Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 148

Watching the figure standing beside the flowerbed, Bailey raised an eyebrow, her understanding clear.

Just as she was about to speak, Bridget walked straight up to Bailey and extended her hand.

"Bailey, pleasure to meet you. I'm Rupert's fiancée, Bridget."

Bailey glanced at Bridget, then at her outstretched hand, offering a light, breezy smile. "I'm sorry, Ms. Simpson, I've just been pruning the flowers, and my hands are quite dirty." Bridget's hand stiffened for a moment before she awkwardly lowered it.

No sooner had she dropped her hand than Bailey took a towel from a servant, cleaned her hands, and made her way directly to Rupert, effectively treating his fiancée as if she were invisible.

Bailey sat down next to Rupert, poured him a cup of coffee, and addressed the others, "Please, take a seat. Eloise has already shared your details with me, so there's no need for any painstaking introductions. I prefer to keep things casual." The underlying message was clear.

Bridget clenched her purse, a fleeting look of malice flashing in her eyes.

This old lady, putting on airs?

If not for her remaining usefulness, when would she ever get the chance to strut around like this?

But outwardly, Bridget maintained her image of gentle grace flawlessly.

she leaned slightly towards Rupert, pushing the cup away from him as though

but I'm afraid Rupert doesn't

Doesn't fancy?

as the rich, aromatic flavor confirmed it was,

luxurious taste surpassed even her own favored coffee, rare and costly. It was the same kind

Yet Bridget, Rupert's

"Doesn't fancy it? Then where does all that expensive coffee that Rupert competes with me for

before?"

cup, wishing she could

took a sip of his coffee, stating flatly, "Fed

skip a beat. The cup in her hand suddenly

What was he implying?

Sylvia could ponder further, she felt Bailey's gaze on

before she raised her hand, displaying it to

"What do you think?"

finger were two

pink diamonds. In the sunlight, the orange-pink halo it cast

was a Camellia

sapphire at its heart. The

intricately layered