Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert) novel Chapter 175

Sylvia felt a wave of heat wash over her face and quickly turned, attempting to clear the air.

“Mrs. Ellis, it’s not…”

Rupert, with a quick stride, turned and headed upstairs, leaving her words hanging in the void of the stairwell.

Sylvia cast a dubious glance at Rupert, wondering if she’d imagined the faint amusement in his eyes.

But when she looked again, his gaze was as icy as ever.

Definitely her imagination!

Once they reached the first floor, Sylvia squirmed. “You can put me down now. I can walk in my shoes. My apartment’s pretty high up.”

Rupert remained silent, continuing his ascent.

Sylvia thought for a moment before pointing upwards. “I’m on the sixth floor. You won’t make it.”

“Third floor.”

“How did you know?” Sylvia asked, surprised.

“What do you think?” Rupert paused, his gaze deepening as he looked at her.

“You’ve been snooping on me!”

Rupert’s eyes narrowed, wondering what she was always fretting about in her head.

…

Moments later, Rupert stopped at the door to Sylvia’s apartment.

Reluctantly, Sylvia unlocked the door and entered, immediately swapping her shoes for a pair of non-slip sneakers.

Around the apartment, she gathered two suitcases, filling them with clothes for all seasons, shoes, and five boxes of books.

Books on art were expensive, and even though hers were well-worn, she couldn’t bear to part with them.

She dragged over a suitcase. “This one’s easy to carry. I can manage the rest.”

Rupert ignored her, simply glancing at the door.

Orson and the driver quickly entered, each taking half of the load and preparing to leave.

As he moved closer to Sylvia, his breath felt icy, causing an involuntary shiver to run through her.

Leaning against the table for support, she tried to keep her voice steady. “Both.”

After a moment, Sylvia’s breath caught in her throat.

A cold glint appeared in Rupert’s eyes, and he chuckled. “Is that what he told you? And you believed him?”

Sylvia defiantly met his gaze, insisting, “Why shouldn’t I believe him?”

He was the only one who had ever shown her kindness when she was in distress, promising to take her away from it all. She didn’t believe he deserved such a fate in her previous life.

Growing more agitated, she continued, “Warren has been the only one in the Garcia family, besides Edwin, who has been truly kind to me. Besides him, who else do I have to trust? He has always been…”

Her words were abruptly cut off as Rupert grasped her chin and kissed her fiercely, silencing all her protests.

Sylvia’s lips hurt from the intensity of his kiss, a side of Rupert she had never seen before. His usually calm eyes were now stormy with anger, and his entire demeanor was drastically different, enveloped in a cold aura.

After what felt like an eternity, he pulled away, his voice cold as he commanded, “Don’t mention him again.”