Jethro smiled, "No need to be so polite, Ms. Hayes. I'm the one asking for a favor. Besides, the weather is lovely today. Having a meal in the sunlight isn't a bad choice." Mara toyed with the long curls by her ear. She had dressed up specially for today's meeting. "Mr. Blackwood, what did you want to consult?" she asked, somewhat puzzled. "To be honest, the legal team at the Blackwood Group is, in terms of capability, stronger than me in every aspect. As you know, my specialty isn't corporate law." Jethro stood up and poured water for her. He answered honestly, "I'm not here for business. It's personal." Then, he told Mara about the dispute between Darcy and John. After hearing it, Mara thought for a moment. "This Ms. Gale—is she your friend?" Actually, she had wanted to say "girlfriend," but didn't want to be too direct.Jethro pressed his lips together slightly. "She is... someone very important to me." Mara was stunned for a few seconds, surprised by his honesty. Immediately, a sour feeling spread in her chest. Her previously quickened heartbeat slowly calmed down. So it was just my wishful thinking. It turned out everything Jethro did wasn't for her, but for this Ms. Gale. The more considerate he was towards her, the more it showed how much he cared for that Ms. Gale. Mara was a top lawyer, an elite professional. Romance didn't rank high for her. She quickly regained her composure and analyzed calmly, "I've handled similar cases before. To be honest, in such cases, whether it's the judge or public opinion, they will definitely lean in favor of the mother and daughter. But often, even if the lawsuit is successful, there's still a chance you won't get the money. It could end up being a waste of time and effort with nothing to show for it." Mara laid out the potential downsides upfront, managing Jethro's expectations. After all, no case was guaranteed a hundred percent success. After listening, Jethro said, "Money's secondary. I want to cut him down to size. Best-case scenario, this lawsuit makes him keep his head down for good." Mara nodded. "That shouldn't be a problem. The public loves this kind of news. I can ask my media friends to follow up and report on it, amplifying the impact. From what you've said, John is, after all, a VP at a company. People like that care about their reputation. He won't ignore it." After reaching a preliminary agreement, they discussed legal fees. Jethro knew Mara's fees were high. But if he paid for everything, Darcy would definitely become suspicious. After a moment's thought, he said to Mara, "Ms. Hayes, there's something I need you to cooperate with." Mara was curious. "What is it?" Jethro said with a wry smile, "Later, I'll give you Ms. Gale's contact information. Please keep it confidential and don't say I recommended you. If she asks about the fees, just quote her 10%. I'll cover the remaining 90%. Is that alright?" Mara thought for a moment and understood his intention. She couldn't help but feel that sour sensation in her heart again. Whoever could make Jethro care this much—she couldn't wait to meet her. "Of course, no problem. It's my pleasure to be of help, Mr. Blackwood," Mara smiled, her tone professional. The smile was brief, then faded. Mara let out a heavy sigh and looked out the glass window. She watched for a long moment, then raised an eyebrow and looked at Jethro. "Mr. Blackwood, the young woman across the street seems to have been watching you for a while. Do you know her?" Jethro frowned and looked over. Suddenly, he stood up, his voice urgent. "My apologies, Ms. Hayes. There's something I need to attend to immediately. Please put today's meal on my tab." With that, he turned and strode towards the street, completely losing the calm composure he had shown in front of her moments ago. Mara picked up her glass. That must be Ms. Gale. When Jethro called out her name, Darcy finally snapped out of her trance. She told herself the sun was just too bright today. That had to be it. "M-Mr. Blackwood. What a coincidence, you're having a meal here too." Darcy felt embarrassed. She tried to force a smile, but it wouldn't come. Jethro turned to look back at the restaurant. At that moment, Mara looked over and gave a slight smile of acknowledgment.He nodded gently in return. But to Darcy's eyes, it held a different meaning. She looked down, silently watching their interaction. Pressing her lips together, she said, "Mr. Blackwood, I have to go. There's something I need to do." Without waiting for Jethro's response, she turned and walked away. Her car was parked in the nearby plaza, just a few steps away. As she silently reached for the car door, Jethro, who had caught up from behind, pressed his hand against her wrist. Darcy looked up at him, her tone carrying an anger she herself didn't notice and couldn't explain. "Let go!" Jethro's lips moved. He sensed her emotional turmoil but didn't know why. He leaned in, closing the distance between them until their faces were mere inches apart."You're angry?" he asked cautiously. He was way too close. Darcy's instincts screamed this wasn't right. She turned sideways, took two steps back, and took a deep breath. "Why would I be?"