"I’m sorry I had to call you like this in the middle of your work. But it’s been a while since we last t," Roseline said, her voice polite and composed as she sat across from Daniel on the couch.
With both Hugo and Kathrine out, she had decided to invite Daniel to the Bennett mansion. The suddenness of it had caught him off guard. Even if he had wanted to avoid the eting, refusing her would have raised more questions than it answered.
"That’s never a problem, Mrs. Bennett. In fact, I should apologize for not visiting you sooner," Daniel replied evenly. His tone was courteous, though it lacked warmth, sothing Roseline either failed or chose not to notice.
Daniel remained careful, keeping himself deliberately in the background. After Hugo’s subtle accusations, he could not afford even the slightest suspicion. Hugo might still be within his grasp, but he was not a man Daniel could dismiss lightly, especially now that Kathrine had planted a seed of doubt he could not ignore.
"Oh, that’s not a big deal," Roseline said with a gentle smile. "Anna ntioned you’ve been busy, but kind enough to keep us updated."
Her smile held, masking the nervousness she felt sitting across from him.
Daniel recalled Anna ntioning her visit to her mother, a suggestion that had co from Kathrine. What he had not expected was how carefully Anna had kept matters concerning him at arm’s length, as though she were deliberately drawing a line.
A faint, proud smile touched Daniel’s lips as he straightened slightly.
"So, what is it you wish to talk about, Mother-in-law?" he asked, getting straight to the point.
Roseline pursed her lips, her fingers tightening as she clasped her hands in her lap. She wanted to sound calm, composed, but she knew this conversation required courage. If she faltered now, the words might turn against her.
"I know you’ve been trying to protect Anna," Roseline said carefully. "But going to the extent of destroying soone can create the wrong image for you."
Daniel’s brow arched at her words, his expression sharpening. The warmth drained from his face, replaced by sothing far more calculating.
"Destroy soone?" he repeated slowly, his voice controlled. "That’s a strong accusation."
He leaned back, folding his arms, his gaze steady on her. "If you’re referring to recent events with the Stewards, then I assure you, Mrs. Bennett, I rely acted within my limits. I don’t move without reason."
There was a pause before he added, his tone firm but not hostile, "Protecting my wife is not an image problem. It’s a responsibility. And if soone gets hurt in the process, it’s because they chose to cross a line they shouldn’t have."
Roseline shifted uneasily on the couch, her fingers fidgeting as she twisted the edge of her shawl. Despite her discomfort, she forced herself to et Daniel’s gaze, unwilling to retreat now that she had already stepped into dangerous territory.
"I’m not questioning your intentions," she said quickly, as though afraid he might cut her off. "I only an that the Stewards... they have already suffered enough. Dragging this any further will only bring more attention, more unnecessary talk."
Daniel studied her in silence. The way her eyes darted away for a fraction of a second did not escape him.
"You want to spare them," he said calmly, more a statent than a question.
Roseline inhaled deeply, then nodded. "Yes. For Anna’s sake," she said again. "You know things have already been difficult for her since the day she stepped into the public eye. Don’t you think all of this might start drawing attention to your relationship with her, urging people to dig deeper?"
That was when sothing subtly shifted within Daniel. His face remained composed, almost unreadable, but suspicion stirred beneath the surface. Roseline had always been cautious, even reserved, when it ca to power plays and retaliation. For her to push so hard now, especially on behalf of the Stewards, felt... out of place.
"For Anna’s sake," he repeated slowly, his gaze dropping to her hands as they tightened in her lap. "Interesting."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his presence suddenly heavier, more imposing. His voice lowered, calm but edged with intent.
"You see, Mrs. Bennett, I don’t make decisions based on sentint alone," he said. "So tell ."
His eyes lifted to et hers, narrowing just a fraction.
"Why are you so concerned about the Stewards?"
Roseline stiffened. The pause that followed was barely a heartbeat, but it was enough. In that mont of hesitation, Daniel’s instincts sharpened. This conversation had never been about rcy.
Her lips parted, then closed again as she searched for the right words. Her fingers twisted together, the calm she had tried so hard to maintain slipping through the cracks.
"I’m only thinking practically," she said at last, forcing a small, almost dismissive smile. "Public opinion is fickle. Today they praise you, tomorrow they question you. I just don’t want unnecessary scandals to follow Anna when she is still finding her footing."
She shifted slightly, attempting to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"You are a businessman, Daniel. You know how rumors work. Sotis it’s better to let certain matters fade quietly rather than turn them into spectacles."
Daniel listened without interrupting, his expression unreadable. The more she spoke, the clearer it beca that she was trying to redirect him, to soften the edge of his suspicion. It only made him more alert.
When she finally fell silent, he leaned back, a faint, thoughtful smile touching his lips.
"You’re right about one thing," he said evenly. "Anna doesn’t need more noise around her."
Roseline’s shoulders relaxed, just a little, mistaking his tone for agreent.
"But this decision isn’t yours to negotiate," Daniel continued calmly. "And frankly, it isn’t mine alone either."
Her breath hitched as he stood up slowly.
"If the Stewards are to be spared," he said, his gaze steady and unwavering, "then it will be up to Anna to convince herself."
Roseline looked up at him, startled. And in that mont, Daniel knew he had shifted the ground beneath her feet.
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