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

male voices cut through the tension from

two minutes picking wine and

curtain, holding a

followed, giving Chris a playful shove. Chris yelped, "Hey, I'm alive,

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

who

snuck a glance at someone in

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

his eyes, "Ms. Langley, what do you think? We walked in.

"No way!" Fay blurted.

"Ms. Langley, how can you

guessed," Fay stammered, realizing

out Fay was the one who'd locked her

maid

Chris hadn't shown up when they did, Sylvia wasn't sure

to call Fay out, but Reese

slipped her arm through his. "I trust Mr. Rupert, too. If

Fay protested, frustration clear in her

me and my brother out for dinner? Mr. Rupert's here, let's all go together

the jade-handled cane Orson handed