Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 355

"I mean-how should I know? Anyway, they've got all the evidence. No one's getting out of this,” Naomi muttered, slicing off a piece of apple and popping it into Sylvia's mouth.

Sylvia chewed, but her mind was elsewhere. If they'd managed to get their hands on the evidence, someone had to have helped. And besides Rupert, she couldn't think of anyone else with that kind of pull.

With a sigh, Sylvia nibbled on her apple, the taste bland on her tongue. "Mom, where's Uncle Rupert?"

"Dead-oops!" Naomi yelped as the paring knife nearly slipped. "Jeez, are you trying to kill your own mother?"

"Dead? He can't be dead," Sylvia's voice trembled. "At worst, he'd break a leg or something."

"I said he's not dead!" Naomi snapped.

"Could you maybe be a little clearer?" Sylvia frowned.

"What are you so jumpy about? On the way back, if I hadn't clamped a hand over your mouth, you'd have been shouting 'Uncle Rupert' the whole way..."

"Mom! I'm starving. Can you grab me something to eat?" Sylvia cut her off, her voice loud and desperate.

Naomi rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine," she said, heading out the door to go find some food.

best of her. She slipped off the bed and

she hesitated. Just then, Orson stepped

eyes met. Sylvia barely had time to signal him to keep quiet before Orson bellowed, "Ms. Lloyd! You're

the station poked their heads out to see what

voice came from inside the room. "Aren't you coming

cheeks flush and hurried into the room. "You had someone

was propped up against his pillows, looking pale but somehow even more intense, his

blanket and said, "Eavesdropping? You mean all the times you kept asking

My mom's

ask

huffed. "Well, it looks like you're fine.

she could reach the door, Orson slammed it

smile. "Pour me a glass of water,

poured him a glass anyway,

met Rupert's, his gaze deep and unreadable,

out, and when he took the glass, he didn't let go of her hand-he tugged her just a

them grew warmer. Rupert's eyes stayed locked on her face, their intensity almost