Darcy awoke, unsure of the time. Outside, the sky was an oppressive, inky black. "Awake?" A man's deep voice rumbled near her ear. Darcy felt a flush of embarrassment. "Why didn't you wake me? It must be late." Jethro smiled gently, "Not too late." She glanced at her phone and nearly gasped. Almost ten o'clock! Not late? She looked toward the driver's seat, full of remorse. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Kerr. I held you up." Rowan grinned, "No trouble at all. Overtime pays triple—special approval from the boss." Grabbing her umbrella, Darcy pushed the door open. Jethro moved to escort her upstairs, but she gently pressed a hand against his arm. "It's really late. Go home and get some rest. Goodnight." She wanted to give him a proper goodnight kiss, but with Rowan there, she felt too shy. The rain continued its soft, steady drizzle. The dim streetlights were fractured into shimmering shards by the downpour. Her nap in the car had left her feeling surprisingly light, the heavy weight on her shoulders eased significantly. Her steps were light as she headed toward her apartment complex. But at the entrance, her stride faltered. A familiar figure stood there in the rain. Hearing footsteps, Zane whirled around. He had been waiting for hours, disappointment gnawing at him all afternoon and evening. Finally, his patience was rewarded. "Darcy." Zane breathed the name he'd whispered in his head day and night, staggering toward her.Darcy instinctively took a step back, eyeing him warily. "What do you want now, Mr. Vance? It seems every time you show up, it's to pick a fight with me." Zane's heart clenched. Not long ago, he'd stood here accusing her of slandering Zora, demanding she apologize. The memory sent a wave of bitter regret through his entire body, drowning him, making his chest so tight he could barely breathe. His eyes were bloodshot, his gaze locking onto her. "Darcy, I'm sorry. I was wrong before. Please forgive me." For a split second, Darcy was stunned. She narrowed her eyes. What new kind of scam is this? But Zane mistook her pause for a crack. Hope flickered in his gaze. He took a step forward under his umbrella. "Darcy, you must have heard about SummitCore. It's like our child—our shared sweat and blood. You don't want to watch it fall into Zora's hands. I know you have a way. Help me, please?" She had indeed heard. The entire industry was buzzing about the "illustrious Mr. Vance" being ousted from his own company by his fiancée in a masterful coup. It was the scandal of the season—a perfectly executed betrayal. Darcy had heard it, dismissed it as gossip, and moved on without a second thought. But now, Zane was asking her to help him seize it back. God, what was his face even made of? Pure titanium? Darcy arched a cool brow, a mocking smile on her lips. "Zane, from what position are you asking this? I don't hold a single share in that company. What makes you think I have any feelings left for SummitCore?" She expected this to send him packing. Instead, he countered, "Name your price. Anything. After it's done, half the company's shares are yours. I won't argue." He took another step. The distance between them closed abruptly, barely a hand's breadth apart.Zane looked at the woman before him, a surge of longing hitting him hard. Even now, after everything, his heart still raced for her. The words tumbled out before he could stop them. "Darcy, let's start over. Come back to me. Please?" He reached out to touch her face. Darcy smacked his hand away, hard. She glared at him, chest heaving with indignation. Absurd. Utterly, ridiculously absurd! How could anyone be this shameless? Even her carefully cultivated calm was shattered by the sheer audacity of his request. Suddenly, she wanted to see how far Zane would go for his precious company. She tilted her chin up, a sharp smile playing on her lips. "Is this your idea of an apology?" Zane blinked, confused by her strange tone but overwhelmingly relieved. If she was setting conditions, it meant she might help. He pressed his lips together, his posture becoming one of utter supplication. "I know how much of a bastard I've been this past year. I failed you." Then, as if steeling himself, he tossed his umbrella aside and dropped to one knee on the wet pavement. The rain immediately plastered his hair to his scalp, soaked through his shoulders, but he didn't flinch. His red-rimmed eyes sought hers in the darkness. His voice was a raw, ragged plea. "Darcy, come back to me, please. I need you. The company needs you!" Darcy stared down at him, face blank, while the anger in her chest slowly ebbed away.