Chapter 161

**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. WNhy 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 Joe. 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."

He shrugged off his coat and held it out to her. "Put this on1.We need to leave quickly. I've only managed to divert their attention temporarily-they could figure it out and come back."

"You heard him, Sophie," I urged. "Put on my brother's coat.Let'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, no!Anna, can I stay with you? My parents will literally 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."

"That sounds good," I agreed, turning back to Sophie. "Running away isn't a permanent solution, Sophie. We'll figure this out, I promise. You can rest at my brother's place for a few days, but eventually, you'll need to face your parents."

Sophie nodded, tears spilling dqwn her cheeks. "I know. Thank you, Anna.Whatever you need in the future, I swear I'll be there for you. No questions asked."

After settling Sophie in the villa, Joe and I returned to the car. The moment the doors closed, I felt everything crash down on me again.

"This isn't your fault, Anna," Joe said, starting the engine. "It was an accident,beyond your control."

I shook my head, unable toaccept his comfort. "This is my fault. I was so focused on keeping Summer safe that I completely forgot about how dangerous Charles Windsor is. I never imagined he would do something like this to Sophie!"

"Even if you had been watching Sophie," Joe responded, his voice firm but kind. "You can't control everything. Stay away from Victoria from now on. She's poison. First it was you, now Sophie-who knows who she'll destroy next time?"

"I know," I agreed quietly.

After a moment, I suddenly noticed we weren't on the familiar route home."Wait, this isn't the way to our house!"

"No, it's not," Joe confirmed. "I'm taking you to see Brandon Stark."

My stomach dropped. "Brandon Stark? Please don't!"

Ever since discovering that Summer was Brandon Stark's wife, I'd been terrified of her by association. I'd experienced Brandon Stark's methods firsthand. The scars on my face were a constant reminder.

"Don't worry," Joe assured me. "You saved Summer this time. He won't hurt you."

"But-"

"Trust me, Anna. We might need his help with Sophie's situation anyway.You don't want her hiding in that villa forever, do you? Listen to me on this one."

Manhattan Club-the place where my nightmare had begun. My palms were sweating as we walked through those elegant doors. Joe kept a firm grip on my hand.

"Don't be afraid," he murmured.

James led us through a labyrinth of corridors to a private room. When the door opened, I was surprised to see Brandon Stark casually playing cards with Dr.Sean Sullivan.

"Well, look who's here!" Dr. Sean said cheerfully.

"Mr. Stark, Mr. Sullivan," my brother greeted them respectfully.

I couldn't help my surprise. "Dr. Sean? Aren't you..."

Dr. Sean gave me a curious look. "Do you know me,Miss Watson?"

"No!" I replied quickly.

Dr. Sean turned to Brandon with a smirk. "Brandon, our guests have arrived. Aren't you going to say something?"

Brandon Stark gestured toward the empty chairs. "Mr. Watson, Miss Watson, please make yourselves comfortable."

Joe nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Brandon. May I ask why you wanted to see my sister?"

Brandon's penetrating gaze settled on me. "About last night. Miss Watson.you did well. Summer and I owe you a favor."

I swallowed hard, hardly believing my ears. "I don't deserve your thanks,Mr. Stark. I'm truly sorry for what I did to your wife before. I promise it will never happen again. What I did last night was my way of making amends."

"When I say I owe someone a favor," Brandon replied, his voice measured,"I always repay it."

"Anna," Joe prompted, nudging me. "Thank Mr. Stark."

"Thank you, Mr. Stark!" I blurtedI out, then hesitated before gathering my courage. "Mr. Stark, could I... could I ask you for a favor now?"

Brandon's expression remained inscrutable. "Go ahead, Miss Watson."

Joe nodded encouragingly, and I took a deep breath. "My friend, my friend Sophie... she's in trouble. Could you... could you please help her?"