Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 7

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

**Chapter 7: He Even Forgot Their Engagement**

“Is that Kaia?” Ione’s voice echoed softly from within the hospital room, her tone laced with a warmth that brought a flicker of hope.

Darcy halted in her tracks, instinctively glancing back toward the room, her heart fluttering with a mix of anticipation and dread.

“Kaia, come in! I haven’t seen you in so long. I missed you so much!” Ione urged, her voice brightening the dim atmosphere of the sterile room.

Zane, momentarily caught off-guard, blinked in confusion before realization dawned upon him. He took Darcy’s hand, a silent signal of solidarity, and together they stepped into the room.

As soon as Ione’s eyes landed on Zane, her surprise morphed into delight, illuminating her pale face.

“Oh, it’s Zane! I thought it was Kaia. Darcy, pour Zane some water and wash some fruit for him,” she instructed, her voice filled with a motherly affection.

With a reluctant sigh, Darcy poured a glass of water for Zane, her heart heavy with unspoken thoughts. The request for fruit, however, went unheeded as she turned her back, unwilling to engage further in the charade.

Zane, for his part, seemed unfazed by her reluctance. He stood, engaging Ione in light conversation about her health, trying to keep the mood buoyant despite the somber surroundings.

Ione beamed at him, her eyes sparkling with genuine warmth. “Have you sorted everything out with the Vance family for the engagement? How many people will be coming from your side? Our side is simple—just a few of my relatives and Kaia. I’m mainly worried we won’t host the Vances properly if there are too many of them.”

The engagement… Zane felt a pang of guilt wash over him as he realized he had nearly forgotten about it. How could he have let such an important detail slip from his mind?

He stole a glance at Darcy, searching for any sign of her awareness. Thankfully, her expression remained neutral, a mask that concealed her inner turmoil.

Good, she didn’t notice.

In a gesture that felt more like an apology than affection, he placed a broad hand on her back, trying to convey some semblance of support.

“Yes, I’ve spoken with my family. Both my parents will be attending. I also plan to invite a few business associates. I’ll draft a guest list tomorrow at the office and pass it to Darcy,” he replied, his voice steady but his heart racing.

Darcy’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She frowned, scrutinizing Zane’s handsome features—the sharp outline of his jaw, the confident way he carried himself—traits she had once cherished. But now, they felt like a façade, masking a deeper truth she could no longer ignore.

He felt nothing for her. He was merely using her as a stepping stone.

But why, she wondered, was he still discussing the engagement now that she was resigning and would no longer be of any use to him?

Ah, perhaps he was simply trying to placate my sick mother.

At least he’s maintaining appearances.

With a resolute breath, Darcy moved away from his touch, stepping forward to tuck the blankets snugly around her mother. “Mom, the doctor said you need rest. You should sleep now,” she insisted, her voice firm yet gentle.

Ione glanced at the wall clock, her brow furrowing in disbelief. “What nonsense are you talking about? It’s far too early for sleep!” she scoffed, a hint of rebellion in her tone.

“The doctor said it’s better to sleep early than to stay up late. The surgery might be rescheduled,” Darcy replied, her tone leaving little room for argument.

Ione sighed, a sound of resignation escaping her lips. She realized her daughter was more insistent than the doctors had been.

“Alright, alright, I’m going to sleep,” she conceded, her voice softening as she settled back against her pillows.

Once outside the room, they found themselves in the bustling lobby of the hospital. Zane’s phone buzzed insistently, breaking the momentary silence.

It was his mother, Olena Vance.

He glanced at Darcy, holding the phone up for her to see. “I need to take this,” he said, his tone apologetic yet urgent.

Darcy pressed her lips together, nodding in understanding. “Okay. I have something to tell you after your call,” she replied, her heart racing with anticipation.

Olena’s voice crackled through the receiver as she inquired about Darcy’s presence. Zane glanced at her, then grunted an affirmation, feeling the weight of his mother’s expectations.

“Move somewhere private. I need to ask you something,” Olena instructed, her tone brooking no argument.

“Okay.” Zane shifted the phone away, leaning closer to Darcy. “It’s a business negotiation. I need to step over here to discuss some numbers with a client. Wait for me a moment,” he murmured, his voice low.

Once he found a quiet corner, Zane pressed the phone back to his ear. “What is it, Mom?”

Olena’s voice took on a stern edge. “I heard you brought Zora into your company. What is the meaning of this?”

Zane felt a rush of surprise at how quickly the news had reached her.

His expression darkened, tension coiling in his chest. “It means nothing. It’s a standard hire. Summit Core needs top talent in economics. Zora just finished her PhD abroad and fits our requirements perfectly,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

“Is that all?”

Zane’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. He hesitated before answering, “Yes. That’s all.”

Zane, oblivious to the storm brewing in her heart, simply replied, “Okay,” before hanging up, unaware of the gravity of the moment.

Darcy arrived at Stratagem Tech, the lights still glowing in the R&D office, casting an eerie glow in the late hour.

Jethro was there too, his expression serious as he caught sight of her.

Seeing her, he pulled out a chair, gesturing for her to sit, his demeanor suggesting that something significant was afoot.

Darcy scanned the room, her intuition prickling with unease. Something felt off; otherwise, they wouldn’t have called her here so late at night.

She had only worked with Jethro for a week, but she had quickly learned that he was a measured individual, giving her full rein over her responsibilities without interference.

His management style was rooted in trust, a rare quality she appreciated.

“What’s going on?” she asked, addressing both Jethro and the head of R&D, her tone laced with concern.

Jethro offered a slight, apologetic smile. “A small issue. Sorry to call you here so late, disturbing your rest,” he said, his voice tinged with regret.

“It’s fine. Just tell me straight,” she urged, her patience wearing thin.

The head of R&D, Jax Steel, exchanged a glance with Cade before blurting out, “We can’t build the feature described in the Easemark pre-sales proposal. Personally, I don’t endorse overpromising to clients.”

As soon as he finished, Cade jumped in, frustration evident in his voice. “Jax, we’ve been over this! It’s just for the pre-sales deck! We’re not actually committing to building it! What are you so worried about?”

“This happens every single time! I don’t know why you’re being so stubborn!” Cade’s voice rose, filled with exasperation.

Hearing this, Jax lost his temper, slamming his book down on the table with a loud thud, the sound reverberating through the room.

“Yes! Every single time! You pre-sales and sales guys oversell, making the product sound like magic! It makes the client happy now, but when it comes to actual production and we can’t deliver, the blame always falls on R&D!”

Jax’s face flushed as he spoke, his passion evident. He was an engineer, not a debater, and after a few heated exchanges, his frustration boiled over.

He unconsciously dismissed Darcy, assuming that with her sales background, she would side with Cade. Privately, he and his R&D colleagues looked down on her.

First, she was young. Second, she came from sales.

A young, attractive woman in sales? You can guess how she got ahead.