Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)
Chapter 163

"Mom! Cut it out, will you? I've got work to do. Go take a break or something," Sylvia shot a warning gaze at her.

Naomi bit her lip, heaved a heavy sigh, and turned to leave the room.

Sylvia lowered her gaze back to her design sketches, but her mind was blank. Eventually, she stood up and walked over to the window, staring out into the sky.

...

Three days later.

Sylvia had finally completed a jewelry design she was satisfied with. Today, Bailey was coming to the studio to finalize the design.

The thought of this being her first real client sent a mix of nerves and excitement through Sylvia. She had just entered the studio when another figure hurriedly followed her into the office. It was Freya. "Sylvia, looking happy there! You must be pretty confident about Bailey's design," Freya raised her voice, drawing the attention of a couple of colleagues.

But her eyes never left the sketch pad in Sylvia's hands.

Sylvia's eyes flickered before she put on a smile promptly, "Of course, I'm very confident. This one's going to be a hit."

As Freya heard this, a hint of jealousy flashed in her eyes, though her face maintained a seemingly sincere smile.

"Wow! Sylvia, I always knew you had it in you. You're totally going to nail it this time!"

As she spoke, she glanced sideways at an approaching figure, her lips curling up slightly.

Dressed in a chic designer outfit, Bridget walked over with grace. As the trending topic of recent days, she was the center of attention wherever she went.

She stopped in front of Sylvia, gently shaking her own sketch pad.

"Sylvia, sorry to say, but Ms. Eloise wants me to co-present the design with you later."

Sylvia frowned, "What do you mean?"

Bridget looked helpless, "Maybe Rupert thinks my design suits Bailey better. Don't be mad, okay? If Rupert insists, there's nothing I can do. He's always been kind of authoritarian." Though her words said one thing, her eyes gleamed with triumph.

Hearing this, Sylvia felt the old burn scar on arm start to throb. The

opport she had fought so bard

for was being so easily handed over to Bridget by Rupert!

Her hands balled into fists as she fought to keep the pain from

bursting out of her heart, makin net

her

whole body tense like a string about to snap. .

Bridget leaned in with a smile, whispering, "Hurts, doesn't it? Told you you'd never beat me. No matter what, Rupert always backs me up."

Sylvia took a deep breath and sneered back, "Must be tough, Bridget. Needing a man to beat me."

Bridget's smile froze.

Just then, Christine walked out of the break room, holding a coffee pot.

"Coffee's ready, folks! Raise your hand if you want some."

Christine was always eager to help, even for any trivial aspect, especially being the first one in to make coffee for everyone.

She hadn't noticed the tension between Sylvia and Bridget as she approached with the coffee pot.

"Sylvia, Ms. Simpson, let me pour you a cup...Ah!"

Christine stumbled, and the entire

pot of coffee splashed towards

Sylvia and Bridget. Both instinctively raised their hands to block

scalding coffee.

Although they weren't burned, the coffee soaked their design sketches, spreading stains everywhere, ruining the details on the paper. "Christine! What are you doing?" Freya shouted, pushing away the stunned Christine.

Christine snapped back to reality, hastily apologizing, "I-I didn't mean to. I tripped over something. I had no idea this would happen!"

Looking at her ruined sketches, Bridget was fuming, her teeth clenched in anger, yet she restrained herself due to her image. Suddenly, a stern voice cut through the chaos.

"What's going on here?"