She frowned. "The letter I sent you by express delivery a month ago. You didn't get it?" "What letter?" Zane shot back, his own brow furrowing. Darcy's long lashes fluttered. She felt a mix of heartache and bitter amusement. There was such a huge gap in information between them, yet they'd managed to skip right over it—successfully canceling the engagement and completing her resignation. Was it fate? Even the heavens must think they weren't right for each other. A breeze swept past, lifting strands of her hair. Suddenly, she felt a profound sense of release. She looked at Zane with serene detachment. "The day after I got back from my business trip, I sent you a letter by express. It contained my resignation... and a request to call off the engagement. When you came to the hospital and told me we were postponing the engagement, I thought you'd read the letter and agreed to the resignation as well." Zane felt a violent jolt in his chest. He remembered now. Yes, Rex had given him a letter that morning. But after his meeting, it was gone. He was always busy. A single letter seemed insignificant, not worth his time. But what shocked Zane the most was this—Darcy had been the one to call off the engagement first. The Darcy who loved him more than she loved herself... had been the one to end it? His body swayed slightly. After a long silence, he heard his own cold, heavy voice. "Why did you call it off? "Answer me. Why?!" Darcy actually laughed. She raised an eyebrow and shot back, "Well, Mr. Vance, why did you call it off?" This was the second time she'd called him "Mr. Vance." The term sounded jarring and grating to his ears. After seven years together, she was addressing him with the cold, distant formality of a stranger. Zane's gaze flickered. "I told you on WhatsApp—this is only temporary." Darcy let out a soft, cutting laugh. "Temporary? Zane, you know damn well it's anything but." She didn't have time to spar. She still had to study later. "Don't come looking for me again. We've been together seven years—let's keep some dignity and not drag this out." With that, she turned and walked away. But Zane grabbed her arm. "Darcy, stop this. I know you're upset about postponing the engagement. I'm sorry. I promise we'll get married next year. Just come back to work tomorrow!"He'd always known what Darcy wanted most was that marriage certificate. Right now, he didn't even care why he'd postponed it in the first place. He just wanted to calm her down, to get her back to the company, back by his side. As long as she was willing to come back, he'd marry her. That entitled tone made Darcy laugh. "Go back to work? Seriously? Mr. Vance, now that your first love is back, I suggest you cherish her. Be careful, or you might end up with nothing at all!" She shook off his hand. Zane's heart lurched. First love? Did Darcy know that Zora is the woman I've carried in my heart for years? Suddenly, he understood why she had called off the engagement. "Did Kaia tell you that? Don't buy everything people say. I hired Zora because she's damn good at what she does, nothing else. "Darcy, you're in my heart," Zane coaxed softly. He took a step forward, intending to pull her into an embrace. Ines had told him—don't just sweet-talk a girl; match it with touch. Women are emotional creatures. But Darcy stepped back, avoiding his touch. The look she gave him was icy. Darcy was exhausted. She'd lost her last shred of patience. Zane might have feelings for her, but she wasn't his only one, and her place in his heart wasn't that important. Even a dog you've raised for seven years would earn your affection. It's only natural to find it hard to let go. So when Zane said she was in his heart, Darcy felt nothing. As for why he really hired Zora, she didn't even want to argue about it anymore. She was just so tired. "Zane, I don't care who's in your heart. I don't care who you marry. None of it has anything to do with me anymore. From today on, we're strangers. Please don't bother me again." This time, she ran off, her steps firm and unwavering. Zane watched her retreating figure, a suffocating weight settling in his chest. He went to the convenience store, bought a pack of cigarettes, and sat on a park bench. He smoked five in silence. It wasn't until a message popped up in their three-person group chat that he finally stubbed out the last one. He looked up at her apartment window and sighed. Fine. She's just angry right now. I'll come back when she's cooled down. He'd always thought Darcy was a rational, mature woman. He hadn't known she had this unreasonable, dramatic side. But then again, she was only like this because she loved him so much. That thought brought him a strange sense of relief.He drove to the bar. Hugo and Ines were already on their second round. The moment he walked in, Ines, with his hound-like nose, sniffed the air. Confirming the smell of smoke came from Zane, he was astounded. "Holy crap, you're smoking? Has hell frozen over?"