Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Any woman would have been moved by Lester's words.

But Sylvia didn't want to let herself be swayed so easily.

She smiled and shook her head. "Mr. Sanford, you really don't have to say things like that. With your background, you'll find someone more suitable."

"Shouldn't I be the one to decide who's suitable for me?" Lester replied, his tone serious.

Sylvia met his gaze and, for a moment, didn't know what to say.

He softened. “Alright, I won't push. You've had a long day—get some rest.” He pointed at one of the files on the table. "That school looks promising."

Sylvia glanced down and couldn't help but let out a half-laugh, half-sigh. "Mr. Sanford, I know the Sanford family has branches all over this country."

Lester grinned. "See? You know me better than you think."

He always owned up to his little schemes so openly, never hiding his true intentions.

It was something Sylvia had never experienced before-such straightforward honesty.

As a child, growing up without a father, people had whispered, speculated she was illegitimate. She could never defend herself, so whenever anyone asked about her dad, she'd dodge the question, embarrassed and uncertain.

She was always afraid Naomi would be hurt, and she didn't want others to look at her daughter differently.

Later, when she married Rupert, there was no wedding, no vows, not even a simple gold band. She was kept away from the world, tucked away in a big house with her daughter, as if she was meant to live in the shadows.

Her whole life, it seemed, she was only ever allowed to exist on the margins.

caught herself wanting to

looked at Lester and managed a genuine

nodded and

sat back on the couch, staring down at the papers in her hands, feeling a swirl

she heard someone fiddling with the lock at the front door.

Lester had forgotten something and

up to answer,

was Lester, he'd just knock. Why was someone trying to

Unless...

through the peephole—and sure enough, it was

Rupert.

God knows how he'd

changed the locks after she left the

deep breath and called out, "That's

a pause

Rupert's voice was low, almost a

down at the burn mark on the back of her hand. It had healed up alot after running it under cold' water-hardly noticeable now.

expected Rupert

let out a bitter laugh, her arm dropping

to me like that?" Rupert said,

would I have any

to me, but you can

door, she could hear the rough edge in his voice, the