The Cherished Wife

Annie was on the warpath, scolding Winter, who was too shocked to speak. Her face drained of color. "Annie, just hear me out. I swear I didn't know about this until now. I don't know why they-"

"You had no idea? Really, Winter? After everything Annie and I did for you, you ditch us when it counts, and now you've leaked those private photos and videos. How can you expect me to trust you?"

Suzy grabbed the phone and screamed at Winter, her calm shattered by this morning's headlines. She was like a wild beast, lashing out at Winter. "Do you really want to do me dirty like this?"Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Suzy, hear me out. I swear I didn't do this! I never saw this coming. It's all that snake Noelle's fault. She was the one who was supposed to be in the hot seat yesterday, not me."

"Cut it out, Winter." Suzy, fed up with Winter's excuses, felt a wave of disappointment. "You're the one with the paparazzi on speed dial, but you're blaming Noelle? Do you really think I'd buy that? Why drag me and Annie into your feud with Noelle? Listen up, Winter. If you don't clean up this disaster, I'll spill the beans myself. You're the one who tried to set Noelle up."

Suzy was pissed off, her mind blank except for the burning need to get back at Winter.

She had put her trust in Winter, but Winter had betrayed her, kicking her when she was down. Yevgen and Chandler had trashed her. With all those rich kids around last night, their families were getting dragged through the mud too, now that the scandal had broken.

Shaking uncontrollably, Suzy hurled the phone to the ground, wrapped her arms around Annie, and sobbed her heart out. "Annie, what am I going to do? Why couldn't it have been Winter instead?"

"Suzy, stop crying," Annie said, tears streaming down her own face. She was torn apart inside, caught between her anger at Winter and her

guilt for Suzy. "You've still got me.

I'm right here with you, ov

It felt like forever before Annie could get Suzy to stop sobbing. When nothing else worked, Annie slipped away to call Cody, desperate for advice on what to do next.

Half an hour later, the swarm of reporters and camera-flashing paparazzi had vanished from the hotel entrance, and Cody arrived to get Annie and Suzy.

Seeing Cody, Annie nearly lost it, throwing her arms around him. "Big Bro, you're finally here!"

Cody gave Annie's shoulder a reassuring pat, signaling for her to take a deep breath, then asked, "Where's your friend?"

"She's inside. She's just started to calm down, Bro, about this whole mess..." Annie began, but was cut off as the hotel room door swung open. Suzy appeared, her eyes puffy from crying, clutching the doorknob like a lifeline.

She glanced up at Annie, and upon spotting the guy with her, slammed the door shut in shock.

Annie rushed to the door. "Suzy, it's okay. It's just my brother, Cody. Do you remember him? You've met him before." Annie tapped on the door, trying to be soothing. "Suzy, there's nothing to be scared of. Cody's here to save us. He says the coast is clear and those nosy photographers are gone. Trust me, we're safe. Nobody knows we're here."