“Early as always,” Sophia said, appearing beside her with two cups of coffee. She handed one to Juniper, her knowing smile saying more than words. “Thought you might need the extra voltage today.”

“Thanks.” Juniper accepted the cup, grateful for both the caffeine and the distraction. The warmth seeped through her fingers, grounding her in the moment. “Roma’s motion to exclude expert testimony is first on the docket. We need to be-”

The words died in her throat as Daniel rounded the corner, his draping cut perfectly framing his height. Their eyes met across the corridor, and for a moment, the courthouse’s careful geometry seemed to blur at the edges. Her pulse wavered like borrowed time paying interest, each beat a confession she hadn’t agreed to make.