Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

"Ms. Langley, you have to tell us who told you this. Slandering my mom is bad enough, but dragging the Garcia family into it? That's a big deal. What if people start saying stuff like 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree'? How is Tristan supposed to show his face in public after that?"

With every word, Sylvia took a step closer to Fay.

Fay had never seen Sylvia like this before. She stumbled back in confusion, bumping right into a display rack of costume jewelry.

"You... you..."

She stammered for a while, but couldn't seem to come up with a comeback.

But Sylvia just kept up her act, looking as if she trusted Fay completely.

"Ms. Langley, we're colleagues, and you're Reese's good friend, so I really trust your character. I'm only asking because I don't want you to accidentally get on the Garcia family's bad side."

Fay sucked in a sharp breath.

All she'd wanted was to rile up Sylvia and Naomi, embarrass them in front of the Sanford family. How had this turned into her being at odds with the Garcias?

And somehow, Sylvia had managed to say both the good and the bad, leaving Fay with nothing to add.

desperate glance at

worried Fay might blurt something out, and quickly stepped in with a smile to ease the

Lloyd, Fay's never dealt with someone like you before you've scared her half to death. How do you expect

clear: Sylvia was

chest and nodding like she

work even harder to clear their name? The Garcias have ha spotless reputation for generations-you can't just throw dirt

faltered for

just don't want this to blow up and make everyone uncomfortable," she said, trying to widen the scope of the issue, hoping the influence of both

Kay's earlier theatrics with a dramatic

that? Does the Garcia family's

you forgotten

Mr. Rupert? Shouldn't

Sanford. their family

the Garcia relatives in the room sit up straight. With the wedding just around the corner and everyone watching, any scandal could hurt

quickly tried to brush it off. "Ms. Lloyd's got quite the silver tongue. Even as an elder, I can't out-argue her. Let's just

implying Sylvia was just being