Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 452

Ms. Ward thought Sylvia must have forgotten all about it, but she slipped into the kitchen, came back, and set it on the table in front of her.

It was a men's watch-understated, but worth a fortune.

Sylvia recognized it instantly. It was Rupert's.

She owned the exact same model, just the ladies' version.

But she could've sworn she didn't see this watch last night when she was cleaning up after dinner.

Unless... the person who stayed with her while she was sick was Rupert.

Lester never said he'd made the chicken soup. Sylvia had just assumed.

Thinking back on the hazy, dreamlike night, Sylvia's hand shook, and she spilled her ginger tea.

Ms. Ward hurried over with napkins. "Honey, what's wrong?"

Sylvia turned to the window, then, almost on impulse, snatched up the watch and rushed out.

Standing in the elevator, she watched the numbers tick down, counting in her head.

She leaned against the wall, her heart a mess of hope and dread. She'd told herself again and again not to go down this road, but she needed to know the truth.

She'd already died once-a painful, grueling death. She'd survived that. She couldn't just let her past life end in a blur, questions unanswered.

Bursting out of the building, she ran to a patch of clear ground, where the snow hadn't settled.

She looked everywhere, but whoever had been watching he was gone.

She clutched the watch tightly, fumbling for her phone, but before she could make a call, Naomi's name flashed on the screen.

"Mom?"

Ms. Sanford. The engagement's before New Year's,

Sylvia froze.

of a branch above, then a heavy pile of

yanked her out of the way, and the snow and brittle branches crashed

Rupert.

It was really him.

tight in Sylvia's

up almost spilled out. But when

her words died in her

was marrying Reese.

any of her questions matter

flurries spinning around them, dusting their hair and shoulders

remembered an

the snow together, maybe that's as close as you get to growing old

es content belongs to

and Rupert were never meant for

burning her lungs,

Don't forget your watch. Someone

back to him, her

whole body tense. "Who would get the

missing a beat, Sylvia said,

a moment, the

back tears

she fastened

just leave it at

didn't want any

he had his reasons. But this life, she