Juniper’s initial instinct was to deflect, but surrounded by the intimacy of the library at night, she found herself admitting to the connection she felt. “Maybe,” she conceded. “But with everything going on with this case, is it even worth exploring?”

“Life doesn’t stop for legal briefs, Juni,” Sophia reminded her gently. “And sometimes, personal connections can give us the strength we need to face professional challenges.”

As the night wore on, the library continued its transformation. Along the perimeter, the bookcases took on a new life, their volumes bathed in the flicker of countless candles. The dancing flames cast a golden shimmer across the spines, turning the library into a living tapestry of light and shadow. The warm, buttery light seemed to soften the edges of the room, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.