Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert) novel Chapter 84

No big deal?

Sylvia let out a sarcastic chuckle, her eyes downcast as she spoke. "Officer, you've heard it all. They're not admitting to anything, and Ms. Simpson has testified on their behalf. As the plaintiff, I demand they produce evidence to refute my accusations, especially the so-called evidence of me 'flirting' or 'provoking' them.

And let's not forget... Ms. Simpson's oh-so-certain testimony that I was trying to climb the social ladder by taking shortcuts.

You're officers, equipped with body cams at all times. Surely, they can't just change their stories now, can they?"

When the words fell, the three were dumbfounded. Especially Bridget, whose smugness turned to shock in an instant. She had been sitting quietly, not causing any trouble until she decided to be a bit too clever for her own good.

Now, none of them could escape the consequences.

The officer nodded. "The body cams have been recording this whole time. Everything said has been logged. Do you have any evidence to back up your claims?"

Bridget had brought this upon herself and took a moment to gather her thoughts. She moved to sit next to Rupert, tears welling up in her eyes. "Rupert, I just wanted to smooth things over for the Garcia family. After all, if word of this gets out, it's not just Sylvia's reputation that's tarnished, but the Garcias' as well."

She hoped the mention of the Garcia family would prompt Rupert to speak on her behalf.

Sylvia knew Rupert would likely do just that, so she quickly interjected. "Bridget, are you saying you have no evidence, yet you've accused me of seduction just to gain fame? That's defamation. As a woman, and supposedly the future Mrs. Garcia, you're not only embarrassing your fiancé but also tarnishing the Garcia family's name."

Bridget's face turned pale at the accusation. But being quick-witted, she quickly grasped the gravity of her situation. She began to feign weakness, her sobs breaking through as her eyes reddened with apparent sorrow.

"Sylvia, I'm sorry. I know you're upset because I pulled Rupert away, but I honestly didn't think your seniors would treat you that way. I saw how happily you were all drinking together and thought you were on good terms. It was my misunderstanding. Please, scold me if you must."

The officer frowned. "Ms. Simpson, please be responsible with your words from now on!"

Bridget, usually so serene and dignified, looked as if she had been slapped in public. She sat stiffly, like a prisoner in a cell, her humiliation palpable.

Sylvia, however, merely smiled. "Gentlemen, what now? If I'm not mistaken, Ms. Simpson's statement implies she's clueless about the whole affair. It has nothing to do with her."

The men were panicked; without Bridget's support, they were doomed.

"Nonsense! Ms. Simpson, you can't just change your story. You were the one who implied Sylvia was all about pleasing others, saying she was touching up her makeup for us. If you hadn't said that, why would we have thought to touch her?"

"You..." Bridget's tear-streaked face was the picture of wrongful accusation as she protested. "I did say that, but only to point out that she cared about the celebration dinner and wanted to discuss her design with you. It's your dirty minds that twisted my words. And now you dare blame me? I don't see how those comments could be seen as suggestive."