He held her gaze for a moment before looking away, a hint of vulnerability flickering across his features. “I just think we should be cautious. One wrong move and we could jeopardize everything.”

Cautious. The word hung in the air, echoing her own internal debate. Isn’t that what you’ve always been, Juniper? Cautious to a fault?

“Sometimes,” she said softly, her voice carrying a note of understanding, “playing it safe isn’t enough. Especially not with the Synnett. More is at risk here.”

He arched an eyebrow, a glimmer of interest sparking in his eyes. “Taking unnecessary risks could backfire. We need to consider the constitutional implications carefully.”

“Calculated risks,” she corrected, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “There’s a difference. Your expertise in constitutional law is crucial, but we can’t lose sight of the human impact.”