“You’re right.”
Rachel looked between us.
“What happens now?”
Sophie pulled out her phone.
“What always happens. One sentence becomes twelve headlines, six expert panels, and a stranger with a podcast explains Savannah’s attachment style.”
Rachel’s phone buzzed.
“It has begun.”
She held up the screen.
SAVANNAH BROOKS ADMITS SHE HURT MYSTERY WOMAN
Another alert appeared.
SAVANNAH REFUSES TO CALL FLORIDA DIVE INSTRUCTOR “JUST A FRIEND”
Then:
THE BRACELET SAVANNAH BROOKS WON’T EXPLAIN
Sophie shut her eyes.
“At least the album cover is visible,” Rachel said.
“That is not promotion.”
“It is adjacent to promotion.”
Richard called.
Sophie looked at his name and held the phone toward me.
“You answer.”
“No.”
“You created this.”
“Nina contributed.”
The phone stopped.
Then Rachel’s rang.
She declined it.
“He controls your contract,” Sophie said.
“He doesn’t control what I call Ellie.”
The words came sharper than intended.
Sophie went still.
