Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Everyone was chatting and bickering at once when Sylvia noticed Bridget suddenly moving toward her.

Maybe it was just instinct, but Sylvia immediately sensed something was off. She quickly let go of Freya's hand.

But she was a second too late. Freya, who a moment ago had been acting all frantic and desperate, actually shoved Sylvia right into Bridget.

A shriek rang out. Bridget tumbled backwards, rolling down the three steps behind her.

She landed awkwardly on the hardwood floor, clutching her stomach and grimacing in pain. "Oh God, my stomach-it hurts so much..."

A coworker glared at Sylvia. "Sylvia! Bridget was just trying to make sure you were okay, and you treat her like this?"

Another coworker knelt down to help Bridget and gasped at the sight of Bridget's dress. "Oh my God-there's so much blood!"

"My baby..." Bridget moaned, her voice barely a whisper.

Sylvia's first instinct was to help-she reached out to steady Bridget, but just then someone barreled past her. She lost her balance, scraping her arm along the wooden edge of the steps. Blood welled up under the torn skin.

"Bridget!"

Miriam came running out of nowhere, dropping to her knees and pulling Bridget close.

as she clung to her dress, her whole expression twisted in

think someone pushed me," she

to Sylvia and the two standing with

Sylvia in horror. "Sylvia, since when did you become

a word in, Naomi lost her patience. She swung her purse at Freya. "Freya! What the hell

to her knees, bursting into tears. "Don't hit me! Please, I'm sorry, I won't say anything else! Please

it looked like

didn't dare swing her purse again. She was shaking with anger, her

for the driver, who hurried over and lifted Bridget i the back

Sylvia a look

or the

off, leaving a cloud

then did Sylvia realize what had just happened. She could feel

to faint. Sylvia caught her just in time. "Mom, are

her head, and just then her phone rang inside her

voice. "Get to the hospital -now! Look at the mess you and

It was Tristan.

leaving both Sylvia and

Sylvia's hand, about to say something, when a black town

and opened the back door. “Mrs. Naomi, Mr. Tristan sent