"That's what we need to find out," Daniel replied.
There was no visible anger in him, no impulsive reaction. Just calculation.
Anna looked at him carefully. "You don't seem surprised."
"I'm not," he admitted.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You expected this?"
Daniel stood and walked toward the window, drawing the curtains slightly aside.
"Collin doesn't move without reason," he said. "If he's out and keeping quiet, it means he's planning something. Meeting Roseline was inevitable."
Anna's chest tightened.
"Do you think he threatened her?" she asked.
"Most likely."
She swallowed.
"And Mom agreed to meet him?"
Daniel turned back to face her.
"Whether she agreed or was forced is something we don't know yet."
Anna fell silent.
For a moment, the earlier softness between them felt distant.
"Daniel…" she hesitated. "If he's reaching out to Mom, does that mean he's trying to use her again?"
"That's exactly what it means."
His voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it.
