Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

On their way to the foyer, Sylvia and Naomi spotted the butler hurrying toward the family chapel with the Garcia family elders in tow.

"Mom, why's everyone heading to the chapel?" Sylvia asked, puzzled.

Naomi craned her neck, looking anxious. "Oh no, something big's about to go down."

Worried about Edwin, she grabbed Sylvia's hand and hurried after the crowd.

The chapel was packed with people, everyone standing stiffly in two lines. Sylvia quickly pulled Naomi to the very end, trying to stay out of sight.

She glanced up toward the altar and saw even the elders who rarely showed their faces had been summoned.

Rupert and Tristan sat at the front, incense curling around them, their faces grave and severe.

In the middle of the room, Warren was kneeling, jaw clenched in shame.

Beside him, Fiona's face was ghostly pale, her composure shattered. She was sobbing and yelling, nothing left of her usual Mrs. Fiona grace.

"Edwin! What's your deal? Warren got hurt because of your little charity-case daughter, and you just brought him back here like nothing happened?"

really need to explain to

sputtered, and then, reaching for any excuse, snapped, "The Garcias raised Sylvia for years. So what if she

clenched, but house rules were

up, but Naomi beat her to it. Naomi stormed forward and slapped Fiona so hard she knocked her right

wail and didn't get up, just huddled next to the silent

the other, back in the day. Even

someone else's daughter to the wolves and act like you're doing a good deed? I heard Americans don't care about age-how come you never offered yourself up? Guess you only pick on the ones you think

For once, her voice was strong and clear. "I know you all look down on me! I've kept my head down all these years just to keep the peace. Well, if this is how things are, I'll leave-and

on the table. "Who said you could speak here? Get her out of my

her courage faltering as she realized she'd gone

her mother, standing firm.

Tristan glared at Sylvia,

fell silent-no one

down his coffee cup with a

be hasty," Rupert

narrowed his eyes

cold sneer. "What's there to discuss? Warren wouldn't have done this Sylvia hadn't led him on.