He couldn't bring himself to ask for a loan. The humiliation would be unbearable. The whispers would only grow louder. And if Susan found out, there'd be hell to pay. After endless circles of worry, John landed on an idea: a bank loan. Lucky for him, he knew a bank manager well enough, so he set up a meeting right away. The manager came in all smiles, but when he heard John wanted a personal loan of five million dollars, he nearly choked. John was a wreck. "Can you or not? Give me a straight answer!" "Mr. Parker, for a personal loan of that size, you'll need a mortgage loan. What assets can you pledge to the bank?" John's face fell. "None." The manager tried another angle. "Then you can take a corporate loan. Once the funds land, how you spend it isn't the bank's business." John sighed heavily. "Impossible." A corporate loan would require Susan's signature. She'd never agree. Seeing every avenue blocked, the manager gave an apologetic shrug. "I'm sorry, Mr. Parker. My hands are tied." He made his excuses and left. Alone, John slammed his fist on the table. "Ione, look at the 'great' daughter you raised. She's driving me to the edge!" He went to the restroom to splash cold water on his face, trying to calm down. On his way back, he passed a private booth. The door was slightly ajar, and a familiar, aggressive voice carried out. Someone was clearly on a call. "I don't care how you do it! Just get me that Moss Group project! "Don't worry about payment. You'll be well compensated. Eight million dollars. Minimum. You have my word." The conversation continued, but John froze, the number "eight million" ringing in his ears like a siren's call. He knew the man inside. Moss Group's bitter rival. Both companies were vying for the same contract. Sure, it was "competition," but the client had already been won over by Susan, making Moss Group the presumed winner. But if a competitor undercut their price with a superior proposal, the game could change entirely. A cold, calculating gleam entered John's eyes. Susan, you brought this on yourself. Don't blame me for looking out for number one. He straightened his tie and knocked on the booth door. The man inside paled when he saw him. John offered a greasy smile, rubbing his hands together. "Relax. I'm here to talk cooperation." Three days later, Darcy received another call from Mara. "John says the money is ready. He's available to sign today. Are you free?" "I'm free." She hung up, one brow arching. He actually pulled together five million dollars that fast? A flicker of suspicion followed. Where did he get it? Is it clean? Could it somehow backfire on me? She called Mara back, voicing her concern. Mara had already considered it. "Don't worry, Ms. Gale. The agreement will explicitly state that you bear no responsibility for the source or legitimacy of the funds. We'll cover all bases." Reassured, Darcy grabbed her bag and headed for the elevator to the underground parking garage.As the doors opened, she nearly walked straight into Jethro and Rowan. It had been several days since she'd last seen him. Last time was in the garage too—he was in her car, and he... Darcy lowered her gaze, not daring to look him in the eye. She greeted softly, "Mr. Blackwood." He gave a low hum of acknowledgement, saying nothing, but his eyes rested on her with a warmth that made the air between them crackle with unspoken electricity. Rowan, ever perceptive, took one look and made a swift, strategic exit. "Mr. Blackwood, I'll wait for you in the car." Clutching her car keys, Darcy blinked. "I have an appointment. I should get going." As she moved to pass him, his hand caught her arm gently, his voice a low murmur. "About what we discussed last time—have you thought about it?" "Hmm?" For a second, her mind went blank. Then it clicked. She bit her lip softly. "I've been very busy lately." The implication was clear—she hadn't made up her mind. A faint smile touched Jethro's lips, though his hand at his side tightened slightly. "No rush. Take your time." He'd said "no rush" last time, too. But seeing her today, he asked again. She knew his calm demeanor was just a façade. But after everything she'd been through, diving into a new relationship wasn't a decision she could make lightly. "How are things with John?" Jethro asked, shifting the topic with obvious concern. "Has he been bothering you again?" "No," Darcy replied. "He's been quiet since the detention incident. He agreed to settle. I'm on my way to sign the agreement now." "Good. Make sure Mara is with you.""I will." He watched her for a moment longer, then added, "Call me if anything happens. Anytime." A soft warmth spread through her chest. "I will." From the driver's seat of the waiting car, Rowan watched the exchange and couldn't suppress a small, paternal smile.