Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Warren had been quietly doing Sylvia favors, and she really didn't want to embarrass him over just a photo.

But things needed to be clear. He was just her brother, nothing more.

After a moment, Warren sent a smiley face.

[Get some rest.]

[Will do.]

Logging off Twitter, Sylvia casually checked her missed calls.

Seeing Rupert's number, her finger hesitated for a moment before she put down the phone, opting for a shower and bed instead.

The next morning, Sylvia got out of bed early and headed for the kitchen.

On her way, she pondered excuses to convince the servants to let her use the kitchen for a bit. After all, she was usually met with snide remarks whenever she went to grab a snack.

To her surprise, the kitchen was bustling with new faces. Upon seeing her, they immediately stopped what they were doing and greeted her respectfully.

"Ms. Lloyd, are you hungry? We'll speed things up and have breakfast ready shortly."

The speaker was a woman in her fifties, smiling warmly.

Sylvia hadn't been treated with such respect by the servants in the Garcia family before and was momentarily taken aback. She quickly waved her hands. "No, no, I just wanted to make a special breakfast for Mrs. Fiona and Warren."

She had spent the whole night thinking of how to repay Warren and decided to cook breakfast for him and his mother.

The woman nervously rubbed her hands on her apron and suggested, "How about we cook and you bring it to them? It wouldn't be right for you to do the cooking." Hearing this, Sylvia was pleasantly surprised and smiled as she took a clean apron from the rack.

"It's okay, I'd like to do it myself."

"Then let me assist you," the woman quickly offered.

Sylvia whispered, slightly confused, "Are you new here?"

The woman nodded vigorously, continuing her tasks without pause. "Yes."

"That explains it." Sylvia guessed they might have mistaken her status and explained with a smile, "You don't have to treat me like this. I don't usually live here. I am..." "I know who you are, Ms. Sylvia from the Garcia family. Orson briefed us when you arrived."

"What? Ms. Sylvia from the Garcia family? Orson?"

Orson!

What was he up to?

The woman efficiently began preparing ingredients. "Orson

insisted we treat the young lady of the family with respect and remember what should and

shouldn't be said. Aren't you the only young lady in the Garcia family?"

Well... one could see it that way, but the Garcia family didn't acknowledge her.

Why would Orson say that?

A nearly impossible thought formed in Sylvia's mind.

She glanced at the woman, "Who hired you?"

"Mr. Rupert Garcia."

"Him? Since when does he deal with such trivial matters?" Sylvia asked, a hint of surprise in her furrowed brow.

"The previous servants were gossiping about you behind your back; Mr. Rupert fired them on the spot."

The woman was adding water to the mixing bowl in front of Sylvia.

At her words, Sylvia's hand slipped, spilling the whole bowl of flour on the floor.

"Sorry, that was clumsy of me."

The

"No worries, I'll clean this

You go

"No Stopped her, smiling.

vel bet

ahead and grab whatever ingredients you need from the fridge."

"Thank you."

Sylvia turned around, struggling to keep her emotions in check.

She was convinced the woman had misunderstood; how could Rupert possibly help her?

Without dwelling on it, she opened the fridge, only to find it stocked with

a surprising amount of pot

pie.

"Who bought all the chicken pot pie?"

"It's... Mr. Warren?" The woman looked towards the kitchen door where Warren stood.

Sylvia paused, realizing only Warren remembered she loved rice pudding balls.