After they left, she sank into her chair, the morning sun now harsh against her complexion. Outside, the city continued its daily rhythm, oblivious to the trust shattered in this quiet office. The decorations still sparkled, their cheer now seeming like a cruel joke against the weight of consequences stretching before her.

She had two hours to salvage what was left of their case, to face the DOJ with some semblance of control. But as she stared at Delaney’s transcript, each page reminded her of more than just legal strategy… it reminded her of the people she’d begun to let in, and what it cost her.

The clock ticked mercilessly toward the DOJ meeting, but for a moment, Juniper allowed herself to feel the full weight of her disappointment - not just in their actions, but in the death of possibility. Of what might have been.

With a deep breath, she straightened her spine and turned back to her computer. There was work to be done, and she would face it as she always had - alone, but unbroken.

Always alone.

Better that way…