Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 17

Sylvia left the office without a backward glance.

After the debacle with the Garcias, she knew she needed to keep her guard up around Bridget. When she overheard Bridget on the phone to Rupert, crying about being slandered, Sylvia knew that Bridget and Freya were up to something. Freya knew too much about her, including her diary.

After her one night of flirtation with Rupert, a diary entry accusing her of drugging him to share his bed surfaced online - undoubtedly Freya's doing.

So, she had secretly switched her diary.

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, a shadow approached from behind - it was Freya.

Throughout their walk, Freya seemed hesitant, observing Sylvia, who, in contrast, appeared utterly unfazed by the betrayal.

Just before they reached the dorm, Freya couldn't contain herself any longer. She grabbed Sylvia, her voice trembling, "Sylvia, I'm sorry. You know my family's struggling, and I'm not brave. I can't afford to cross someone like Bridget. They scared me into submission." Sylvia didn't rush to cut ties with Freya - after all, she hadn't yet seen Freya and Bridget turn on each other.

She sighed, feigning heartbreak, "Freya, I thought of you as a friend. How could you do this to me?"

me say that. She threatened my graduation. My family has sacrificed so much for my education. If I don't graduate, it

Sylvia's hands, tears streaming

her tears, "Freya, of course, I believe you. But be

still tearful, looked puzzled,

a luxury car, cautioning, "Freya, Mr. Garcia belongs to Bridget. Don't harbor any unrealistic fantasies. The way you looked at Mr.

reaction was witnessed by

ushered Freya into the dorm. Unbeknownst to her, someone

buzzed. A quick glance at the message, and she put

have to go, got something to

"Okay."

off, knowing Bridget was

their room, she found her roommates all

Rupert's sinister gaze chilling her to the bone. The fear, the invisible pressure, made it hard to

knew she couldn't leave any