Chapter 158

**Summer's POV**

"What are you all doing here?"

The words left my mouth before I fully processed the scene before me-Victoria. Alexander, and a crowd of party guests all huddled outside a hotel room door, looking like kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar. The hallway fell silent instantly, every head whipping in my direction.

Victoria's face drained of color, her perfectly made-up features contorting in shock."Summer?" she choked out, her voice unnaturally high. "You...you're here? How are you here?"

"Where else would I be? Didn't Anna just bring me here to rest?" I turned toward Anna, whose eyes were wide with barely concealed relief.

"Yes," Anna quickly confirmed, nodding vigorously. "I definitely brought Summer here to rest earlier."

Victoria shook her head frantically, her diamond earrings catching the light as they swung. "This isn't possible," she insisted, her voice climbing higher."Summer, you were just... I mean, we heard..." She gestured helplessly at the door.

"Heard what?" I asked innocently, glancing between the door and the increasingly uncomfortable crowd. "I was feeling a bit woozy from the champagne, so I went to freshen up in the bathroom. What's going on?Why is everyone standing out here?"

Theassembled guests exchanged awkward glances. Some were already backing away, sensing that whatever drama was unfolding wasn't going

according to plan.

Victoria's fingers twisted nervously in her designer dress. "Summer, it's my birthday,remember?

We're about to cut the cake, so Alexander and I came to get you. Since you're already here, let's head back to the ballroom!"

Her smile was so brittle it looked like it might shatter her face.

"All these people came to fetch me for cake?" I asked, making a show of glancing around at the crowd. "Wow, I'm flattered! I didn't realize my presence was so crucial to your birthday celebration, sis."

Victoria's smile froze. "No, that's not-"

"What were you all doing before I showed up?" I pressed, watching Victoria squirm. "You all seem pretty interested in that room."

"Nothing!" Victoria practically shouted. "It's nothing at all!"

Just then, a particularly loud moan filtered through the door,followed by rhythmic thumping. Several guests tittered nervously while others looked away in embarrassment.

One of the bolder guests-a middle-aged man who'd clearly had too much champagne-stepped forward. "Oh, for God's sake! If no one else will do it-"He lurched toward the door and gave it a solid kick before anyone could stop him.

The flimsy hotel lock gave way instantly, the door swinging open to reveal a scene that made several guests gasp audibly.

Inside the dimly lit room, Sophie lay sprawled across the bed, her dress

hiked up and hair wildly disheveled. Beside her was Chris Diaz-our former classmate-and another man I didn't recognize. Sophie's makeup was smeared down her face, her eyes unfocused. The entire tableau was sordid and disturbing.

"Oh my God!" someone exclaimed. "Isn't that-"

Victoria lunged forward, her face contortedI in panic. "Everyone, get back!Move away!"

Alexander grabbed Victoria's arm, yanking her backward. "Stay here," he ordered sharply before turning to the group of men behind him. "Get them out of here.Now!"

In the chaos, security guards herded the shocked guests away from the doorway. I remained frozen in place, my jaw clenched as I watched the chaos unfold. Although I'd suspected Victoria was planning something ugly, I hadn't expected this. The sight of Sophie-clearly drugged and disoriented-made bile rise in my throat.

As the hallway cleared, I caught a glimpse of Victoria's face. She wasn't just surprised or embarrassed-she was devastated. Whatever she'd planned, this wasn't it.

After the guests were escorted away, Victoria approached Sophie cautiously,reaching out a trembling hand.

"Sophie?" she said softly. "Sophie, it's me, Victoria. I'm here to help you."

Sophie's head snapped up, her eyes focusing for a brief, terrible moment of clarity. "GET OUT!" she screamed, lashing out with surprising force,pushing Victoriaaway. "GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!"

Victoria stumbled backward, genuinely shocked. "Sophie, please, calm

down. It's me! Your best friend!"

"Best friend?" Sophie spat, her voice raw. "Friend? THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! ALL OF IT! GET OUT!"

Victoria looked utterly lost, turning helplessly toward Anna. "I don't understand. What happened?"

Anna stepped forward, her expression carefully controlled. "Victoria,maybe you should go. The guests are probably wondering what's happening, and it's still your birthday party. I'Il take care of Sophie."

"But she's my friend," Victoria protested weakly. "I can't just-"

"Victoria," Anna cut in firmly. "Go. Deal with your guests. This is still salvageable, but not if everyone starts gossiping. Sophie needs space right now, and you need to manage damage control downstairs."

Victoria hesitated, glancing between Sophie's sobbing form and the door."Okay," she finally conceded. "Take care of her. I'll handle things downstairs."

As Victoria left, I lingered by the doorway long enough to hear Anna's gentle voice.

"Sophie, it's okay. Let it out. Just cry if you need to."

Sophie's sobs intensified. "Why? Why me? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

"Sophie," Anna asked carefully, "what exactly happened? How did you end up here? Weren't you supposed,to be watching Charles Windsor?"

Sophie let out a bitter laugh. "Watching him? Victoria told me to keep him

company, to make sure he drank the drugged champagne. But she didn't warn me what kind of man Charles Windsor is!"

I slipped away, not needing to hear more. I already knew the story:Victoria had intended for me to be in Sophie's place, with Charles Windsor as my supposed "companion" when the door was dramatically thrown open. A convenient scandal to destroy my reputation once and for all.

But Victoria had clearly underestimated everyone involved-me, Anna,and especially Charles Windsor.

The ballroom atmosphere had shifted dramatically by the time I returned.Guests clustered in tight groups, whispering behind champagne flutes while darting glances toward the entrance.

I went to find Victoria.

"Summer," she said tightly, approaching me with stiff steps.

"Victoría," I replied calmly. "You look upset. That's a shame-it is your birthday, after all. I can't imagine what could possibly ruin such a perfectly planned evening."

Her eyes flashed with barely contained fury. "Don't. Don't you dare."

"Don't what?" I asked innocently. "Express concern for my sister on her specíal day? Or sympathize that your best friend appears to have gotten herself into quite a situation upstairs? It must be difficult, having your birthday celebration marred by such an unfortunate incident."

Victoría's fingers curled into fists at her sides. "You... you have no idea what I'm going through right now."

"Actually, I think I do," I replied, my voice hardening. "You're upset that

your carefully orchestrated plan backfired spectacularly. You're devastated that instead of me being humiliated tonight, it was your friend Sophie who got caught in your trap."

Victoria's face contorted, awar between denial and rage playing across her features. "You don't know what you're talking about. I never-"

"Come on, Victoria," I cut in, dropping all pretense. "I know you drugged my champagne tonight. Did you honestly think I wouldn't realize? Your little tricks are getting predictable. Drugging people seems to be your go-to move these days."

"You-" Victoria spluttered, her voice dropping to a furious hiss. "You knew? You knew all along?"

I nodded, a cold smile playing on my lips. "You reap what you sow."

Victoria's face twisted with hatred. "You bitch," she snarled,forgetting herself entirely. "You knew what was going to happen and you just let Sophie-"

"Well,well,what do we have here?"

Charles Windsor's smooth voice cut though our confrontation like a blade.