Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 54

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

**Chapter 54: Pure Love Is Like a Ghost**

Before long, it was Ione’s turn to step into the consultation room.

Darcy, ever the dutiful daughter, gently assisted her mother through the door, her heart racing with a mix of anxiety and hope. Inside, the chief physician sat with an intern, both of them attentive and ready to discuss the results.

With a sense of urgency, Darcy handed over the meticulously completed test reports, her hands slightly trembling.

The chief physician cast a quick glance at Ione, then shifted his attention to Darcy, his expression inscrutable yet revealing a flicker of curiosity.

Darcy’s heart plummeted. “Doctor, what’s wrong? Is it…?”

The unspoken fear loomed large in her mind: Not a good result?

To her surprise, the chief physician chuckled, his demeanor shifting to one of reassurance. “No, no. Post-operative healing is progressing well. There’s still some inflammation, so I’ll prescribe additional anti-inflammatory medication. Lifestyle adjustments are also necessary. Here, add me on WhatsApp. You can message me anytime if your mother feels unwell.”

Darcy was momentarily taken aback, her mind racing. She had fully anticipated adding the intern, but here was the chief physician himself extending a personal invitation to connect.

A wave of gratitude washed over her, mingled with disbelief. Appointments with this esteemed doctor were notoriously difficult to secure, and she hadn’t expected him to be so approachable, so human.

After exiting the consultation room to retrieve the medication from downstairs, Darcy suddenly realized she had left the medical record booklet behind.

Ione, ever the practical one, said, “You go back upstairs to get the booklet. I’ll wait in line for the medicine.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Darcy dashed back upstairs, her mind still swirling with the unexpected turn of events.

Just outside the door, she caught snippets of the chief physician’s voice on the phone, his tone casual yet purposeful.

“Yeah, Hugo. I took care of that patient you mentioned. Added her personally. You put in a good word for me with your grandparents, okay?”

Understanding dawned on her. So, it was because of Hugo that they had received such favorable treatment.

This connection genuinely benefited her mother’s health, and Darcy wasn’t foolish enough to dismiss it outright.

After a brief moment of contemplation, she decided to send Hugo a message: “Thank you.”

No embellishments, just those two simple words. She knew Hugo would understand the weight of her gratitude.

True to form, he replied swiftly, “No problem. Happy to help.”

Yet, despite the warm exchange, a sense of unease settled within Darcy. Accepting a favor without reciprocation felt foreign to her.

As a gesture of appreciation, she texted, “If you ever need my help with anything, feel free to contact me.”

Hugo’s response was succinct: “Okay.”

Turning off her phone screen, Darcy sighed inwardly, feeling the weight of obligation settle on her shoulders.

“No, not that either.” Darcy pondered for a moment. Technically, Zane hadn’t cheated. After all, nothing physical had transpired with Zora.

He simply didn’t love her.

Lowering her gaze, Darcy confessed, “I realized Zane doesn’t love me. He saw me as a capable partner who could help his career. But I wanted more than that. I wanted love, pure love, without all the business interests mixed in.”

Ione fell silent, absorbing her daughter’s pain.

After a lengthy pause, she turned her gaze back to Darcy. “Darcy, you’re 27. You’re not a child anymore. You should know that pure love in this world is like a ghost—everyone’s heard of it, but who’s actually seen it?”

“Your father and I were deeply in love, truly devoted to each other. But when you were born, he couldn’t handle the financial strain. What good did that do us?”

She continued, her voice tinged with regret. “He’d rather be a rich woman’s live-in husband than stay with us.”

“Zane might be a bit aloof, but he’s a good man. He’s never treated you poorly all these years. And with the Vance family behind him, your future would be secure!”

Darcy remained silent for a moment, wrestling with her emotions.

“Mom, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with a man who doesn’t love me. I can earn my own money. I can give myself a comfortable life.”

Ione recognized the stubborn resolve in her daughter’s eyes. Once Darcy made up her mind, it was as if a wall had been erected—no one could breach it.

With a heavy sigh, Ione contemplated her next move. Perhaps she needed to approach this differently. Maybe a conversation with Zane was in order.