Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert) novel Chapter 485

Sylvia thought it over and decided not to drag Ms. Ward into this mess.

“Ms. Ward, everyone downstairs says they heard gunshots. If we tell them there might be a third person involved, do you want to spend New Year’s at the police station? Sometimes it’s better to just let things go. We’re all safe, that’s what matters.”

“You’re probably right,” Ms. Ward muttered, “But who was knocking, then? Looked like they were hurt, too. I wonder how bad it was.”

Hearing this, Sylvia couldn’t help but picture that shadowy figure in the dark.

Before she could get lost in thought, her phone blared. It was Edwin.

“Edwin—wait, what? I’m coming right now!”

Sylvia forced herself up and rushed to Naomi’s hospital room.

She barely made it to the door when she saw three cops, pushing past Edwin, insisting on taking Naomi away—even though she’d just woken up.

“Mr. Edwin, I’m sorry, but Detective Tristan says the amount involved is too great. We have to catch the thief, so Mrs. Naomi needs to cooperate with the investigation.”

“She’s still a patient!” Edwin’s frustration showed.

“We checked with her doctor. She’s awake, so she’s fine.”

“What do you mean, ‘she’s fine’ just because she woke up?” Sylvia blurted out, throwing herself in front of Naomi.

The cops looked at her, annoyed. “Ms. Lloyd, please cooperate.”

Sylvia froze for a second. They knew who she was—Tristan must’ve prepared for this.

“Wait. Tell Tristan I know what to do. Just give me a little time.”

Sure enough, the cops backed off. Their tone was all business, but their actions said otherwise.

“Ms. Lloyd, we’re just doing our job here. I hope you’ll understand.”

With that, they left the room.

Sylvia clenched her fists, then turned to Naomi, putting on an easy smile.

“Mom, just stay in bed and rest.”

Naomi’s voice was weak. “Sylvia, promise me you won’t do anything reckless.”

Edwin chimed in, “Sylvia, don’t do anything stupid. I’ve already got someone looking into the missing three million.”

Sylvia nodded, reassuring them both.

Sylvia’s heart clenched. Images of blood, foreign hitmen, guns, and violence flashed through her mind.

Suddenly, something clicked. She spun around to run, but her legs gave out and she collapsed by the door, banging her knee hard enough to draw blood.

The nurse hurried to help. “Ma’am, are you alright?”

Sylvia barely managed a thank you, then staggered out, bracing herself against the wall.

No matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she couldn’t shake what she’d seen in her last moments of consciousness—the shadow in the dark. The name had nearly escaped her lips:

Rupert.

She ran out of the hospital and hailed the first cab she could find.

The driver asked, “Where to, miss?”

“To... Sandalwood Garden.”

The place where, in another life, she’d ended it all.

Somehow, she just knew—that’s where Rupert would be.