Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

He really couldn't wait for this kid to arrive.

But all that had nothing to do with Sylvia. She was totally focused on her work.

Around lunchtime, Sylvia's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen. It was her mom, Naomi.

"Hey, Mom, what's up?"

"Honey, all your packages keep showing up at the Garcia place. I figured I'd drop them off and maybe we could grab lunch together."

"Packages? I haven't ordered anything. And I never use the Garcias' address when I shop online."

Okay, maybe she had forgotten to update her shipping address after moving to campus recently. She'd had to take a few detours to pick up stuff lately.

She heard the sound of packages rustling on the other end.

"Nope, your name and number are right here. Anyway, I'm almost at your office. You can see for yourself."

Sylvia was about to say "sure thing," when she heard Naomi suddenly shriek. "Hey! What are you doing?!"

"Naomi, please! I'm begging you-help me!"

That voice... It was Freya!

Sylvia remembered hearing that after getting fired, Freya's parents still treated her like a cash machine for her younger brother. She really hadn't been having it easy these days.

Who knew what she might do now?

She sprang up from her desk and

coworker, blocked her

"Sylvia, where's the fire?"

"None of your business."

her arm free and

a show of stumbling

She's always acting like the

we should check it out?

after Sylvia,

had just gotten little thank-you muffins from Bridget (she was pregnant, after all), nobody

made it out the front door when she heard

that's your parents' problem-it

DOES! Naomi, I know Sylvia's got big shots in the industry looking out for her now. Please, I'm begging you, tell her to stop sabotaging me! just want a normal

the theatrics-dropping to her

to

hard it looked

Naomi used to

back was never the same,

good for

over and grabbed

crazy accusations! I have nothing to do

even seem to hear her.

on the ground, totally losing her