Funny thing—they had the exact same thought. Zane hadn't held out much hope initially, but his mother's words—"Darcy must still have feelings for you"—struck a chord. He licked his parched lips. A tiny, stubborn flame of hope flickered to life deep within him. Harlan's word was law. Despite Viktor's vehement opposition and desperate pleas, the outcome remained unchanged. Olena and Zane were evicted from the Vance Manor. Fortunately, Viktor owned multiple properties. Being kicked out of the Vance Manor simply meant moving to another villa. It wasn't the end of the world. Zane also had his own apartment. So, this particular humiliation was quickly set aside. The real battle was reclaiming the company.For days, Aethelburg had been boiling hot, and finally, a storm rolled in today. The rain had started at noon and showed no sign of stopping by evening, a steady, melancholy drizzle. Darcy's mood mirrored the weather—heavy and overcast. During rush hour, she waited by the curb for a ride, thoughts racing. Since Jasper had become her direct supervisor, things hadn't been all bad. At least she could clock out on time now. She was essentially a figurehead. Jasper communicated directly with project teams and tech, bypassing her. New deals went straight to sales and pre-sales without her input. Aside from Cindy, Zephyr, and Cade—the old guard who firmly stood by her—the rest of her colleagues seemed to be growing more distant, forced to choose sides. Beep-beep-beep.Her ride arrived. Darcy shook her head, trying to dispel the tangled web of worries. Forget it. Don't overthink it. Cross that bridge when you come to it. Take it one step at a time. She turned, only to find it wasn't the ride she'd booked. The rear window of a Rolls-Royce slid down, and Jethro's handsome face filled her vision, striking straight to her heart. "Get in." Jethro offered her a slight smile, gentle yet commanding. Darcy folded her umbrella and slipped into the back seat. Rowan, ever perceptive, started the car immediately from the driver's seat to avoid prying eyes. "You're off work early today," Darcy said with a bright smile, but it faltered when she saw the displeasure etched on Jethro's face. She grew uneasy. Seeing her reaction, Jethro couldn't bring himself to scold her. He sighed, reaching out to pinch her cheek gently. "You didn't drive today?" Darcy blinked. "No. My neighbor scraped it in the parking garage. I took it to the shop for paint this morning." Her eyes were clear and guileless, completely missing the tinge of hurt in his question. "So, you'd rather call a ride than ask your boyfriend for help?" Jethro's voice held a note of resignation. He stroked her cheek, then pulled her into his arms. "I know you're used to being independent. But sometimes I really wish you'd rely on me more. Darcy, I love feeling needed by you." Finally understanding the reason for his earlier sternness, Darcy felt a flush of embarrassment. She buried her face in his chest. "You're busy enough. I didn't want to bother you with something so small." Jethro shook his head with another sigh. "But a relationship is built on a thousand little things. If you won't bother me with the small stuff, then when something big happens, you definitely won't think of me."He ruffled her hair. "Darcy, try leaning on me a little, okay?" Darcy's heart melted. All her troubles seemed to evaporate. For now, she wanted to think of nothing, just nestle quietly in this man's embrace, close her eyes, and savor this peaceful, intimate moment. At Stratagem Tech, Jethro had Rowan keeping a discreet eye on things. He knew about the recent stalemate between Darcy and his cousin, their disagreements leaving them at an impasse. He also knew most colleagues had seen the writing on the wall and were being forced to pick sides. Jasper, bearing the Blackwood name and parachuted in from the group, naturally attracted more followers. Watching Darcy's serene sleeping face, a pang of heartache shot through Jethro. He had meant to ask if she needed his intervention. In his mind, he'd already formulated a plan, even prepared an exit strategy for her.But seeing her sleep so soundly, he couldn't bear to wake her. Soon, the car pulled up at its destination. Peeking in the rearview mirror, Rowan saw his boss gazing at his girlfriend with a soft smile. Yeah, we're not going anywhere for a while. New couples, duh. Totally gets it. Rowan couldn't help but mirror the smile. But then, something caught his eye. He blinked and looked again out the window. A man with an umbrella stood near the entrance to the residential complex. The silhouette looked familiar. Rowan's eyes widened. Isn't that Mr. Vance from SummitCore Tech? He turned to inform his boss but found Jethro's narrowed eyes already fixed on the figure outside, a dangerous glint in them. Rowan swallowed. "Mr. Blackwood, should we—"A faint, dismissive smile touched Jethro's lips. "No need. He's just a clown seeking attention." No matter how desperately Zane tried to insert himself into the narrative, Jethro wouldn't give him a second thought. Because he was certain—Darcy would never look back.