Sallie's POV
Jill's satisfaction was obvious as she watched my reaction, clearly enjoying herself. She leaned in closer, ready to twist the knife deeper. "You want to know something interesting? When the hotel manager was checking the invitation, Todd couldn't stop staring at me. That's exactly why I went over to him after Salome dragged you away."
Her pause was calculated, letting the implication hang in the air. "Want to guess what we discussed?"
I could see right through Jill's game - she was trying to plant seeds of doubt, and I refused to give her the satisfaction. I'd made Todd a promise to trust him completely. But despite my resolve, that familiar voice crept into my head, whispering poison: "Stop being naive. People change, Sallie. Todd will too."
"Just like the Noahs and everyone else from your past twenty years - he'll abandon you without looking back."
The voice felt like a curse, eating away at my confidence no matter how hard I fought it.
