Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert) novel Chapter 314

His hand was pale and elegant, fingers long and smooth as marble. They slid from Sylvia’s wrist into her palm, lacing through her fingers and holding tight.

He gave a gentle tug, pulling her into his arms.

Sylvia froze, then slowly looked up. He was right there—so close she could feel his breath. Rupert.

His eyes were deep and dark, like a midnight sky scattered with stars—endless, mysterious. There was something both intimidating and magnetic about his gaze.

Under its weight, her heart clenched tight. But just then, her daughter’s sweet, piping voice echoed in her mind.

“Mommy, why did you name me Stella?”

“Because your eyes are as beautiful as the night sky.”

Just like your father’s.

The moment stretched, quiet and endless, until her vision blurred with unshed tears. She didn’t want him to see her so vulnerable, so she quickly looked away, lowering her gaze.

A second later, a man’s jacket landed on her head, covering most of her face.

His scent wrapped around her, warm and steady, grounding her. Tears threatened to spill over, and she instinctively squeezed his hand even tighter.

Her nails pressed into the back of his hand, but he didn’t let go.

“Let’s go.”

Rupert led her forward.

As they walked down the hall, someone passing by nodded respectfully.

“Mr. Rupert.”

Sylvia, startled, tried to pull her hand away, but Rupert only held it tighter.

He gave a cool, polite nod. “Yeah.”

Tears prickled at Sylvia’s eyes. She couldn’t figure out why he made no attempt to hide their closeness.

Rupert kept hold of her all the way into the empty stairwell. He stopped at a window, finally breaking the silence.

“His name is Caleb Lennon. He’s Chris’s younger brother. After Benjamin Lennon died, their mother and the two brothers ran the Lennon family. Chris took on the role of the father figure. He doesn’t know.”