Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Sylvia froze, not quite sure what Rupert meant.

It almost sounded like he was asking for a label-like he wanted to define their relationship or something.

But how could there even be a label between them?

He was in love with Bridget. To him, Sylvia was just someone to use.

She was the kind of person he'd sacrifice without a second thought.

Sylvia felt her chest tighten. Her voice came out cold: "Oh, right. I forgot. You're my Uncle Rupert."

Rupert's eyes narrowed, shadows swirling in their depths. Suddenly, he lost his patience and grabbed the back of her head, pulling her into a rough, punishing kiss.

Their breaths tangled, the air between them turning electric and wild. She barely had time to resist before her strength gave out and all she could do was let him take what he wanted. A low, helpless sound escaped her throat.

"Mmm..."

Rupert's breathing hitched. He gripped her waist, his voice gravelly, almost desperate: "Sylvia, you're going to drive me insane."

She frowned, about to protest, but her back hit the wall, making her flinch in pain.

"Ah-"

Rupert let out an exasperated sigh and gently pulled her down to sit. "Turn around. Let me put something on that cut."

Sylvia wanted to say no, but her body just gave in and she sat down, exhausted.

Rupert grabbed some disinfectant from the table and dabbed it on the scrape along her back.

a surface

Rupert's eyes

blemish in sight, so perfect it was almost unreal.

pulled out his phone and shot off

Don't hold back.

with

moment later, something warm landed on her shoulders-a jacket. She recognized it immediately: it

thinking, she shrugged it off and handed it back. "I'm fine. Not

saw how pale

"It's not about "

could finish, the sharp sound of police sirens cut through the night

to her feet, panic in her eyes. "What's going on? Why are there

curtains for a quick look, then grabbed her and pulled

down so their eyes met. "You

Sylvia hesitated, then nodded.

pointed to a

shirt on the

to hers. "Change into that before

the bathroom, changed, and walked straight for

she glanced back at

cigarette, his face hidden in a haze of smoke—

she was gone, Rupert

the other end, he

found out. He came here for the jewelry expo, and the moment he landed, someone sent him a link. It was a site selling

exhaling a stream of smoke.