The smell drifted over, and Sylvia froze, something unexinable rising in her chest.

A few paces away, under the warm glow of themp, that cold, aristocratic man was watching her-his gaze hot enough to burn.

She looked away, keeping her face as cool and nk as before.

"I don''t want it. Take it away," she said tly.

Orson nced helplessly at Rupert.

Rupert stepped forward, took the insted container from Orson, and sat down right at the edge of the bed.

He scooped up some pudding with a long-handled spoon and held it to Sylvia''s lips.

"Eat up."

"I''m not hungry."

"I''ll feed you then. But not with the spoon." Rupert''s voice was calm, but the words were shameless.

"You-"

"I''m shameless," Rupert cut her off with a faint smirk.

Sylvia gritted her teeth, snatched the spoon away, and started eating, glowering all the way.

She hated to admit it, but the Garcia family''s chef could easily run a five-star restaurant. Even something as simple as rice pudding was perfect-the right amount of sweetness, and a whisper of vani that lingered on her tongue. Half a bowl in, she felt the warmth spreading through her stomach.

But she was annoyed. So she left most of it untouched.

"I''m done. You can leave now." Sylvia packed up the container.

Rupert raised an eyebrow. "Kicking us out already, huh?"

Sylvia''s jaw clenched. "What, am I supposed to thank Mr. Rupert for whipping me like that?"

"One little p to get you out of trouble? Seems fair. Otherwise, you''d be in a much worse spot right now," Rupert replied, cool as ever.

Sylvia pressed her lips together, staring at him, trying-and failing-to read him.

Rupert went on, "Kay inviting you to Paradise Lounge? She was ready for you. When you faced off with her, there were plenty of people around, but not one person spoke up for you. Ever wonder why?"

"They... were all her people."fnd792 Newest update provided by ?ovelFind/fnd792

"Exactly. So are you sure you want to keep tangling with her? Besides, didn''t you get what you came for?"

Rupert''s gaze was dark as midnight-impossible to look away from.

Sylvia choked on her retort.

Of course he knew everything. He always did.

So he''d let her suffer to get what she wanted.

She looked down, her hair falling to hide her face.

"Don''t go after Kay," Rupert said, voice chilling.

He reached to brush her hair aside, but she dodged his hand.

Sylvia stiffened, thenughed coldly. "Why not?"

She already knew the answer.

Reese.

Kay was Reese''s aunt-the one who raised her. Back at the restauran

Reese had barely lost her

ver

desperate to

ke Sylv

apologize.

s

"This isn''t your business," Rupert said, eyes narrowed and voice icy.

"What if she did something wrong? Would you still take her side?"

Sylvia stared right into his eyes, unblinking.

"I wouldn''t," Rupert answered, his own gaze unfathomable and steady.

"Good. I hope you remember that, Mr. Rupert."

She said it slowly, making sure he heard every word.

Then she rolled over, dismissing them without another nce.

"I''m tired. See yourselves out."

Outside in the hallway.

Chris was making his rounds when he spotted a familiar figure.

"Orson?" He nced at the room number and snorted, "Didn''t you say

you

bet

ing? And here you...

so stubborn."

belongs to s

Orson gave Chris a lopsided grin. "Dr. Chris, I''ve got good news and bad news for you."

"Let''s hear it."

"The good news is, Mr. Rupert finally opened his mouth and exined what happened at the restaurant today The bad news is, maybe he

should''ve kept it shut he''s about to get booted out of there.  s