After a thorough checkup, the doctors confirmed that Darcy had no issues other than memory loss. "Don't worry. In most cases, this kind of amnesia is temporary. Once she's back in a familiar place, it should come back quickly," the doctors told Jethro. Jethro looked over the final report in his hands, a wave of relief washing over him. He gave a nod. "Thank you, doctor. I appreciate your time." Stepping out of the private consultation room, he saw Darcy sitting quietly on a bench in the hallway, looking small and docile. His heart softened. He walked over and crouched before her, his voice gentle. "You're perfectly healthy. The doctors recommend returning to a familiar environment as soon as possible. Your memories will likely come back on their own with time." "Mhm." Darcy nodded.She had already prepared herself for this. Jethro had come to take her away. "When are we leaving?" "Tonight." "Tonight?!" Darcy shot up from the bench. "So soon?" Jethro pressed his lips together. "Your mom really worried about you—more than I am." On the way to the hospital, Darcy had learned from Jethro about her family. She'd been raised by her mom, just the two of them. During the days she went missing, her mom must have been living in pure agony. Darcy nodded again. "Okay. Tonight it is. But I left some things at..." She paused. "At Lucian's place. I want to pack them first." "Alright," Jethro said. "I'll come with you." They soon took a car to the apartment. Bad timing—just as they entered the building, Catherine came toward them.Catherine's curious gaze slid over them, but when she saw their hands clasped tight, her eyes went wide, like she'd seen a ghost. Even as Darcy and Jethro stepped into the elevator, Catherine remained rooted to the spot, staring. Jethro raised an eyebrow. "She knows you?" "Sort of." Darcy hesitated, then pressed the door-open button. "Wait a sec. Let me just say something to her." Jethro narrowed his eyes slightly, leaning against the elevator wall with one hand in his pocket, watching as Darcy trotted back to Catherine. He saw her lips move. Catherine's expression, which had been full of judgment and resentment, suddenly transformed. Her eyes lit up, even taking on a hint of shyness. Darcy hurried back, slightly breathless by the time she reached the elevator, a few beads of sweat on the tip of her nose. "What did you tell her?" Jethro asked, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to dab her forehead.Darcy thought for a moment. "A secret. I'm not telling." Jethro chuckled softly, resigned. His gut told him it had something to do with Lucian. Either way, he owed Lucian. If not for him, Jethro might never have seen Darcy again. But the thought of Darcy and Lucian living under the same roof, sharing days and nights, sent a sharp pang of bitterness through him. Since he and Darcy had made it official, they'd barely had a real date. First Annie came back and stirred the pot on purpose. Then Darcy was kidnapped by Zane. Then she jumped into the sea, disappeared, and ended up being found by Lucian. Even video games don't throw that many disasters at you. All the boyfriend perks he hadn't even gotten to enjoy yet had been enjoyed by Lucian. The more Jethro thought about it, the more it rankled. He tugged slightly at his collar, letting out a slow breath.The elevator soon arrived on the sixteenth floor. Darcy walked toward the familiar door, each step feeling heavier than the last. She had once thought of this place as home. Now she knew she was only a temporary guest. Knock. Knock. After two raps, the door opened slowly from within. Seeing Lucian again, Darcy felt a wave of awkwardness. Memories of the days she'd mistakenly believed he was her boyfriend made her avert her gaze. "I'm here to get my things," she said softly. Lucian stepped aside. "Yeah. I figured." Darcy went straight to the bedroom. She didn't have much—just a few changes of clothes and some toiletries. The bedroom was small, so Jethro stayed in the living room, watching her pack.He turned and noticed the bedding folded on the sofa—clearly Lucian's. He felt a small measure of relief. At least the guy has some decency. Lucian came out of the kitchen and set two glasses of water on the table. Seeing Jethro looking at the bedding, he cleared his throat, his gaze shifting slightly. "For the record, nothing happened between us." Jethro walked over and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask." It was a genuine offer, a debt acknowledged. Silence settled in the apartment. The two men stood, each lost in his own thoughts, their eyes fixed on the woman moving about in the bedroom. "I'm done." Darcy emerged, holding a small tote bag. She turned and found both men looking at her, which only intensified her awkwardness. Jethro was the first to move. He took the bag from her and, out of long-formed habit, reached for her hand. "Let's go." Perhaps intentionally, he positioned himself between her and Lucian as they walked out. With a final thud, the apartment door closed, leaving the space in utter, deafening silence. Lucian sank onto the sofa, his heart out in the hallway. He listened intently—the sound of two sets of footsteps fading down the corridor, the distant ding of the elevator, the soft whoosh of its doors opening, and finally, their definitive, final shush as they closed.