Being caught in embarrassing situations by her boss yet again made Darcy blush. She lowered her head, steadying herself. "Thank you, boss." In a corner they didn't see, someone captured the moment with their phone. On the way back to the office, Darcy looked up at Jethro. "Boss, did you just return from your business trip?" Rowan had said he was traveling. She hadn't seen him at the office, yet here he was at the restaurant. He must have just returned. Jethro said, "Yeah. Got back this morning." "Working right after getting back? You're setting the bar too high!" The weather was warm. Jethro had his suit jacket draped over his arm. His white shirt was crisp and well-tailored, complemented by the expensive watch on his wrist. He looked elegant and refined.He smiled, "If we're talking about setting the bar, who can compare to you? I heard in the two weeks I was gone, you not only secured several deals but also brought in a batch of talented people. You've practically hit the annual targets single-handedly." Darcy's cheeks warmed. "It's mainly because you're so supportive." "Oh? Tell me, how exactly was I supportive?" Jethro stopped walking, raising an eyebrow. Darcy suddenly remembered the questions that had been swirling in her mind. She twisted her fingers, biting her red lip. She wanted to ask, but in the end, just smiled and said nothing. As they reached the building lobby, Darcy's phone rang. She answered absently. "Hello?" It was her neighbor from across the hall. "Darcy! Get to the hospital! Your mom collapsed right outside your door! The ambulance just took her!" Darcy's heart plummeted. Her voice trembled. "Okay! I'm on my way!" "What happened?" Jethro asked immediately, seeing her pale face. Darcy's eyes instantly welled up. "My mom collapsed. An ambulance took her. I have to go to the hospital." She turned to head for the parking garage. Jethro caught her arm. "You're too upset to drive safely. I'll take you." The car sped toward the hospital. In the ward, Darcy finally saw Ione, pale and lying in a hospital bed. Doctors and nurses were still there. When they saw the family, they explained, "We've done all the tests. We'll know more once the results come back." Darcy wiped her tears. "Doctor, she had surgery here before. You can pull up her previous records." After the medical staff left, Darcy hurriedly asked her neighbor, "What happened? Did you see or hear anything? Was she arguing with someone?"The neighbor thought for a moment. "Now that you mention it... this afternoon, I did see a man going in and out of our building. Your mom seemed to run into him. They might have argued, but it wasn't loud, so I didn't pay much attention. Next thing I knew, I went out and saw her on the floor! Scared me half to death. I called 911 right away." On the way over, Darcy had suspected this. Her mother followed her medical regimen diligently. She wouldn't just collapse without reason. Only one possibility remained—John had harassed her again, the shock and anger triggering the episode. The thought made Darcy want to tear John apart. After seeing the neighbor off, Darcy remembered the important guest still in the room. "Mr. Blackwood, thanks for bringing me. I'm really sorry I wasted your time." Her eyes were still red-rimmed, but she managed a weak smile.Seeing her like this stirred something in Jethro's heart. "I didn't have anything urgent this afternoon. Don't worry about it." Just then, Ione began to stir. Darcy rushed to the bedside. "Mom! How do you feel? Are you in pain anywhere?" Ione's lips were pale. She managed a faint smile. "I'm fine." Tears welled in Darcy's eyes as she held her mother's hand. "Was it that bastard John? Did he come bother you again?" Ione sighed, tears also escaping. Seeing that they needed privacy, Jethro quietly stepped out, closing the door behind him. In the hallway, he called Rowan. "Cancel my meetings for this afternoon. Keep an eye on things at Stratagem Tech downstairs. Have them come to you with any issues. Don't disturb Darcy. "Yeah, she has a family emergency. She'll be on leave for a few days."Hanging up, Jethro walked to the nurses' station. He was handsome and carried himself with an innate authority. His presence instantly drew the attention of the entire station. "Excuse me. Do you have any private rooms available?" A young nurse blushed and nodded. "Yes. What kind would you like?" "The best one available." "Alright. For whom?" "For Ione in room 302. How do I pay?" The nurse remembered the woman brought in by ambulance and the distraught daughter. So, yeah—taken. Makes sense. Guys like that aren't on the open market these days. Someone usually snagged them back in school. After handling that, Jethro still felt something was missing. He went downstairs.A short while later, he returned carrying a thermos.