Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

The smell drifted over, and Sylvia froze, something unexplainable rising in her chest.

A few paces away, under the warm glow of the lamp, that cold, aristocratic man was watching her-his gaze hot enough to burn.

She looked away, keeping her face as cool and blank as before.

"I don't want it. Take it away," she said flatly.

Orson glanced helplessly at Rupert.

Rupert stepped forward, took the insulated container from Orson, and sat down right at the edge of the bed.

He scooped up some pudding with a long-handled spoon and held it to Sylvia's lips.

"Eat up."

"I'm not hungry."

"I'll feed you then. But not with the spoon." Rupert's voice was calm, but the words were shameless.

"You-"

"I'm shameless," Rupert cut her off with a faint smirk.

Sylvia gritted her teeth, snatched the spoon away, and started eating, glowering all the way.

She hated to admit it, but the Garcia family's chef could easily run a five-star restaurant. Even something as simple as rice pudding was perfect-the right amount of sweetness, and a whisper of vanilla that lingered on her tongue. Half a bowl in, she felt the warmth spreading through her stomach.

But she was annoyed. So she left most of it untouched.

"I'm done. You can leave now." Sylvia packed up the container.

"Kicking us out

am I supposed to thank Mr. Rupert for whipping

to get you out of trouble? Seems fair. Otherwise, you'd be in a much worse

her lips together, staring at

ready for you. When you faced off with her, there were plenty of people around,

were all her

to keep tangling with her? Besides, didn't you

gaze was dark as midnight-impossible to look

on

he knew everything. He

let her suffer to get

down, her hair falling

after Kay," Rupert said, voice

her hair aside, but she dodged his

laughed coldly. "Why

knew

Reese.

who raised her. Back at the

barely lost

ver

composure before Rupert was

desperate to

ke Sylv

apologize.

s

business," Rupert said,

did something wrong? Would