Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Lester furrowed his brow and said firmly, "I trust Sylvia. And Mr. Rupert, too."

Hearing this, Sylvia felt a rush of warmth in her chest and gave Lester a grateful smile.

So, trust can be this simple, she thought.

You don't always need a mountain of evidence.

Just then, she noticed someone watching her from the side—a gaze, cold and shadowy.

Sylvia ignored it and pressed on, "Mr. Sanford, do you know her?"

Reese rubbed his forehead, straightened up, and introduced, "Fay's an old friend of mine-she's my maid of honor, actually. We went to high school together, then studied abroad. She used to visit me at college a lot, so she's met Mr. Rupert a few times. That's why she's so invested in my wedding."

"Sylvia, you and-"

Her voice broke off, eyes going a little red.

Before Sylvia could reply, Fay jumped in, her voice sharp, "Reese, isn't it obvious? She's just looking for trouble, trying to snag Mr. Rupert when no one's around!"

Sylvia arched an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"

"Of course. I know Mr. Rupert would never do something like that. But you?" Fay shot a glare at Sylvia. "You're the one with the shady motives."

out a cold

male voices cut through

you spend two minutes picking wine

behind a curtain, holding a

followed, giving Chris a playful shove. Chris yelped,

bottle of wine for a friend. Happened to run into Sylvia here. But

knew exactly who he was talking

a glance at someone in

Chris and Orson. "Wait-you two? How'd you even

what do you think? We walked in. It's a wine cellar, not

"No way!" Fay blurted.

"Ms. Langley, how can you be so

guessed," Fay stammered, realizing

much figured out Fay was the one who'd locked her

wasn't Fay supposed to be Reese's best friend—and maid of honor? Didn't she care if Reese got

and Chris hadn't shown up when they did, Sylvia wasn't sure how she'd have explained

about to call Fay out, but Reese stepped in to smooth

walked to Rupert's side and slipped her arm through his. "I trust Mr. Rupert, too. If it's

protested, frustration clear in her

say you wanted to take me and my brother out for dinner? Mr. Rupert's here, let's all go together Reese said glancing up at Rupert, her color

the jade-handled cane Orson handed