Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 33

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks**
**Chapter 33: The Favoritism**

Kaia’s reaction was a dismissive laugh that echoed through the room. “Oh, right. Darcy’s getting engaged to Mr. Vance. That completely slipped my mind,” she scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Jone’s brows furrowed, a fleeting shadow of displeasure flitting across her features. “What’s going on with you? How can you forget your sister’s engagement?”

Though her voice wasn’t harsh, it bore a chiding quality that pricked at Kaia’s nerves.

Engagement, my foot. Zane doesn’t even have feelings for Darcy.

Just wait and see. That engagement is bound to be canceled.

And Zane will toss Darcy aside sooner than anyone expects.

Frustrated and sensing the conversation was going nowhere, Kaia concocted a flimsy excuse and excused herself from the gathering.

Later that afternoon, the housekeeper hired by Darcy made her entrance. Watching her mother engage in cheerful conversation with the woman brought a wave of comfort to Darcy’s mind.

With a determined resolve, she collected her study materials and made her way downstairs, heading to a nearby coffee shop that had become her second home.

Darcy was diligently preparing for a part-time Master’s degree under Alistair—a program tailored for working professionals that promised both graduation and degree certificates. It had emerged as a popular choice for those seeking career advancement in recent years, a beacon of hope for many.

However, “part-time” didn’t imply that the journey was easy.

Candidates faced the same rigorous written tests and interviews as their full-time counterparts, making the competition fierce.

It had been five long years since she had graduated from college. During that time, her professional skills had only sharpened, honed by the challenges of the workplace.

Yet, foundational skills such as quantitative reasoning and academic writing were a different beast altogether. The math section was particularly daunting—so many theorems and formulas had faded from her memory like distant echoes.

Reacquainting herself with those concepts felt akin to scaling a daunting mountain, each step heavy with the weight of her anxiety.

Fortunately, the world of online learning offered a treasure trove of resources. Following the video lectures, Darcy gradually began to rediscover her academic rhythm, like a musician finding their lost melody.

As dusk settled in and the last dregs of her oversized coffee cup were drained, she felt a sense of accomplishment wash over her.

Darcy stretched her arms above her head and gazed out the window, taking in the soft hues of the evening sky.

It had been an eternity since she had experienced this level of solid, grounded peace.

In the past, she had loved Zane, but his emotional distance had cast a shadow over their relationship. She had lived in a constant state of anxiety, gripped by the fear of losing him.

But now, clarity washed over her. Bad love is like a thorn; if you don’t yank it out in time, every step becomes a painful reminder of its presence.

And once you finally remove that thorn, the roads ahead feel wide open, unburdened by the past.

Determined to immerse herself deeper in her studies, Darcy resolved to spend her weekends at the Quest University library, where the atmosphere buzzed with academic energy.

After a light dinner, she engaged in a workout at home, pushing her body to release the pent-up tension of the day.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a WhatsApp voice call from Zane, illuminating the screen with his name.

Her brow furrowed, an instinctive urge to reject the call bubbling up within her. But then, she caught sight of her mother’s eager, watchful gaze, and reluctantly swiped right to answer.

“Hello?” she said, her voice steady, though her heart raced.

At the sound of her voice, Zane felt an unexpected surge of emotion—a flutter that he recognized all too well. It was reminiscent of the feelings he had experienced during his youth when he faced Zora.

She even returned the engagement gifts. She must be livid.

Zane had never been particularly adept at navigating the complexities of relationships. Throughout their years together, no matter who was at fault during their arguments, Darcy had always been the one to extend the olive branch and make amends first.

Now, he found himself wanting to lift her spirits, but he was utterly clueless about how to do so.

For the first time, Zane felt a flicker of admiration for his friend Ines. That guy had a knack for cheering women up.

He pressed his lips together in contemplation before speaking again. “Darcy, I received the gifts you returned. There was really no need to send them back. It’s just a temporary—”

“Zane, sorry! I didn’t realize you were on a call. I’ll come back later,” Darcy interrupted, her voice tinged with frustration.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through from Zane’s end.

It was Zora.

Darcy couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh to herself. Zane allowed Zora to waltz into his office without knocking. He permitted her to call him “Zane” at work, while she was still relegated to the role of “Darcy.”

The favoritism was glaring, impossible to ignore.

Zane quickly covered the phone’s microphone. “It’s fine, we’re done. We can discuss it now,” he said, trying to maintain control of the situation.

He was about to conjure an excuse to end the call when he realized that Darcy had hung up on him first.

She’s really upset. I need to carve out some time to ask Ines how to properly cheer a woman up.

Noticing Zane’s somber expression, Zora teased, “What’s wrong? On the phone with your girlfriend?”