SWNOVELS Chapter 174
Rupert!
His voice, tinted with the chill of morning fog, broke the silence as his arms wrapped securely around her.
Sylvia locked eyes with his deep gaze, and for a moment, she was utterly bewildered.
Wasn't it Naomi who was supposed to come?
Standing barefoot on the cold tiled floor, Sylvia suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Where's my mom?"
"She twisted her back." Rupert replied, his voice cold and detached.
"I'll call a cab myself. No need to trouble you."
With that, Sylvia turned and started hopping away on one foot.
Behind her, Orson, looking confused, lifted a shoe.
"Ms. Lloyd, your shoe."
"Forget it... Ah!"
The morning dew had left the tiles slick, and Sylvia barely made it two hops before slipping. Her body fell backward uncontrollably.
But a firm hand caught her, pulling her against a strong chest. The impact made her wince in pain.
The man's grip on her tightened as he looked down, his voice husky and just above a whisper, "Came down without a bra?"
Sylvia's face flushed with embarrassment.
Who sleeps in full attire? Besides, she had expected Naomi to be the one coming!
She couldn't muster the strength to push away, so instead, she placed her hands between them, trying to maintain some semblance of composure, though her red ears betrayed her nervousness. "I'm wearing a jacket," she emphasized.
Rupert didn't seem to hear her, his eyes narrowing. "What if a man saw you?"
Sylvia shifted uncomfortably. "This is a women's dorm. Other than you, what man is here? Now, let me go!"
"Except for me."
He then turned to Orson, who was still holding the slipper.
Orson, utterly baffled, pointed to himself. "Me... too? Yes, of course."
He quickly turned away.
What the boss says, goes.
Perhaps the noise had attracted attention, as the dorm supervisor emerged.
"Who's out there?"
Sylvia, startled, nudged Rupert.
This time, he didn't resist, steadying her before standing up straight beside her.
"Mrs. Ellis, I am..." Sylvia began, struggling to balance on one foot, but she wobbled and couldn't finish her sentence.
Suddenly, a hand gently supported
her from behind. She managed to stabilize, herself just in time to. explain before Mrs. Ellis approached. "I'm a graduate, just here to pick up some boxes."
Mrs. Ellis paused, eyeing Sylvia closely. "Oh, it's you. Your dean mentioned you hadn't cleared out yet. Better hurry, or they'll send someone, and you might lose your things."
"Yes, thank you. I'm on it."
"Wait, who's this man?"
Squinting without her reading glasses, Mrs. Ellis tried to get a better look at Rupert. Sylvia glanced at Rupert, who seemed amused, waiting for her to introduce him.
Hesitantly, she said, "He's... my uncle. Ouch..."
She winced as she felt a pinch on her waist.
Mrs. Ellis, her vision blurred by age could only make out a tall man im dark clothes standing beside Sylvia. His presence was intimidating, and she didn't dare pry further.
She waved them off. "Off you go, then. Be quick about it."
Before Sylvia could respond, Rupert effortlessly scooped her into his arms.
To Mrs. Ellis, he explained with a smile, "My niece here is a bit of a troublemaker- sprained her ankle."
Mrs. Ellis chuckled. "Kids these days. Well, off you go."
As Rupert carried Sylvia into the dorm, Mrs. Ellis laughed softly to herself, "Young people these days are really something. They actually think I don't understand? But 'Uncle'? That's a new one. Has some new trend popped up online? I'll look it up."