regret it later." She seized the moment to promote the man at the table. "Ms. Palmer's nephew—give him a fair shot. He likes you already." Darcy sighed, realizing there was no escaping this. She reluctantly sat down. "Hi, I'm Darcy Gale," she introduced herself. Ione beamed, patted her daughter's shoulder, and looked at the young man. "You young people chat. I'll go buy groceries." The man across the table looked up, glanced at Darcy, then shyly lowered his head again. "Hello. I'm Ms. Palmer's nephew. My name is Wesley Palmer." He offered an embarrassed smile. "I've seen you before. On TV." Darcy was momentarily puzzled, then realized it must have been from a press conference or the district's award ceremony. She pressed her lips together and stayed quiet. Wesley carried the conversation alone. He nervously scratched the back of his head, his admiration genuine. "You're even prettier in person. And so accomplished. I couldn't believe it when my aunt told me you were single."His eyes lit up as he spoke, "Last week, I was at work when my aunt called about setting me up. I refused at first. But she said this girl was exceptionally talented. I was skeptical—if she's so great, why is she still single? Then my aunt sent me your photo. I was stunned. I called her back immediately to double-check it was really you, and then I—" His hands trembled slightly with obvious excitement. Darcy, however, could only offer a wry smile. So her mother had been planning this for a week. She'd been completely in the dark, noticing nothing amiss. The old lady's skills were leveling up. Even if Darcy were slow, she could tell the man liked her. Just as Wesley was about to launch into a more detailed self-introduction, Darcy gently interrupted him, wearing an apologetic expression as she began to explain the real situation.