Chapter 51

Daniel’s POV

The restaurant table felt enormous, almost like a battlefield. Sienna sat across from me, a reassuring smile on her face, but I could feel her nervousness, a subtle tension in her posture.

Beside her, Leo, looking taller and more grown-up than I remembered from our brief encounter, scrolled on his phone with a casual indifference. Next to him, Zoe, sharp and poised, watched the room with an almost clinical detachment, pointedly avoiding my gaze. This wasn’t just a meeting. This was an evaluation.

My heart hammered a little harder than usual. I’d faced down hostile boardrooms, aggressive rivals, but these two, especially a teenage girl who clearly thought I was the devil, this felt like the real challenge. I took a slow breath, reminding myself of Sienna’s earlier words, patience, grace, genuine warmth.

“So,” I started, trying to sound friendly but not pushy, “Leo, Sienna told me you’re studying engineering. That’s a big goal. What makes yo