NovelOnlineChapter 454
When Rupert heard the word "fire," he froze again.
He couldn't help but remember the little girl in his dreams, her clear dislike for him.
Every night, his dreams ended the sway: the little girl running into the flames, holding the hand of a woman
whose face he could never quite see. They would share a look, a gentle smile, and then vanish from his dream,
leaving him with nothing but the echo of their absence.
While Rupert stood lost in thought, Sylvia managed to slip from his grasp and put a few steps between them.
There was anger in her voice, but a touch of pleading too. "Uncle Rupert, | know | can't win against you. But I'm
still a person. Haven't you and your son humiliatedenough? Do you really need the whole world to point at
She didn't wait for him to respond. Turning on her heel, she walked away.
Rupert reached out, but only caught the coat draped over her shoulders. Sylvia didn't even slow down-she
shrugged off the coat and disappeared into the snowy night without a backward glance.
Snow gathered on Rupert's shoulders as Orson hurried over, holding an umbrella above him.
"Mr. Rupert, if you keep Ms. Lloyd hidden here, and Tristan finds out... I'm afraid
"Tristan always keeps a card up his sleeve," Rupert muttered, lighting a cigarette. The swirling smoke masked
the storm in his eyes.
"A card?" Orson asked, confused.
"Cutting out the problem at the root," Rupert replied, voice cold.
He looked at the house, following the line Sylvia had pointed to earlier, and a vivid image played out in his mind.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtFinally, Rupert's gaze settled on the small garden out back. For a moment, he almost saw two of the most
important people in his life standing there.
He crushed out his cigarette, his voice low and distant. "Sylvia doesn't get to just walk away from this."
Orson saw the obsession in Rupert's eyes and, for a moment, didn't know what to say.
ork
Sylvia stumbled home, numb and exhausted. She was startled when the door swung open as soon as she
touched the handle.
"You're back!” Ms. Ward exclaimed, ushering her inside. "You're still recovering, your face is as white as a sheet. |
made schili stew; ceat while it's still hot."
"Thank you," Sylvia managed, realizing she didn't want to be alone tonight. Her thoughts were too heavy.
Inside, Ms. Ward handed her a steaming mug as soon as she sat down.
"Want a drink?" Ms. Ward asked, already pouring wine into two glasses.
Sylvia blinked, a little surprised at her neighbor's readiness. "You were waiting for me?"
Ms. Ward just grinned. "Good stew and a little wine-by tomorrow, nothing will seem quite so bad."
Sylvia almost wondered if Ms. Ward knew something more, but the older woman didn't pry. She just poured the
wine, tossed sribeye slices into the bubbling stew, and even mixed up a dipping sauce for Sylvia.
After a hearty meal and a couple of glasses, Sylvia felt pleasantly lightheaded. She made her way home, fell into
bed, and was asleep before her mind could wander.
The next morning, she was back at work, busy enough that there was no tfor brooding.
The day before the winter holidays, she finally had a breather. After
helping her coworkers with the big office clean-up, they ordered afternoon tea and relaxed, counting down the
hours until freedom.
Everyone was chatting about where they'd go for the holidays, and Sylvia found herself tempted to join in. In her
last life, she'd married right after college had a kid, and barely even left the house, let alone gone on vacation.
Now that she'd saved up a little money, maybe it was tto enjoy life for once.
She was still daydreaming when the front desk called her office.
"Sylvia, there's someone here to see you."
She set down her tea. "I'll be right there."
Downstairs, she saw someone approaching-slow and steady.
It was Reese.
"Sylvia."
"Ms. Sanford! What brings you here?"
"Just callReese," she laughed, correcting her gently.
Worried that Reese might be tired
from the walk, Sylyig auick®y Relped
her to aSdf The content is on
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chapter there!
Reese smiled. “Don't treatlike I'm
fragile. | wore hese lege with Mi
Ror: all over Bish yland. This was
nothing." The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
"Disneyland?" Sylvia repeated, a little
taken aback by the Unexpegied detail.
She quickly turned fhe ’
r&eddtionist. "Could we have some
water, please?" The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
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