Rupert was sitting on the couch, flipping through some paperwork when he nced up at her.


    "Awake? Looks like that fits you pretty well."


    "Yeah," she replied, nodding, but there was something off about the way he said it


    that made her pause.


    Just then, Orson came out of the kitchen.


    "Mr. Rupert, Ms. Lloyd, breakfast is ready."


    Rupert closed his folder and stood up, then gently ushered Sylvia over to the dining table.


    "I''ll have the driver take you to the studioter," he told her as she sat down.


    Sylvia checked her watch but didn''t argue. "Alright."


    As breakfast was winding down, she snuck a nce at him and asked carefully, "Uncle Rupert, you took your meds yesterday-how are you feeling today?"


    Rupert''s expression darkened just a touch. "I''m fine."


    Sylvia persisted, "Make sure you take your pills after breakfast—just to be safe."


    He just nodded, setting down his fork and fixing his gaze on her.


    Sylvia squirmed under his stare, feeling awkward. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Wiping his hands, Rupert said quietly, "Just surprised you still care, that''s all." Sylvia was about to retort, but a security guard knocked and walked in.


    "Mr. Rupert, we found Ms. Simpson. She''s safe, and right now—" "Ahem!" Orson cleared his throat loudly, shooting a re at the guard.


    He''d worked so hard to create a cozy moment-who invited this guy to ruin it?


    The guard looked baffled, ncing at Orson as if to say, "Didn''t you want updates? Isn''t this urgent?"


    Orson nearly rolled his eyes.


    Sylvia suddenly mmed her fork and knife down, her face going pale as she stared at Rupert.


    "Uncle Rupert, you let her go on purpose! So this is what she gets for lying to you? She gets to just run off with her boyfriend, no consequences? While I''m the one who gets humiliated?"


    Rupert said nothing.


    She couldn''t believe it-even now, he was still protecting Bridget.


    She couldn''t stand to stay another second. She stood up abruptly, identally knocking over Rupert''s bottle of pills.


    When she looked down, she realized the box was still sealed.


    He hadn''t taken his medicine at all!


    It hit her like a punch to the gut.


    She drew in a shaky breath. "You lied to me again!"


    Orson hurried to exin, "Ms. Lloyd, actually-"


    But Sylvia didn''t want to hear it. She turned on her heel and walked out.


    Orson looked helplessly at Rupert. "Sorry, Mr. Rupert."


    Rupert waved him off and red coldly at the guard who''d barged in.


    "What now?"


    "Uh... Caleb booked a flight for Christmas Day," the guard stammered.


    Orson frowned. "So Bridget''s just given up and skipped town?" Rupert lit a cigarette, tossing the lighter on the table. "No."


    Sylvia wandered into the studio in a daze.


    She''d barely sat down when a coworker appeared with fresh coffee, suddenly all smiles and friendliness.


    "Sylvia, about everything before-we''re really sorry. We had no idea Bridget was like that. She totally fooled us."


    "It''s fine," Sylvia said, epting the coffee with a small smile.


    No point holding a grudge—they still had to work together.


    Her coworkers visibly rxed, going back to their desks.


    But as Sylvia stared at herputer, the thought of Rupert secretly shielding


    Bridget made her chest tighten.


    Just yesterday, she''d watched


    vels


    Rupert tear down Bridget''s lies,. for a moment, she''d thought maybe just maybe-everything had changed.


    She was wrong.


    So wrong.


    It had all been an illusion.


    His heart would always side with Bridget.


    And really, if he wasn''t so hopelessly


    in


    as one with her, would he have


    those surgery papers that


    his daughter her life?


    Sylvia couldn''t focus all morning.


    When the clock finally hit five, she ssme cold water on her face in the bathroom. As she stepped out into the lobby, she noticed someone waiting for her.


    "Sylvia, long time no see."