Kirsten didn’t linger a moment longer than necessary.
As soon as she snapped the photo, she was gone.
When she returned to the conference hall, Danielle was still busy, darting between conversations and managing the endless details.
Kirsten sidled up to her, voice low and teasing. “I think I know who the woman behind Alexander is. Want to hear?”
Danielle paused, her hands stilling mid-task. She looked up at Kirsten, arching a brow. “And how did you find out?”
Kirsten grinned. “I tailed them, obviously. Know your enemy, right? That’s how you win every battle.”
She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her gallery before thrusting the screen in Danielle’s direction. “This woman—do you know her?”
Danielle stared at the photo. The woman’s face was completely unfamiliar.
“Alexander was practically hanging on her every word,” Kirsten whispered. “It’s nothing like how he acts with Millie. With this woman, he looked completely henpecked. I’ve never seen him like that.”
Alexander was always so reserved—cool, almost aloof. With Millie, he’d bend over backwards to help her, but always in that detached, matter-of-fact way.
But with this new woman? He was different. Really different.
As the two talked, the doors swung open and Alexander strode in.
Nathan entered right behind him.
The resemblance between the brothers was striking enough that more than one head turned in confusion. People had expected icy rivalry, not for the pair to show up together, side by side, looking every bit the united front.
They didn’t look anything like the rumors made them out to be.
Kirsten raised an eyebrow, barely suppressing surprise. “Wow. They really do look alike.”
It was as if something suddenly clicked in her mind. She turned sharply to Danielle. “Dani, do you actually like Alexander—the emotionally unavailable robot—or are you just using him as a stand-in for Nathan? He used to spoil you rotten, you know.”
His expression was conflicted—a mess of regret and stubbornness. Liam had always been single-minded, clinging to his beliefs no matter how misguided. He’d convinced himself Danielle was nothing but trouble—a calculating, manipulative woman who’d do anything to get ahead. Once that idea was in his head, nothing could shake it.
But now, everything that had happened recently was proving him wrong, and each new revelation was another blow to his pride.
Looking thoroughly uncomfortable, Liam finally made his way over and muttered a greeting to Danielle. He didn’t elaborate.
Kirsten shot him a look, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, if it isn’t Millie’s loyal lapdog. She’s about to go down for good, and you still have the nerve to show up at these meetings?”
Things had changed. The tables had turned.
Liam and Kirsten had always bickered, but this time, faced with her biting remark, he opened his mouth to retort—then thought better of it. He knew, deep down, he had no leg to stand on.
He took a deep breath, glancing at Danielle as if bracing himself. “I misjudged you. I let my assumptions get the better of me. I’m sorry.”
Danielle looked up, genuinely surprised he was apologizing at all.
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