Dahlia Thorne appeared momentarily taken aback, as if she had not anticipated such a sharp retort from Julian Sterling. For a fleeting second, the carefully constructed mask of composure slipped, revealing a flash of genuine astonishment beneath the veneer. She stared blankly, her mind racing to process the audacity of the remark, before she regained her footing. A sharp, crystalline laugh bubbled up from her throat, breaking the momentary tension.
"It is no wonder that Mr. Caldwell sees no need to keep secrets from you." she remarked, her voice dripping with a newfound appreciation that bordered on mockery: "It takes a clever mind to recognize another. You are an intelligent man, Mr. Sterling, and evidently, the partner standing beside you is equally astute. It truly begs the question, why on earth would the Sterling family push away a son with such capable instincts, only to clutch onto a useless, foolish heir?"
