Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 36

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks 36**

**Chapter 36: Simp**

Darcy meticulously gathered her belongings, her mind already drifting to the comforts of home. As she glanced up from her task, her gaze fell upon Jethro, who sat with an air of casual elegance, his long legs crossed effortlessly as he immersed himself in the pages of a book. The sight of him, so absorbed in his reading, brought a faint smile to her lips.

Out of sheer politeness, she felt compelled to ask, “Want to walk out together?”

Jethro looked up, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief as he replied, “Sure. But it’s still early. How about a stroll around the field instead?”

“Sounds good,” Darcy responded, her heart lifting slightly at the prospect of spending more time with him.

Once they stepped onto the field, the remnants of a basketball game echoed around them, a throng of enthusiastic spectators spilling out, their chatter and laughter filling the air. Darcy felt a surge of excitement mixed with nostalgia as she took in the lively scene.

Suddenly, she found herself jostled as a group of students rushed past her, her body tipping backward in an unexpected lurch.

“Careful,” a deep voice cautioned. In that instant, a large, warm hand gripped her slender waist, steadying her just in time.

Darcy looked up, her breath hitching as she met the clean-cut jawline of the stranger. A faint, uniquely masculine scent wafted towards her—something earthy and rich that sent her heart racing in an odd, stuttering rhythm.

“Thanks, I’m fine,” she managed to say, straightening her posture with an effort. Yet, her heart continued to pound erratically, a wild drumbeat in her chest. She instinctively took a step back, lowering her head and quickening her pace, desperate to put some distance between them.

Jethro’s gaze dropped to his right hand, where the warmth of her waist lingered like an electric pulse, a tingling sensation that refused to dissipate. He shook his hand slightly, as if trying to rid himself of the lingering warmth, and then strode forward, his thoughts swirling.

Ines, observing from a distance, squinted, convinced she was imagining things. But the longer she stared, the more certain she became—the woman’s back was unmistakably Darcy’s.

But who was the man beside her?

This wasn’t Zane, her buddy.

And that man had just held Darcy in a way that felt far too intimate for comfort!

Yet, as doubt crept in, Ines reminded herself of Darcy’s unwavering loyalty. How could someone as devoted as her ever betray Zane? She couldn’t resist the urge to capture the moment, snapping a quick photo and sending it to their group chat, a mixture of curiosity and concern bubbling within her.

Ines typed, “Zane, take a look. Is this your simp or not?”

Hugo, ever the firebrand, responded quicker than Zane could, “If you can’t speak like a decent human being, maybe you should just shut your damn mouth! ‘Simp’ this, ‘simp’ that—what the hell are you then? Let me guess why you’re at Quest University. Chasing after some pretty freshman, playing the simp yourself!”

The photo showcased a group of students clad in oversized t-shirts emblazoned with “Quest U Basketball Finals.”

So, there was no need to ponder why Ines was on campus. His taste had remained unchanged over the years—still drawn to college girls.

Ines, momentarily speechless, retaliated by sending a meme of a cartoon dog wielding a knife threateningly, her frustration palpable.

Hugo, unfazed, fired back with his own meme, and before long, the group chat devolved into a chaotic meme war, laughter and banter replacing any tension.

Hours passed before Zane finally noticed the flood of notifications. It was Saturday, and he had been working from home, his focus consumed by emails and tasks.

When he scrolled through the messages, he was struck by the sheer volume—over a hundred notifications.

Curiosity piqued, he skimmed through until he found Ines’s initial photo. Zooming in with two fingers, his heart dropped. The familiar silhouette made his finger pause on the screen. Overlapping that figure was a man—a man who stood too close to Darcy, his arms around her in a way that felt wrong.

Darcy… hugging a stranger?

Zane shot to his feet, disbelief coursing through him. No. This couldn’t be happening!

His eyes darted to the students in basketball gear, and he exhaled a long, slow breath of relief.

Right—wrong person.

While Hugo had thought Ines’s use of “simp” was a bit harsh, everyone had seen how devoted Darcy was to Zane. Maybe not exactly a simp, but close enough.

“I told her we needed to postpone the engagement for now,” Zane explained, his words laced with regret. “She hasn’t contacted me since. Doesn’t reply to my messages.”

“…” Hugo responded, his silence heavy.

“…” Ines echoed, equally speechless.

A cold sweat broke out on Ines’s brow. He typed, “Okay, I admit I was too harsh on Darcy before. But what you did, man… how do I even put this? Telling a girl you’re postponing the engagement is pretty much the same as breaking up in her eyes!”

Zane’s frown deepened as he absorbed the weight of Ines’s words.

“It’s that serious?” he typed back, anxiety creeping in.

Ines was at a loss. “In my experience, unless you have a damn good reason, it’s basically impossible to fix.”

He added a moment later, “But considering Darcy’s… tendencies, I’d say you still have a shot. Club tonight.”

“Alright,” Zane agreed, determination igniting within him.

Meanwhile, Hugo stared at his phone, the implications of Zane’s revelation sinking in slowly.

Zane had postponed his engagement to Darcy.

Because of Zora?

Recently, whispers had circulated through their social circle about the Moss and Blackwood family alliance crumbling.

Honestly, when comparing the two women… while Zora might shine on paper, it was clear to everyone that Darcy was the one who truly complemented Zane.