Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

The noise drew everyone's attention, like moths to a flame.

Even Sylvia found herself glancing at Freya, a knot of suspicion tightening in her stomach.

This was the kind of thing Freya would do, she thought. Always trying to tug at people's heartstrings by acting like the pitiful underdog, no matter the situation.

Back in school, the students, naïve and sympathetic to her tough upbringing, often fell for it. But here, among these sharp-eyed professionals, who couldn't see through her little charade?

Eloise, frowning, said, "Stop wiping and just step outside."

"Yes, Ms. Eloise," Freya replied, her eyes rimmed with tears, lips quivering as if she were about to burst into sobs-playing the damsel in distress to perfection.

Hilbert, ever the gentleman, offered a supportive arm to Freya, smiling kindly. "It's really not a big deal, no need to be upset."

Freya looked up, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Carmen," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she reluctantly left the room, glancing back with every step.

Sylvia snapped back to reality, her gaze landing on the sapphire resting on the table. The security team was carefully returning it to its case. She scrutinized it but found nothing amiss.

Eloise rose, reminding the guards, "Handle with care."

They nodded, affirming their understanding.noveldrama

Hilbert checked his watch, then turned to Sylvia. "Sylvia, don't forget the gala."

Keeping a respectful distance, Sylvia nodded. "I won't, Mr. Carmen."

Afterward, Eloise escorted Hilbert out, while Sylvia accompanied the guards to safely store the sapphire.

As she passed Bridget, there was an enigmatic smile on Bridget's lips. "Stay cautious, Sylvia."

"Thanks for the heads up," Sylvia replied, her own smile not quite reaching her eyes, as she followed the guards.

Two days later, with the brooch's setting complete, only the sapphire needed to be mounted. Eloise personally oversaw the process, while Sylvia stood by, instructing the jeweler to be meticulous.

Yet, the unexpected struck.

A soft crack echoed through the room as the sapphire shattered.

Silence descended, the jeweler's face pale and glistening with sweat. "It wasn't

me, I swear! I didn't apply much pressure."

Eloise, regaining her composure, picked up the broken sapphire, her body suddenly feeling as if it weighed a ton.

Sylvia steadied Eloise, examining the fragments closely, and her heart sank with the realization. "This isn't the sapphire we signed for."

"Check the vault's security footage, now," Eloise ordered, her voice drained of strength.

Sylvia scanned her access card to open the door, calling the security officer over. Upon explanation, the officer swiftly retrieved the footage.

Over the past two days, no one had entered the vault except during the initial storage.

Eloise collapsed into a chair, clutching her head. "How did this happen? Where did we go wrong?"

Sylvia's anxiety mirrored Eloise's, but panic wouldn't solve anything now. She racked her brain for any details from the day of the delivery, then remembered Freya's little mishap.

"Ms. Eloise, what if the switch happened before we stored it?"

Eloise rubbed her temples, catching. Sylvia's drift, and quickly made her way to her office, looking to he assistant Bella. "Find Freya and bring her here."

Bella nodded, casting a glance at Sylvia before leaving.

Sylvia's mind flashed back to Bella's recent closeness with Bridget, a thought that made her uneasy.

Minutes later, Freya entered the office with Bridget beside her, and Sylvia realized Bella had tipped Bridget off.

Eloise looked at Bridget with a raised brow. "What are you doing here?"

Bridget smiled, gently nudging Freya forward. was at the front desk when Bella mentioned something was up, so I thought I'd see if could lend a hand."

Eloise frowned but remembered Bridget had been present that day, so she let it slide.

Turning to Freya, she asked, "Did you do anything else that day?"

As usual, Freya's eyes welled with tears, her head shaking vigorously. "Ms.

Eloise, I—I don't know what you mean. What did I do?"