Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 24

By the time he slumped unconscious beneath the seats, Sylvia finally ceased her assault. She adjusted her clothes, stumbling and rolling out of the car.

As she propped herself up, not a word could escape her lips; dragging a blood-soaked, deformed purse, she shuffled step by step towards the exit.

Halfway there, a car's dome light suddenly flickered on across the way.

Sylvia shielded her eyes momentarily, and then, as her vision adjusted, she saw Rupert, impeccably dressed, stepping out of his vehicle, in stark contrast to her disheveled state. Their eyes met, and Rupert frowned. It wasn't until the sound of police sirens filled the air that Sylvia snapped back to reality.

A gloved officer approached her, extending a hand, "Ms. Lloyd, we need the evidence you're holding."

"Is he dead?" Sylvia asked coldly.

"No, he's been taken to the ER."

Noticing her distressed state, the officer's response was cautious.

Sylvia nodded, though a tension remained in her mind.

evidence bag, offhandedly remarked, "Lucky the

latched onto

she asked, turning to

who was leaning against his car smoking, and without saying more,

suit exuding a forbidding

over the swelling on her forehead, and

his words, the tension in her mind

quivered her lips while gazing at him, "You saw

Rupert silently acknowledged.

down, she casually wiped away the blood

and apologize? If that's the case, you could've said so." Stepping back to put distance between them, she bowed,

expression turning stormy

her hand, pulling her in

she refused to comply? Refused to be a

had loved him?

she did. She shouldn't have agreed to the

neatly adjusted collar coming undone in