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

was always fretting

...

stopped at the door to Sylvia's

door and entered, immediately swapping her shoes for a

shoes, and five boxes of books. Books on art were expensive, and even though hers

dragged over a suitcase. "This one's easy to carry. I

simply glancing at

taking half of the

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

the rest of the items and left, thoughtfully closing the door behind

the dress box, and Sylvia

"Warren only helped me out of sibling affection.

want a simple dress to cause

to only make Rupert's expression colder. His fingers traced

by step, his mocking smile

on the box strangely set Sylvia's

clenched her fists and looked up, finding him looming close,

gift, or because of him, that you're so

felt emptier and colder in that moment, with Rupert's deep, inscrutable eyes seeming to swallow

Sylvia, his breath felt icy, causing an involuntary