Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Warren approached Sylvia, his face looking like he just swallowed a sour lemon.

The moment he spoke, it was with that familiar tone of someone who's been battered by life.

"Sylvia, are you laughing at me too? In the end, he always seems to have the upper hand."

"Do you have some kind of persecution complex, Mr. Warren?" Sylvia shot back coldly.

"What... what did you call me?"

Warren stared at Sylvia, bewildered.

Sylvia repeated, "Mr. Warren."

"Sylvia, don't be like this. I just..."

"You just noticed my scarf and thought you'd use it to take a jab at Uncle Rupert, right?" Sylvia interrupted, "Don't say you like me. I can't handle that."

With that, she turned to leave.noveldrama

Warren's eyes darkened as he grabbed her wrist, preventing her from walking away.

"Sylvia, don't talk to me like that. You know how I feel."

Sylvia struggled a bit, but his grip only tightened. They were surrounded by guests, and a public scene would draw too much attention.

After all, Hilbert was Warren's uncle, and he had openly admitted to his vile intentions toward her.

Sylvia stopped struggling, looking at Warren with a wry smile.

"Feelings? What feelings? The kind where you want to see how deep I can sink?"

"Mr. Warren, during the live stream, even though you were lurking in the shadows, I recognized you."

"You claim to care about me, yet when everyone believed the woman in the room was me, you stood by and watched."

"When your aunt shoved Freya's face into the camera, you even stepped aside to give them room."

"Do you really think I don't understand your motives?"

"In the end, you see me as someone tainted, and by shaming me, you think you can shame him."

"You lack the guts to confront him directly, so you try to humiliate him through me. You don't like me; you like the usefulness of Sylvia. But I am not your trophy to flaunt!"

With those words, Sylvia yanked the scarf from her neck.

Perhaps because she had hit a nerve, Warren's anger flared, and his usual facade slipped.

Fortunately, Eloise stepped in with a timely reminder.

"Mr. Warren, everyone here is someone important. You wouldn't want to add more gossip fodder for the Carmen family, would you?"

Hearing this, Warren, valuing his reputation, released Sylvia's hand.

Finally free, Sylvia made her way out of the hotel and spotted Rupert's car parked across the street.

He was leaning against it, a cigarette glowing between his fingers, his suit open, one hand in his pocket, exuding an air of aristocratic danger.

He exhaled a smoke ring, his features slightly obscured by the swirling haze.

That is, until Bridget, nonchalantly, walked up to him.

She gave Sylvia a sidelong glance, triumphantly linking her arm with his. He didn't push her away, simply opened the car door, and the two of them got in.

Before the door shut, Rupert looked up, noticing the bare space around Sylvia's

neck, his eyes darkening with a hint of coldness.

But Bridget said something, and he drove away.

Sylvia turned on her heel and got into Eloise's car.

With everything resolved, Eloise, relieved, treated Sylvia to dinner before dropping her off at her apartment.

As she stepped out of the elevator, a faint smell of smoke reached her.

The corridor lights flickered on, though one was out, splitting the hallway into patches of light and shadow.

A man stood in the shadows, his eyes concealed but fixed on Sylvia with an intense gaze.

It was Rupert.

Standing in the light, Sylvia felt a chill creep down her spine. She pressed her lips together and spoke coldly, "Uncle Rupert, is there something need?"