Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 34

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks 34**
**Chapter 34 An Unexpected Encounter**

Buzz…

Zane’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. His hand, which had been casually resting on the arm of his chair, suddenly clenched into a tight fist.

Did Zora find out about Darcy and me?

No way. I had carefully dropped hints to Kaia, urging her to keep her lips sealed, and I had privately warned both Hugo and Ines. There was no reason for her to know.

Unless someone slipped up.

“Look at your face! I was just kidding,” Zora teased, a playful laugh escaping her lips as she blinked innocently at him. “Your mom mentioned that you don’t have a girlfriend. She’s always worried about setting you up on dates.”

Zane exhaled slowly, a wave of relief washing over him. “I’ve been too busy starting the company. Honestly, I haven’t had time for dating.”

Zora’s eyes sparkled with mischief, her smile widening. “That sounds all too familiar. I was buried in my studies before, too—no time for dating, either.”

But that was then. What followed was a tangled web of emotions neither of them dared to articulate.

On an early Saturday morning, after a hearty breakfast that filled the air with the comforting aroma of eggs and toast, Darcy slung her backpack over her shoulder and stepped out of the house.

“I won’t be back for lunch—no need to make anything for me!” she called out to the housekeeper, her voice echoing through the hall as she made her way to the door.

Ione, the housekeeper, beamed at her with a knowing smile. “Going on a date with Zane?”

Last night, Zane had called her, but their conversation had been brief and somewhat strained.

When Ione had inquired about their chat, Darcy had been vague, only mentioning that Zane couldn’t come over at the moment.

Ione had brushed it off, thinking it wasn’t a big deal. The important thing was that the two of them seemed to be good together.

Yet, the coldness on her daughter’s face during their brief exchange had left Ione feeling uneasy all evening.

Now, hearing that Darcy was going out and wouldn’t be back for lunch, the heavy weight in Ione’s chest finally lifted.

“And don’t rush back tonight, either!” Ione added, her voice playfully teasing. “If it gets too late, just stay at Zane’s place. You’re engaged now—it’s time to build that spark.”

Darcy caught the underlying suggestion in her mother’s words, a flush creeping up her cheeks.

“Mom! I’m leaving!” she exclaimed, a mix of embarrassment and amusement coloring her tone.

With a gentle click, the door shut behind her. Only in the elevator did the heat in her face begin to subside.

In all the years she had known Zane, they had never crossed that particular line.

Once, she had thought it was sweet, a sign that he truly cherished her.

But now, she understood the truth—Zane had someone else in his heart. He simply didn’t view her in that light.

After two hours of intense focus in the Quest University library, Darcy felt her eyes straining from the effort. Lifting her head to stretch, she caught sight of a man approaching her, a thick professional tome in his hands.

She froze, her heart racing.

The man also paused, a look of surprise crossing his face.

“What a coincidence?” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

His eyelids flickered, and he appeared genuinely pleased by her response.

After this brief detour, feeling refreshed, Darcy dove back into her studies with renewed vigor.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden beam of light directly over her workspace.

Yet, the person basking in that light was completely oblivious to the beauty surrounding her.

The scene was serene and picturesque, a perfect moment of tranquility.

Jethro leaned back in his chair, crossing his long legs, quietly observing her with an intensity he hadn’t anticipated.

Time slipped by, and he soon realized he was still on the same page—the very first page of his book.

He shook his head slightly, trying to refocus, and glanced down at the table of contents, only to forget what he was searching for in the first place. What information did I need to find again?

The professional book was as thick as a brick. Without using the index to locate what he needed, he would be flipping through pages endlessly.

A flicker of impatience prompted him to glance up once more. The woman across from him remained completely calm and engrossed in her studies, not even glancing in his direction, as if he were invisible.

This was a bit… unfamiliar for Jethro, who had been the center of female attention everywhere he went for as long as he could remember.

He turned his head slightly, casually scanning the surroundings, and immediately locked eyes with several young women who were watching him with interest.

Their looks were the kind he was all too accustomed to.

His gaze returned to the woman sitting opposite him, then dropped back to the pages of his book, trying to find his focus again.