"Sylvia, I''m fine, really. You''re not heavy at all. I''ll get up and help you," Freya said, as if Sylvia had purposely decided to crush her with her weight.


    Sylvia couldn''t help but roll her eyes discreetly.


    Why on earth had she decided to trust Freya?


    As Freya got up, she cast a pitiful nce towards the car window, her movements exaggeratedly slow, almost like she was in a dramatic y.


    Suddenly, the sound of the car door opening came from behind Sylvia.


    Freya instantly morphed into a picture of innocence, looking up at the


    approaching man with big doe eyes. "Mr. Rupert, really, I''m fine! I can manage, I just..."


    Sylvia felt goosebumps rise on her skin. In another life, what had possessed her to think Freya was genuinely pitiful?


    Unable to stand it any longer, Sylvia shuffled forward.


    But Freya''s voice suddenly cut off, reced by Sylvia''s startled yelp.


    "Ah!"


    Rupert had swooped in, grabbing her purse and effortlessly lifting her off the ground. To keep her bnce, she had no choice but to wrap her arms around his neck.


    "What are you doing? Put me down!" Sylvia protested, squirming.


    "If you don''t want to risk what little intelligence you have left spilling out, you''d better hold on tight, my dear niece," Rupert murmured just for her, his voice low and teasing.


    Sylvia''s mind felt like it was about to explode with frustration and embarrassment. What did he mean by that?


    Rupert carried her towards the car, undeterred by Freya''s attempt to intervene with a sweet smile. "Mr. Rupert, really, you don''t need to help me, I can manage."


    "No need, she''s fragile and might fall," Rupert said, brushing past Freya as he ced Sylvia in the car.


    As the car door shut, Freya''s face pressed against the ss, startling Sylvia.


    Freya put on her best concerned expression. "Mr. Rupert, Sylvia looks really hurt. She should go to the hospital. I need to go too, so maybe we could..."


    "Not on the way," Rupert replied curtly, signaling the driver.


    Without missing a beat, the driver hit the gas, speeding away as if they were being chased.


    Sylvia sat in the car, resigned, pointing towards the uing intersection. "Just drop me off here. I''ve called a cab."


    The driver nced at Rupert, and the car sped through the intersection without stopping.


    Sylvia red at Rupert, the culprit of her predicament, and reluctantly canceled her ride. But she couldn''t shake the feeling that the car was saturated with the scent of Bridget''s perfume, a lingering reminder of intimacy she wanted to escape.  swnovel


    She shifted ufortably, trying to avoid the cloying aroma.


    "Is there a nail in the seat?" Rupert askedzily, leaning back, resting his chin on his hand as he watched her.


    "Yes," Sylvia replied sarcastically.


    In one swift motion, he pulled her onto hisp, his hand gently resting on her back. "How about now?"


    "Let go of me!" Sylvia tried to pry his hand away, but he was much stronger.


    With a click, the driver closed the partition, leaving them in privacy. Sylvia knew the driver had gotten the wrong idea, and any struggle might provoke Rupert further. She sat up straight, enduring the ride until they finally stopped.  swnovel


    Rupert gave her a mischievous nce as he climbed out, "You sit up nice and straight."


    Ignoring him, Sylvia got out, only to find herself facing the unmistakable sign of the hospital.


    Orson approached with a wheelchair, helping Sylvia into it.


    The sight of the hospital reminded


    her of the midday scene she had et


    witnessed between Bridget and Chris, lost in their own world  swnovel


    Just as she was figuring out how to bring it up, a familiar figure in a white coat briskly approached.


    "Sylvia, how about I set you up with a VIP card for our hospital?" came Chris''s voice, catching her off guard.


    Hearing him, Sylvia stiffened, her fists clenching involuntarily.