Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

When I woke up, I was covered in bruises, lying in a hotel room next to some man I didn't know!

I was so terrified I actually passed out, and when I came to again, I was in the hospital.

Naomi barely got the words out before she broke down in tears, biting her lip to keep herself together.

Sylvia zeroed in on the important part.

"Ms. Winslet? Kay?"

Naomi nodded miserably. "Yeah. She's friends with Mrs. Watson. We had a disagreement before over the engagement gift basket, but she's Reese's aunt and

the CEO of the Winslet Group, so I tried not to make a fuss."

Just hearing Kay's name made Sylvia's expression darken.

She remembered all too well the rumors about Kay and Edwin.

There's no way Kay just happened to be there by chance, Sylvia thought. But she didn't have any proof, and she sure couldn't tell Naomi her suspicions.

So she just frowned and pressed on, "Mom, did you contact the other ladies you played cards with? Ask them what happened?"

Naomi's face twisted with distress. "I did. But every single one insisted I just left on my own. Sylvia, what am I supposed to tell Edwin about all this?"

thinks to

certain-Kay had something to do with

phone dinged with a new

it and immediately threw it across the couch, clutching her head

up the phone. A string of lurid photos had been sent from an unknown number-pictures of Naomi and

clearly see Naomi's face, but there was no

scrolled through the photos, another message

want $300,000.

up and saw that the guy had already been demanding

bad feeling settled in her

you send

voice shook. "Yes.

me! He

pay, hea send those

anyone see them,

shook her head, pointing at the message thread. "But Mom, don't you see? He never

directly.

trapping you if you give him money, it's like you're agreeing to it if you go to the police, he just has to say you paid him willingly. How will

s