Daniel stepped forward, confidence faltering under her gaze. “We saw an opportunity to help. You’ve been working yourself to exhaustion, and when Delaney became available…”

“Help?” The word escaped as barely more than a whisper, her eyes squinting as she cocked her head at an angle that spoke volumes of disbelief.

Juniper turned to Sophia, deliberately avoiding Daniel’s gaze as if he weren’t even in the room.

“Did you know we could establish Delaney’s creator’s claim against Juisys? That’s what a jury wants to hear - not technical specifications, but the human element. The story.” Her voice cracked with frustrated passion.