Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert) novel Chapter 519

Sylvia swallowed her anger with effort, her hands clenching tightly on her knees.

“Ms. Winslet, you know I wouldn’t come to you empty-handed.”

Kay’s wine glass paused at her lips, and she shot Sylvia a razor-sharp sideways glance.

“Sylvia, you’d better watch what you say.”

Sylvia met her warning eyes directly, then let her gaze drift slowly to the ring on Kay’s finger.

Forget the elaborate setting—just the reverse-mounting technique was rare. And those gemstone cuts were hardly standard.

Sylvia was a jewelry designer; she noticed every piece that flashed by her eyes.

According to the gossip online, that ring was given to Kay by her father when she took over the family business. It was a symbol of her status.

She never took it off.

It wasn’t the kind of thing someone could fake.

Kay, noticing Sylvia’s stare, seemed to catch on and instinctively covered her hand.

Sylvia pulled out her phone, tapping a photo. She pointed at the clear handprint on Naomi’s cheek and zoomed in until you could make out the unique pattern where the middle finger had pressed.

“Ms. Winslet, maybe you should keep your hands to yourself. Otherwise…”

Sylvia threw Kay’s own words back at her.

Kay was the only female CEO in Winslet Group’s history. There were always eyes on her.

She, of all people, should’ve known how tough it was for women. Yet here she was, hurting another woman with underhanded tricks.

“Sylvia, is that a threat?” Kay slammed her glass onto the table.

“Ms. Winslet, it’s not a threat. It’s self-defense.”

They locked eyes.

A muscle jumped in Kay’s jaw. Suddenly, she gave a chilly, dangerous smile.

“Sylvia, if you didn’t have such a pathetic mother, I might actually respect you a little. Too bad… You’ll never be a match for me.”

“Well, now I do, don’t I?” Kay looked her up and down with open distaste. “You think that pretty face of yours is for anything but catching a man’s eye?”

Sylvia’s expression didn’t change, but her free hand balled into a fist on her knee.

Kay scoffed. “Give it up, Sylvia. Your little rebellion is nothing to us. Do as you’re told, and everyone will be happy.”

“Everyone? Who’s ‘everyone’?” Sylvia’s breath caught.

Sylvia felt the strength drain from her, her fists useless in her lap.

She remembered what Rupert had told her yesterday:

“I’ll be by tomorrow afternoon. We need to talk.”

So this was it.

He wanted her to marry whoever Kay picked.