Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 438

Rupert nodded absentmindedly, then slipped away.

Through the car window, Reese watched his figure grow smaller and smaller, an unexpected hollowness settling in her chest.

Suddenly, she clutched her chest and started to cough.

Orson immediately handed her a bottle of water. "Ms. Sanford, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just caught a bit of a chill," she said, nervously fidgeting with the bottle in

her hand. "Orson, did I say something wrong just now?"

Orson's tone was steady. "No, Ms. Sanford. Mr. Rupert's always been a workaholic."

"Yeah," she murmured.

After dropping Reese off, Orson made his way back to Rupert's apartment in Soho Bay.

He was sorting through the files sent over from the office when Rupert walked in.

Orson stared, eyes wide in disbelief. "Mr. Rupert, you—"

Rupert shot him a cold glance and shoved a bundle of clothes into his arms.

"Take these to the dry cleaners."

"Yes, sir."

Eloise's new collection launch was a hit; even international reporters showed up for interviews.

set aside ten minutes for Sylvia to share her inspiration for the designs, which brought

of the month had passed.

Sylvia was working late, her phone buzzed with

at her phone,

quickly sent Reese a $20 Venmo

you

I thought you'd given it to Mr. Rupert for me,"

"We haven't really been in touch. He's probably just busy

Reese was fishing for information, so she decided to keep her

Twitter, the typing

pause, Reese finally sent

I seriously don't know who else to ask about the Garcias, so I'm

stared at the message,

accidentally tapped on Reese's

Twitter feed, Sylvia saw Rupert's familiar

Rupert wasn't the cold, distant man she remembered-he actually looked comfortable, even

a six-month waitlist, laughing over steak and wine. In another,

swing set, golden hour light

in a

to a secluded ski resort, mountain views all to

was just showing off, that would be one thing, but scrolling through her posts from the past six months, Sylvia realized this was just

pictures, Reese

lighting up the frame

own phone screen.

standing in her way-it was the gap between their

Reese "poked" her.