"Sylvia, I''ve been nothing but good to you all these years. Is it too much to ask for


    a little gratitude from you, my dear niece? I''ve spent millions on you."


    Hilbert suddenly leapt up, lunging at Sylvia and grabbing her jacket.


    In a quick maneuver to avoid his grasp, Sylvia slipped out of her jacket.


    Hilbert tossed the jacket aside and resumed his pursuit, eventually catching her in a forceful embrace.


    In the struggle, Sylvia''s sleeve was torn open.


    Hilbert took a deep breath, eyeing the exposed skin. "Sylvia, you smell incredible. Just one kiss."


    "Let me go! This isn''t why I''m here!"


    Desperate, Sylvia kneed Hilbert hard in the groin. He doubled over, face flushed, and shoved Sylvia away.


    "Bitch!" he spat.


    Sylvia stumbled against a table, falling to the ground.


    Terrified, she grabbed a broken piece of a ceramic mug from the floor, brandishing it at Hilbert.


    "Stay back! Or I won''t hesitate to use this!"


    Hilbert, face red and clutching his groin, sneered, "You won''t hesitate, huh? And what are you going to do about it? Don''t forget, your life is in my hands! If I decide to hold Eloise''s studio ountable, they''ll serve you up on a silver tter to save their own skin. You think you can defy me?"


    Sylvia froze, her face going pale. "You... You were behind the sapphire debacle! You switched the gem to frame me!"


    Backing into a corner, Sylvia found herself trapped with nowhere to go.


    Hilbert chuckled, moving closer. "Even if I did, what can you prove? Who''d believe I stole my own gem?"


    "So, Sylvia, be a good girl, and I''ll take care of you. I won''t press charges."


    "Otherwise... I''ll make sure you''re cklisted from the entire jewelry scene in Kingstoria."


    Sylvia stared at him, shocked, her eyes brimming with tears. "All this, just for something so vile? Aren''t you afraid the Carmen family will be aughingstock?"


    me


    "Hahaha... Who daresugh at the Carmen family now?" Hilbertughed maniacally.


    Sylvia lowered her gaze, the tears in her eyes quickly dissipating. She thrust the shard into Hilbert''s leg.


    Hisughter turned into a scream. "Ah!"


    Seizing the moment, Sylvia pushed past him and ran for the door.


    Hilbert mmed his fist on the table, enraged. "Sylvia! You won''t get


    away! My men are all over this nee


    restaurant! When I catch you, you''ll wish you were never born!


    Sylvia didn''t look back, sprinting towards the restaurant''s exit,


    clutching her bag tightly. Her Jic


    depended on what was inside.


    As she neared the door, a group of men entered, eyes scanning the room.


    The man leading them was the one who had helped Hilbert with the safe on the day of the jewelry hand-off.


    He was undoubtedly one of Hilbert''s closest allies.


    "There she is."


    Before Sylvia could hide, the bodyguards spotted her. She quickened her pace, racing down another hallway.


    Suddenly, a hand mped over her mouth, pulling her into a nearby private dining


    room.


    She collided with a solid chest, enveloped in the scent of wood and tobo, the hot breath at her ear making her tense up.