Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 16

**Chapter 16: It Was a Small World**

Alistair placed his fork down with a definitive clatter. This time, he was truly leaving, no second thoughts lingering in his mind.

“Prof. Reed…” Bram’s voice cut through the air, pulling Alistair back from his thoughts.

Alistair adopted a stern expression, one he had perfected over the years. “What is it this time? What more do you expect me to try?”

Bram stood there, momentarily speechless, his mind racing as he searched for the right words. He let out a deep sigh, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

Forget it. It’s already late. Darcy is definitely not coming.

A sheepish smile crept onto his face. “Nothing like that. I just wanted to walk you downstairs myself.”

They made their way to the elevator, the silence between them thick with unspoken words. As the doors slid open to the main lobby, Bram’s eyes suddenly widened, and his heart raced.

Darcy? She’s actually here?

Tentatively, he called out her name, uncertainty lacing his voice.

To his relief, Darcy stepped out from behind a large structural column, her presence both a surprise and a comfort.

She approached them, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, her voice quivering slightly as she spoke. “Prof. Reed…”

Alistair hadn’t expected to see her, and the sight of her stirred memories of Bram’s earlier mention of a surprise.

He maintained his cool demeanor, offering a nonchalant, “Hmm.”

But the aloofness only served to heighten Darcy’s anxiety, making her feel even more flustered and vulnerable.

Fortunately, Bram sensed the tension and quickly intervened, his voice brightening the atmosphere. “So, uh, I heard you’ll be taking on part-time graduate students next year, Prof. Reed. Darcy is considering continuing her studies and wanted to meet with you beforehand.”

His words hung in the air, causing both Darcy and Alistair to pause, their thoughts racing in different directions.

Darcy hadn’t been aware of Alistair’s plans to accept part-time students, but now that she was, a spark of hope ignited in her chest.

Alistair, however, remained distant, a wall of coolness surrounding him. He was still nursing a grudge from five years ago, a wound that had yet to heal.

He scrutinized Darcy for a moment before snorting dismissively. “Your children must be quite big by now. Do you still have the time and energy for graduate school?”

Darcy’s cheeks flushed crimson. “Prof. Reed, I don’t have any children, and I’m not married. I’m single now.”

Alistair’s expression hardened further, his voice dripping with skepticism. “What does that mean? Got dumped?”

“Well… you could say that,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, a hint of vulnerability creeping in.

Alistair shook his head in exasperation. “What terrible judgment!”

She had made poor choices in the past, misjudging the people she let into her life.

Darcy bit her lip, feeling the weight of his words. It was true; she had once prioritized love above all else. Yet, she didn’t regret those feelings. She had loved deeply and, when the time came to let go, she had done so decisively. It was all part of her journey, a chapter in her life that shaped who she was.

“Ah, forget it. I have to go. Contact me on WhatsApp another day.”

After five long years, she was finally considering his program again, and he couldn’t let it get derailed a second time.

“Uncle, you’re overthinking it. I just thought…” Jethro chuckled, steering the car smoothly as they merged onto the main road.

He just thought… it was indeed a small world.

Seren, however, didn’t see a problem with the situation. As long as Jethro could move on from the past, perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing to try.

After mingling with everyone in the private room for a while, Darcy received a phone call from Kaia.

It turned out Kaia had finally found time to visit Ione at the hospital that day.

However, when she arrived, the caregiver happened to be out, and Darcy wasn’t there either. Kaia’s frustration boiled over.

Ignoring Ione’s attempts to calm her, she insisted on calling Darcy.

She berated her over the phone, her voice sharp and accusatory. “What classmate’s birthday party is more important than Mom’s health? You took leave specifically to care for her! Why are you running around?”

Kaia failed to recognize that Ione had been in the hospital for a week, and this was her first visit.

With the phone pressed to her ear and her mother nearby, Darcy didn’t want to escalate the situation. She replied with calm resolve, “I’m on my way back now.”

Kaia noticed Darcy’s lack of resistance, and her indignation only intensified.

After hanging up, right in front of Ione, she continued her tirade, “She’s really gone too far! It’s the weekend, and instead of being here for family, she’s off to some classmate’s birthday party. And that caregiver she hired is so unreliable!”