The group fell silent, but each had their own thoughts. ... Zane had been feeling particularly frustrated lately. Seeing Ines' message in their group chat to go drinking, he grabbed his jacket and headed straight to the bar. "Hey, you're quick today. Not busy anymore?" Ines had just arrived, barely sitting down, when he saw Zane. He immediately teased. Soon, Hugo also arrived. Ines flagged down a waiter and ordered a few more bottles of wine. Once the waiter left, Ines crossed his long legs and glanced at Zane. "What's up? Still haven't smoothed things over?" Hugo also looked at Zane. Zane irritably unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, grabbed a cigarette from the table, and took a couple of deep drags. "Damn. I underestimated her. Holding out this long... not easy," Ines said, genuinely surprised. Hugo recalled his two recent encounters with Darcy, her clear resistance toward him. Are they really done? Hugo's throat moved slightly. He picked up a glass and took a drink. "Darcy joined the Blackwood Group's subsidiary, Stratagem Tech," Zane suddenly announced. "What?!" Both Ines and Hugo were stunned. Hugo frowned. "Stratagem Tech is the Blackwood Group's tech company. Its main business is similar to SummitCore's. They're competitors." "Hah," Zane scoffed, exhaling a smoke ring, a mocking twist to his lips. He told them about recent events. Ines was utterly shocked.Who would have thought? Darcy was ruthless. Breaking up, quitting, all in one go, then joining a competitor and snatching a project from SummitCore. It was definitely deliberate. If it were any other woman, he'd be impressed. But with Darcy, it just felt... off-putting. He felt indignant for his friend. "Is that woman insane? You never mistreated her when you were together. How dare she turn around and steal your business?" Then he stroked his chin, narrowing his eyes. "You said you saw her hugging Jethro. What if those two were already sneaking around? Hooking up behind your back?" Hugo shot him a look. "Probably not. Jethro is famously distant from women. He probably just appreciates Darcy's capabilities." "Capabilities? What capabilities?" Ines scoffed. Hugo said, "Objectively speaking, Darcy is exceptionally capable."Ines fell silent. If Hugo, known for his sharp judgment, said someone was capable, they truly were. Among the three of them, Zane was the most driven, Hugo the smartest. But why did Hugo's attitude seem a bit... off? Just then, a waiter knocked and brought in two bottles of wine. Ines filled a glass and handed it to Zane. "A woman like Darcy... good riddance. To you, she's useless. You've got Zora now anyway. Looks, background, ability—Zora's way above Darcy." Zane was silent. He took the glass and gulped down several large mouthfuls. Then he took a deep breath and let out a cold snort. "Darcy's making such a fuss just to get my attention, to win me back. Just wait. She won't last. She'll come crawling soon." Ines blinked, then slapped his thigh. "Exactly! She's a simp who loves pulling low-level stunts like this. If she crawls back, don't you dare indulge her. Teach her a hard lesson." He stopped, then asked, "What about you and Zora..." Zane said, "Zora's mother invited me over for dinner this weekend. I accepted." The implication was clear. His relationship with Zora was settled. He'd agreed. But he still hadn't let go of Darcy. Ines knew the two had been together for years but never crossed that final line. So Zane's hang-up wasn't love. It was pride. If Darcy did come back, Zane would make her pay—and then dump her. Once that clicked, Ines chuckled, clinked glasses with Zane, and said, "To you and Zora! A long and happy union!" Meanwhile, Hugo was busy replying to a message. Five minutes ago, Darcy had texted him, "Tomorrow, 7 PM. Meet at this restaurant."Attached was a link to an upscale steakhouse. Hugo clicked it. The average price was quite high. He thought for a moment and replied, "There's a newly opened place with great local cuisine. Let's go there instead. I'll send you the address." This local restaurant was owned by a distant cousin. He'd mentioned it before, saying friends got a 40% discount. After seeing Darcy and her mother at the hospital, Hugo had inquired more with his uncle. He learned Darcy's mother's condition required long-term medication and regular check-ups. Also, flare-ups might require multiple surgeries. In that case, Darcy was probably under financial strain.