Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert) novel Chapter 152

Freya was practically dragged out by the servant.

"Let me go, let me go..."

Struggling, Freya was brought before the crowd.

Bailey surveyed her coldly. “What were you doing hiding over there? Did you start the fire?”

Frozen with fear, Freya collapsed to the ground, shaking her head fervently. “Bailey, it wasn’t me, I swear! Sylvia and I just stepped out to use the restroom. When she didn’t come out, I wandered off looking for her and got lost until a servant found me.”

She pointed to the servant at the edge of the group.

The servant nodded at Bailey, confirming Freya’s story.

Bailey’s eyes narrowed as she turned toward Sylvia and Bridget.

“So, it seems like it could only be one of you two. But this lighter belongs to Ms. Simpson, so that means…”

Bridget, tears streaming down her face, spoke through sobs, “I have an alibi! I ran into a gardener while I was out and even stopped to chat. You can ask them if you don’t believe me.”

Catching Bailey’s glance, the butler hurriedly fetched the gardener.

The gardener nodded vigorously. “Yes, Bailey, Ms. Simpson did stop to ask about the flowers. She couldn’t have been here setting a fire while talking to me.”

After eliminating the others, only Sylvia remained.

Bailey, with a furrowed brow, turned to Sylvia. “You don’t happen to have an alibi, do you?”

Sylvia shook her head, but before she could speak, Freya exclaimed in shock.

“Sylvia, was that why... you were talking about how important these flowers were to Bailey? To do this? Even though Ms. Simpson is Rupert’s fiancée and might have Bailey’s favor, you should have believed in yourself.”

Freya’s words effectively condemned Sylvia.

Bridget’s tears flowed freely as she clung to Rupert, her voice filled with despair. “Sylvia, how could you do this to me? You even used what I was planning to gift Rupert. You've hurt me and Rupert…”

“Sylvia, please stop. I won’t blame you. Rupert is here; don’t put him in a difficult position,” Bridget reasoned, understanding the gravity of the situation.

The others nodded, agreeing it was best not to escalate things.

“Sylvia…” Rupert began sternly.

Sylvia cut him off angrily. “What? I can’t even speak now? Do I need to grovel and beg for forgiveness before Ms. Simpson feels vindicated?”

Rupert’s expression hardened, and the crowd gasped.

Sylvia dared to confront Rupert like this.

Bailey, intrigued, raised an eyebrow. “Sylvia, you did it for me? I’d like to hear this.”

Sylvia turned to face Bailey, her gaze slowly falling to her hands.

“Bailey, you don’t really care for camellias, do you? That’s why Ms. Eloise never managed to get through to you. Everyone’s been mistaken. To you, the Camellia Manor isn’t a treasure, it’s a trophy.”