Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

"You should be grateful-hate is the one thing my mother never taught us! I let myself be your puppet, just so Rupert could have a decent childhood."

"I did everything you asked-married for the family, kept up appearances. But the day Mom died, you were off fooling around with a secretary young enough to be your daughter. That was the day Edwin and I decided to give everything back to Rupert."

His voice echoed through the old family chapel, anger bouncing off the marble and wood. Even the air in the atrium seemed charged, as if the whole world had gone darker.

Sylvia suddenly understood-this was never a secret. It was just that, for the family's image, no one could say a word.

She glanced at Rupert. He kept his eyes down, the candlelight flickering on the table, casting restless shadows under his eyes.

Sylvia had never known any of this in her previous life.

He must've been so young when his mom died. How was he supposed to carry all this?

Biting her lip, she slid over to Rupert's side while no one was looking, just to check if he was okay. She reached out, gently brushing his hand.

To her surprise, he gripped her hand back.

Sylvia froze, instinctively wanting to pull away. But when she saw he didn't even look up, she realized he was holding on for dear life.

So she stayed, standing quietly beside him.

After a moment, she whispered awkwardly, "None of this is your fault."

Rupert still didn't look up, but she felt his hand tremble around hers.

Everyone else was focused on Patrick, so their little moment went unnoticed.

Patrick waved his daughter over with a soft, fatherly smile. "Go say hi to Grandma, sweetheart. Tell her your name."

up to the altar. She called out, loud and clear,

Rupert's mother's

watching the

and daughter's hands, his voice steady and sure. "I've said what needed to be said. I hope

the three of

fist on the table. "You stop

no one moved to stop Patrick. Not a

chest, collapsing in

butler rushed

flat.

couple of relatives helped Tristan

room, his presence impossible to ignore. "There's food in the dining room. I If you want

word about the Garcia

uneasy looks, then

you're not mad that I made the call, but someone had to end

see our big

didn't say much, just

was lost in thought when

let go. We're still at the Garcia house. There are so many

"You weren't scared

66

grab you, I-wait, did you do that

"Yeah."

Why did he sound so smug

Patrick saw them approach and stopped