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.

sweat, her knuckles white as she clung to her dress,

I think someone pushed me,"

eyes darted to Sylvia and

changed. She looked at Sylvia in horror. "Sylvia, since when did you become so cruel? I saw it! You pushed

in, Naomi lost her patience. She swung her purse at Freya. "Freya!

"Don't hit me! Please, I'm sorry, I won't say

more she acted the victim, the more it looked like Naomi and Sylvia were

everyone watching, Naomi didn't dare swing her purse again. She

over and lifted Bridget i the

Sylvia a look

to Bridget or the baby, I swear you'll pay for

sped off, leaving a cloud of dust

then did Sylvia realize what had just happened. She could feel everyone's eyes burning into her. Her breathing was

was about to faint. Sylvia

her head, and just then her phone rang inside her

a booming, furious voice. "Get to the hospital -now! Look at the mess

It was Tristan.

abruptly, leaving both Sylvia and Naomi

lips trembled. She gripped Sylvia's hand, about to say something,

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