Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Sylvia blurted out, "Then go tell Rupert to marry me off to him! Do it now!"

Naomi choked on her words, unable to muster a response.

No one dared to cross Rupert. Could she?

After a moment of silence, Sylvia suddenly grabbed Naomi's arm.

"Mom, do you...do you have any pills?"

"What kind of pills?"

"Morning-after pills," Sylvia said with a tone of resignation.

"You...At my age, why would I possibly have those? Even if it came to that, your stepfather has always been considerate of me."

"Mom, the Garcias must be watching me. Can you go get the pill for me? I was ovulating yesterday."

Sylvia opened her period tracker app, her gaze lingering the day marked in red, a wave of fear washing over her.

She loved Stella. But she couldn't bear Stella. Her Stella deserved to be born into a happy family, not suffer alongside her.

Naomi furrowed her brows and sighed.

"I'll take care of it."

"Okay."

Sylvia exhaled in relief.

But Naomi didn't head out to purchase it herself; instead, she asked a trusted maid to do it, and the maid then left. She didn't take it seriously, assuming right now, everyone's attention was centered on the living room. Unbeknownst to Naomi, her request was overheard.

Half an hour later, Naomi entered the room, holding an opaque pharmacy bag.

"Take the pill quickly, or it'll be too late for it to work."

Sylvia nodded, glancing at the box that read "48-hour emergency contraception".

Before swallowing the pill immediately, she instinctively touched her stomach. Her beloved daughter had once lived there. So understanding, so adorable.

But she couldn't let Stella experience an unwelcome birth again, only to die alone in a hospital bed. How scared Stella must have been?

"So, Stella, don't blame your mom." She thought, "In this life, you must find parents who adore you, to grow up happy."

Sylvia's face was pale, her fingers trembling as she pushed the pill into her mouth, but she couldn't swallow it.

She had to tilt her head back and gulp down water, forcing herself not to change her mind. Even though the water was warm, she felt a chill throughout her body.

As she swallowed, tears fell down her cheeks.

"Rupert," she murmured to herself, "you've finally gotten rid of the two people you hated most."

Her and Stella.

After the moment of sorrow, Sylvia took a deep breath, quickly getting up to dispose of the pill box.

Suddenly, the door was flung open with such force it banged against the wall, shaking the room. Before Sylvia and Naomi could react, they were seized by the arms by Tristan's servants. Shortly after, Sylvia was dragged back to the hall. She was pushed forward, tumbling to the ground.

Her body was already exhausted from the previous night's ordeal, and teeth gritted, she could barely keep herself upright.

Lifting her eyes, she met the gaze of those around her, filled with even more contempt than before. Especially Rupert, whose eyes were dangerously cold.

The room fell silent, except for Bridget's muffled sobs.

Sylvia looked over to see Bridget's eyes, brimming with tears but also holding a deep meaning. The next moment, a box of pills was tossed at Sylvia's feet, the tablets scattering across the floor. Tristan slammed his hand on the coffee table.

"What is this? Explain yourself!"

Sylvia's heart skipped a beat, and she truthfully said, "Morning-after pills."

Rupert glanced over, his voice frosty, "Morning-after pills? Really?"

The drawl at the end was filled with scorn.

Sylvia looked down, her heart lurching as she noticed the name on the pill box.

The box indeed said "48-hour emergency contraception", but on the foil packs it said they were fertility drugs.