Sophia grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. “Yeah, targeted sleep,” she agreed, her tone mischievous.

Juniper sat back, her gaze fixed on some distant point as she declared, “Yeah, I’m no angel.”

Sophia’s smile widened, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “When he walks by, I’ll trip him, and you can stomp on him,” she suggested, her voice barely above a whisper.

Juniper glanced back at her, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Daniel chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly as he added, “Yeah, that makes sense. She’s got the lead foot.”

Both Daniel and Sophia turned to look at Juniper, their expressions a mix of amusement and mock accusation as they fought back laughter. Juniper met their gazes with a blank stare, her face an unreadable mask even as the corners of her mouth twitched with the effort of maintaining her composure.

A booming voice cut through the courtroom.

“All rise…”

The trio straightened in their seats. The war of attrition had begun… they settled into the posture of people who understood that some battles leave no middle ground.

Judge Donahue entered the courtroom, his presence commanding attention from the gallery. His attire was notably sharper than usual, perhaps a nod to the international scrutiny focused on the momentous case. With a somber expression, he took his seat at the bench, surveying the packed room before him.