“I trusted you,” she continued, her eyes locked on Daniel now, softer but no less intense.

Her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of her desk. “Both of you. And you took that trust and used it to make decisions about my case, my clients, my responsibility.”

“Our case,” Daniel corrected quietly. “Our clients. Our responsibility.”

“Then act like it!” Juniper’s control finally shattered. “Act like a partner instead of some savior!

I don’t need someone to sweep in and fix things. I need colleagues who respect my expertise, who communicate, who understand what we’re fighting for!”

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words and shattered intentions. She could see it in Daniel’s face… every bit of the pain her words inflicted, his usual composed demeanor crumbling under the weight of his mistake.