Danielle took a deep breath, the storm of emotions in her chest gradually subsiding. She looked up at Alexander. “Frankly, this isn’t the right time for you to be telling me all this.”
After everything they had been through—the misunderstandings, the danger, the recent honesty—her perspective had shifted. Their safety and the Gaylord family’s conspiracy were the only things that mattered now.
Alexander lowered his gaze, his long lashes casting a shadow on his cheeks. “I have no other choice.”
“I have to ensure you and Niki are completely safe. Homeschooling is the most secure option right now, though I know it’s hard on her.”
Danielle rubbed her aching brow, the dull throb a testament to days of relentless tension. She wasn't an unreasonable woman; she knew how to prioritize. She looked at Alexander and said, each word deliberate, “I’m willing to cooperate with you. On the matter of Niki’s homeschooling and our protection, I’ll do as you advise.”
“But I want to be perfectly clear: this is strictly cooperation. There will be nothing else between us. The past is in the past, and I have no intention of making the same mistakes again.”
Her words drew an invisible line in the sand, clear and firm. Danielle knew she had to defend that boundary, not just for herself, but for Niki. She couldn’t let her daughter be caught in the crossfire of adult emotions and grievances any longer.
Alexander’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening for a moment before he slowly nodded. His voice was so calm it was impossible to read his emotions. “Fine, I understand.”
“As long as you and Niki are protected, nothing else is important.” He paused, then added, “So Niki will stay home for the time being. I’ll hire the best private tutors and arrange for reliable people to handle her meals, daily routine, and security. Her education won’t be compromised, and her safety will be guaranteed.”
“No,” Danielle immediately countered. “I will be the one to choose who looks after Niki, or I’ll ask Kirsten to help.”

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