If not for the accident, Darcy would never have entered this cave. Yet Jethro found it precisely. It truly made her curious. Jethro smiled and extended his hand. "What's—" Darcy was surprised, reaching up to touch the back of her head. Sure enough, the hair tie she'd had was gone. Realizing how messy she must look, shame crept up her neck. In front of him, she was always put-together and calm. And today... The joy of being found was instantly diluted by a wave of embarrassment. "Once the rain lets up, we can go..." Darcy's sentence was cut off by a sneeze, her voice turning stuffy. "Sorry... Achoo!" Jethro reached out, pulling her firmly against his chest. "Hold on to me. Warm up." Darcy was stunned. But remembering what he'd said last night about having someone in his heart, she immediately pushed him away. No. She couldn't flirt with a man who'd just admitted he loved someone else. She hated homewreckers. She would never be one—knowingly. Jethro, however, didn't think of that. Frowning, thinking of her recent coldness and distance, he was uncharacteristically forceful, ignoring her struggles and wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. His voice was low and cold. "Still claim you're not avoiding me?" After a few seconds, he bent slightly, resting his chin on her shoulder. It sounded like a sigh, tinged with grievance. "Why did you suddenly become so distant? Hmm?" Darcy felt aggrieved too. If you already have someone you love, why mess with me? Or are all men like this, never satisfied, eyeing what's not theirs?Her eyes reddened. She bit her lip. "Mr. Blackwood, saying things like this will cause misunderstandings." Jethro raised a brow. "Who would misunderstand? Misunderstand what?" "You—" Darcy was infuriated by his cheekiness. She pushed him with all her strength. Caught off guard, Jethro staggered, almost falling. Darcy looked at him coldly. "Last night, you said in front of everyone that you have someone in your heart. And now you—" She couldn't bring herself to say he was flirting with her, so she just glared at him. "Wouldn't that make the person you love misunderstand?" Jethro was momentarily stunned, then chuckled softly. "You're quite considerate of others." He didn't deny it, and jealousy stung her. She turned to walk deeper into the cave, but a warm chest pressed against her back from behind. Jethro's low, husky voice came from behind. "Why don't you ask who that person is?" Darcy's voice was now tinged with tears. She pushed at him again. "I don't care who she is! Stay away from me!" "What if I said that person is you?" Darcy froze. What? What is he saying? Jethro turned her around to face him, their noses almost touching. "I said, the person in my heart is you." "No. You're lying to me." Darcy shook her head, her voice as light and cool as the rain outside. Jethro didn't rush to explain. He just took half a step forward, drawing her back into his embrace.His arms held her gently, as if afraid too much force would break something, yet stubborn enough to give her no escape. "I'm not lying." His voice was low and steady, seeping through her back into her ears. "The first time I saw you was at a client site. You sat opposite me. With just a few words, you persuaded the client and controlled the pace. Confident and brilliant." He paused, as if reminiscing, or confirming. "Later, when you said you were willing to join the Blackwood Group, I stayed up all night, just staring at that acceptance email in my inbox, opening and closing it repeatedly. After that, every report, every meeting, every time we were alone—I couldn't help but want to be closer to you." Here, he took a soft breath, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Darcy, I'm so glad—glad you left him, and even gladder you appeared before me. Liking you? I've never been more sure of anything."His uniquely magnetic voice resonated in her ears, stirring a tempest within Darcy. He noticed me from way back then? How did I never know? He says he likes me, really, really likes me... Her fingertips trembled. Slowly, her hands moved to rest on his lean waist. The moment they touched, she immediately let go. No, wait. If that's true, why would his mom approach me? Perhaps she did so behind his back. But even so, his mom represented the Blackwood family's attitude—the Blackwoods didn't accept her. Her last relationship had already taught her a lesson—mismatched backgrounds never end well. Darcy's heart gradually grew cold.She pulled away from Jethro's embrace, her tone calm. "Mr. Blackwood, I'm sorry. We can only be superior and subordinate. Please take back what you said today. I'll pretend I never heard it." Her coldness was like a bucket of ice water, dousing the fire in Jethro's heart. But his confession wasn't a whim.