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.

purse into an evidence bag, offhandedly remarked, "Lucky the call came

latched onto

called it in?" she asked, turning

leaning against his car smoking, and without saying more, secured

cigarette and approached Sylvia callously, his black suit exuding a forbidding

in front of her, his gaze briefly flitting over the swelling on her forehead, and remarked sarcastically, "Quite the catch, isn't

Sylvia heard his words, the

she quivered her lips while gazing at

Rupert silently acknowledged.

head down, she casually wiped away the blood stains on

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

his expression turning stormy like the night

didn't look at him, attempting to walk past to somewhere else. But he grabbed her hand, pulling her in front of him with

refused to comply? Refused to be a scapegoat

him? Did she deserve this

to the dinner

her neatly adjusted collar coming undone in