Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 369

At that moment, footsteps echoed in the hallway. Sylvia snapped out of her

thoughts, quickly lay back, and shut her eyes tight.

A few seconds later, she felt a heavy gaze fall on her.

He stood there for a while, just watching. Sylvia kept still, pretending to sleep, until something warm and damp pressed gently against her cheek-a washcloth. She flinched, startled to realize he was cleaning her face.

When he finished, he took her hand, opening her palm. As the cloth ran over her fingers, her hand trembled.

Rupert looked down at Sylvia's reddened palm. He let out a sharp sigh, half frustrated, half amused.

He flicked his gaze toward her, still lying there, pretending to be asleep. His voice was low and gruff. "You didn't make a peep when you got hurt, but you sure know how to act like it stings now."

Busted, Sylvia yanked her hand back and rolled over, squeezing her eyes shut again.

Rupert tossed the washcloth onto the headboard and settled onto the edge of the bed.

"When did you get so hard to please, huh?"

"Playing deaf now?"

Sylvia's head was pounding-she just didn't have the energy to argue.

dip behind her. Before she could react, Rupert

eyes, meeting his. Her lashes were damp, her gaze shimmering with

a word, but her hurt

moment, then said

stood up and

the glass of water, her throat tight and raw, like there was a stone lodged

the living room couch, the ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts by

...

Sylvia was woken by a text from

sorry about last night. You had a little too much too,

the bed. Her head felt like it

a whiff of

around and realized she

it was close

from the

herself, then she hurried out, crossing the corridor. She paused by the tall windows in the living room, where she spotted Orson bustling around the dining table, setting out

grinned when he saw her. "Ms. Lloyd! You're up. Come have

no, thanks. I should head

stomach interrupted her with a loud, traitorous

already gone to the office. I'm

Sylvia finally sat down and took a bite. Orson poured her a glass of water and handed her