Anna’s POV
Victoria’s voice came through shakily. “Anna, listen to me. I had nothing to do with this, I swear. I just found out myself. I don’t know why they would-
Sophie snatched the phone from my hand, her entire body trembling with rage.
“You don’t know?” she spat, voice raw from crying all night. “Is that How you treat me, Victoria? Anna and I have done everything for you, and when shit hits the fan, you abandon us. Now my photos and videos are all over the internet, and you expect me to believe you? How am I supposed to trust you after this?”
I watched Sophie’s face contort with pain as Victoria’s voice grew defensive.
“Sophie, listen to me,” Victoria pleaded. “This wasn’t my fault, I never meant for things to go this way. It’s all Summer’s fault, that bitch! This was supposed to happen to her, not you. It’s all because of her!”
Sophie’s laugh was hollow, her eyes dead. “Enough, Victoria. Why should Anna and I pay the price for your vendetta against your sister? I swear to God, Victoria, if you don’t fix this, I’m going public with everything–how you planned to drug Summer, how you set this whole thing up.”
She hurled the phone across the room and collapsed against me, her body wracked with sobs.
“Anna, what am I going to do?” she wailed, clinging to me like I was her only lifeline. “I hate her so much! Why couldn’t it have been Victoria? Why wasn’t it her?”
I held her tightly, my own tears falling as I stroked her hair. “Don’t cry, Sophie. I’m right here with you!”
My heart was torn between hatred for Victoria and drowning guilt over Sophie. I should have protected her too.
Thirty minutes later, I slipped out while Sophie finally slept and called my brother. When I checked the window again, the swarm of reporters had mysteriously vanished. A soft knock came at the door,
I opened it to find Joe standing there, his face grim but composed. I practically collapsed into his arms.
“Joe, you’re finally here!” I sobbed against his chest.
“Where’s your friend?” he asked, getting straight to business.
The bedroom door opened. Sophie stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes widening in recognition and fear when she saw toe. She immediately slammed the door shut.
I hurried over, knocking gently, “Sophie, don’t be afraid. This is my brother, Joe Watson. You’ve met him before. He’s here to help us. Joe says all those reporters outside are gone now. No one knows we’re here, I promise.”
The door cracked open. Sophie peered out, studying Joe with the terrified caution of a wounded animal. “Mr. Watson,” she whispered.
Joe nodded once. “Don’t worry, everyone outside has left. My car is waiting at the back entrance. No one will see us leave.”
“Thank you, Mr. Watson, Sophie said, relief flooding her exhausted face.
“No need to thank me,” Joe replied with unexpected gentleness. “You’re Anna’s friend.”
1/2
Chapter 184
He shrugged off his cast and fold it out to het. Put this on. We need to leave early. I’ve only cesnaged to divert the e temporanly–day could figure it out and come back?
You heard him, Sophie, I urgell. Put on my brother’s cost, tet’s go!
In Joe’s car, Sophie kept glancing nervously over her shoulder, as if expecting to see a convoy of paparazzi in pursuit.
“Sophie,” I said gently, ‘should we take you home? Your parents must be worried
Her head snapped toward me, her eyes wide with panic. “No! Please, bot Anna, can I stay with you? My parents will Storelly kill me if I go home now. They’ll kill me!”
I looked helplessly at Joe, “Joe…”
Joe kept his eyes on the road. “We can go to my place in the suburbs for now. That’s a quiet place?
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