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.

of you, just

down! You can't get agitated!" Chris rushed forward,

dead, Chris! I hate him!" She clung to Chris,

locking eyes with Rupert's cold, indifferent stare. He

seconds, Rupert's face didn't change. He simply turned Bridget's wheelchair and left the room without a

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

scooping Sylvia

Worbet

and tucking her back bed Hershot antirritated look at the

even

Ms. Simpson is just so pitiful...

tightened. For a moment, he thought maybe Rupert had

the nurse, Chris barely had a chance to sit when he heard Sylvia muttering

red house, 12252050 red

she was delirious, but when he leaned in, she

numbers, over

Suddenly, a

thought struck him. He

nurse back in. "I

Watch hen't

lose in, you h

me?"

nurse rolled her eyes and muttered,

now she's playing the

door and stalked off, ignoring Chris's

...

Hospital parking lot.