Chapter 21

　　Melisa smiled warmly as Sally and Gavin stood facing each other. "Gavin, this is Sally, my counselor, the best counselor ever," she said, her tone upbeat. 　　Gavin managed a polite smile, extending his hand toward Sally. "Nice to meet you, Sally." 　　Sally forced a smile herself, shaking Gavin's hand briefly. "Likewise," she replied, her voice tinged with tension. 　　Gavin's eyes met Sally's, and there was an awkward silence that hung in the air. Sally quickly withdrew her hand, her discomfort evident. She glanced at Melisa, then back at Gavin, her mind racing with conflicted emotions. 　　Melisa, unaware of the tension between the two, continued, "And Sally, this is my husband, Gavin." 　　Sally shifted her gaze to Melisa, offering a more genuine smile this time. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Gavin." 　　Gavin nodded, his expression guarded. "Yes, pleasure." 　　Another uncomfortable pause settled between them, the unspoken weight of their shared secret lingering beneath the surface. S