Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)
Chapter 151

Talking to someone too smart could be quite a drag, Bailey mused, just as she was about to delve into some contract details. Suddenly, a frantic cry shattered the calm. "Fire! Fire! Help!"

Rupert's

gaze swept the gazebo before he bolted out without hesitation.

Bailey snuffed out her cigarette, clicking her tongue in amusement. Her manor hadn't seen this much excitement in years.

***

The manor, nestled against the woods and adorned in autumn's embrace, was always vigilant about fire, given the dry leaves that often blew in from the forest.

Thankfully, the manor staff managed to extinguish the flames quickly. But the quaint little flower garden wasn't so lucky - its once vibrant blossoms now lay charred and unrecognizable. Sylvia, drawn by the commotion, rushed out from the bathroom, just in time to see Rupert hurrying toward her from not far away.

As he neared the bathroom, a figure darted into his arms.

"Rupert, I'm alright. It's just... the fire was so sudden. It really scared me."

"Uh-huh," Rupert murmured, his posture visibly relaxing.

Sylvia stopped a few steps away, her eyes meeting Rupert's. There was an unspoken depth in his gaze, something she couldn't quite decipher.

She averted her eyes, focusing instead on the ruined garden.

The silence was broken by Bailey's voice as she interrogated a servant.

"What happened here? Haven't I reminded you all about the importance of fire safety, especially during the dry season?"

"We've been checking every hour. It wasn't our fault this time. It was..." the servants exchanged uneasy glances, their hesitation palpable.

"Out with it! What happened?"

Bailey's gaze bore into them.

One servant reluctantly showed a

lighter they'd found near the flower beds. "We found this by the flowers. It wasn't there when we checked

earlier. Someone must have started the fire on purpose!"

Bailey inspected the high-end lighter, its edges adorned with tiny diamonds - clearly not something a servant could afford.

That left only...

She turned to Sylvia and the others. "Whose is this?"

Christine immediately spoke up. "Not mine. I don't smoke, and I've been in the gazebo."

Bailey nodded. "I did see you there. But what about the others? Where were you?"

Her chilling gaze settled on Sylvia and Bridget.

Bridget, pale as a ghost, stammered, "That... that's my lighter. I had it custom-made for Rupert, but it's always been in my purse. I don't know how it ended up there!" "And where were you just now?" Bailey pressed on.

"I was just wandering around,

looking for some design inspiration.

I ran here when I heard about the fire. I didn't start it, I swear..." Bridget's voice broke as she covered her chest, looking as if she might collapse from distress.

Rupert supported her, his frown directed at Bailey. "Let's get to the bottom of this."

Sylvia, silently observing, felt a pang in her heart. Though she had expected Rupert to defend Bridget, it still hurt.

She had always assumed Rupert's

distrust was aimed at her,

dismissing her evidence. Now, she realized it wasn't about whose

evidence it was; Rupert would

always side with Bridget.

It was both sad and laughable to Sylvia. Her attempts to explain were dismissed as mere babble in his eyes.

Bailey, too, seemed displeased with Rupert's stance. She held out the lighter. "Here's the evidence, and she's already admitted it's hers. What more is there to say?"

But before anyone could respond further, a servant shouted.

"Who's there? Who's that?"