Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 463

This medication was supposed to help balance her nerves after returning from Norway.

As Sylvia popped a pill into her mouth, Chris Lennon's words echoed in her head: "Take these only if you really have to."

With a sigh, she put the bottle back down and reached for her phone instead.

She didn't expect the first post she saw would be from Reese.

Reese had her hair up in a messy bun, with damp strands clinging to her cheeks. Clearly, she'd just stepped out of the shower. What really caught Sylvia's attention, though, was the oversized flannel pajama top Reese was wearing- Rupert's pajama top.

"Do I look like a kid sneaking into a grown-up's closet? LOL," Reese had captioned it, grinning blissfully at the camera.

But Sylvia only felt her skin flush hot, because she remembered wearing that same shirt not so long ago.

Suddenly, she shot up from bed and began scrubbing at her arms, neck, and chest-anywhere that shirt had touched—until her skin burned and stung, until angry red marks and even blood appeared beneath her fingernails.

Only when the pain became unbearable did she stop, staring blankly at her hands, blood seeping between her fingers.

Without hesitation, she swallowed the pill, pulled the covers up over her head, and curled into a ball.

She didn't know how much time had passed before the medication finally dragged her into sleep.

The next morning, Sylvia woke up to sharp pain. One look in the mirror told her the wounds from last night weren't healing-they looked even worse.

a woman, after all, and scars in such obvious places-her neck and arms were the last thing she

an appointment

doctor prescribed

leaving, she ran right

are you doing here?" he asked,

important," she replied, eager to

to do with anyone connected to

leave, but Chris caught up

happened to your neck? Did you

did

after the doctor's exam. Flustered, she pulled it up "Just scratched myself by accident. I've got to

stepped in front of her, his tone

what you're talking about,"

she looked away, he grabbed her wrist and

he saw the fresh, crisscrossed wounds

lie to me, Sylvia.

hand back, pulled her sleeve down, and met his

you, I'm fine.

go tell Rupert

this," Chris said

don't we? I bet you already got the