Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 175

Sylvia felt a wave of heat wash over her face and quickly turned, attempting to clear the air.

"Mrs. Ellis, it's not..."

Rupert, with a quick stride, turned and headed upstairs, leaving her words hanging in the void of the stairwell.

Sylvia cast a dubious glance at Rupert, wondering if she'd imagined the faint amusement in his eyes.

But when she looked again, his gaze was as icy as ever.

Definitely her imagination!

Once they reached the first floor, Sylvia squirmed. "You can put me down now. I can walk in my shoes. My apartment's pretty high up." Rupert remained silent, continuing his ascent.

Sylvia thought for a moment before pointing upwards. "I'm on the sixth floor. You won't make it."

"Third floor."

"How did you know?" Sylvia asked, surprised.

"What do you think?" Rupert paused, his gaze deepening as he looked at her.

snooping

she was always

...

later, Rupert stopped at the door to

Sylvia unlocked the door and entered, immediately swapping her shoes for a

the apartment, she gathered two suitcases, filling them with clothes for all seasons, shoes, and five boxes of books.

easy to carry.

simply

entered, each taking half of the load and preparing

Orson noticed a dress box on the table, recognized the label, and reached for it, intending to carry it

the driver, took the rest

Sylvia instinctively stepped

only helped me out of sibling affection. Please,

cause

only make Rupert's expression colder. His fingers traced the embossed designs on the box, moving closer to

step by step, his

light, trembling sound of his fingers on the box strangely set Sylvia's heart

up, finding him looming

because of the gift, or because of him, that

with Rupert's deep, inscrutable eyes seeming to swallow all

he moved closer to Sylvia, his breath felt icy, causing an involuntary