Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

There was something magnetic about him-something that drew you in, but made you wary all the same.

Rupert had arrived.

He strode toward Sylvia, and just then, Bridget spun her wheelchair around and threw herself into his arms.

"Mr. Rupert, I'm fine, really. Don't blame Sylvia. I just wanted to talk to her, that's all. After all, we're getting married in a month."

"There's nothing to talk about with her."

Rupert's voice was cold as ice as he gently helped Bridget back into her wheelchair.

Bridget frowned, leaning into Rupert. "Mr. Rupert, please, don't be like this. She's family, after all."

"She isn't." Rupert's gaze was steely, void of warmth.

"Well, if she's not family, then I guess she's just a stranger." Bridget glanced at Sylvia, putting on an act of helplessness.

A chill shot down Sylvia's spine.

Suddenly, words echoed in her mind, as if from another lifetime.

"Sylvia, eight years with Mr. Rupert can't compete with me. The moment I came back, he couldn't wait to push you aside for me and his son. He even said-he said he never saw you or your daughter as his own. You were always outsiders."

Sylvia clutched at her chest, gasping for breath. Her face grew paler by the second, her eyes rimmed bright red-so red they looked almost bloody.

"Get out! Get out!"

She lurched toward Bridget, but her strength gave out, and she crashed hard onto the floor.

All of

You can't get agitated!" Chris rushed forward, catching her before she could hurt herself

I want him dead, Chris! I hate him!" She clung to Chris, wild and

Rupert's cold, indifferent stare. He looked

turned Bridget's wheelchair and left the room without a

With a pained grunt, she glanced at the IV in her arm and collapsed, utterly

scooping

Worbet

her back bed Hershot antirritated look at the young nurse hovering

Bridget even know she

Chris. But Ms. Simpson is just so pitiful... She lost her

tightened. For a moment, he thought maybe

Chris barely had a chance to sit when he heard Sylvia muttering under her

red house,

first, Chris thought she was delirious, but when he leaned

same numbers, over and

Suddenly, a

thought struck him. He

back in.

Watch hen't

lose in, you h

me?"

nurse rolled her eyes and muttered,

and now

shut the door and stalked

...

Hospital parking lot.