Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

In her panic, she twisted her ankle on the soft grass, and her phone slipped from

her grasp, skidding down the slope straight into the ornamental pond.

She didn't spare a moment to retrieve it, quickly ducking into hiding.

Meanwhile, the man, needing to shield Bridget, arrived a step later behind the bushes.

A stray cat leaped out, pausing to lick its paw.

The man turned to pull Bridget into his arms, a mischievous look on his face. "It's just a cat."

But as he leaned closer, Bridget shoved him away with a look of disgust.

"Stop it, I'm really not feeling well."

The man immediately shrugged off his leather jacket and draped it over Bridget's shoulders.

Bridget, however, kept her gaze fixed on the paw-licking feline, squinting suspiciously. "Something's off. I feel like someone's watching."

The man shrugged. "You're too tense. Let me take you home."

Ignoring him, Bridget brushed off his hand, striding over to the cat and giving it a swift kick.

The cat, agile as ever, yowled and darted away.

Bridget stood where the cat had been lounging, scrutinizing the area, until she noticed a broken branch.

The break looked different from the others around it.

"Look at this! This has to be someone's doing!" she exclaimed, panic rising in her voice.

The man glanced at it, unfazed. "That cat was pretty wild. Could've easily snapped the branch as it jumped."

"No, no, there's definitely someone here." Bridget scanned the lawn suspiciously, pointing to a patch of trampled grass. "Look, footprints."

The man stepped closer, chuckling softly. "What kind of person has feet that slim? Probably just where the cat rolled around."

Unbeknownst to them, it was Sylvia's twisted ankle that had left the mark.

Bridget, only half convinced, continued her search, her eyes landing on the ornamental pond ahead.

She moved towards it step by step.

Sylvia, hidden in the bushes on the other side, felt her heart pounding in her chest.

It was late autumn, and small decorative ponds like this were usually drained, leaving only a shallow pool.

If Bridget got too close, she'd spot Sylvia's phone lying there.

Indeed, Bridget recalled, "I thought I heard a splash earlier."

"Bridget, you're overthinking this. Maybe you're just exhausted?" the man suggested with concern.

"I'm not imagining things! Did you know I got a call saying that as

as I took leave, that little sneake Sylvia disappeared too? She must be onto something!" swnovel

As Bridget explained, she continued moving toward the pond.

Sylvia's heart was about ready to leap out of her throat.

Someone had indeed tipped Bridget off!

No wonder she and the doctor had left so quickly.noveldrama

Just as Bridget was about to look down and spot the phone, a voice called out from behind her.

"Dr. Lennon!"

The call startled Bridget more than anyone. She abandoned any pretense of inspecting the pond and feigned nonchalance as she took a side path out of sight. swnovel

Sylvia kept her head down, watching the man.

The man greeted the approaching doctor.

"Dr. Lennon, what are you doing here? There's not much to see around here in

the fall and winter."

"Oh, just looking for a quiet spot to

kinel.n

have a smoke. You know my

department frowns on smoking, and ever in the smoking area, you get side-eye from patients' families." swnovel

The man relaxed, cigarette in hand, as if he hadn't been caught up in a steamy encounter just moments before.

The doctor chuckled. "Funny enough, same here."

They exchanged cigarettes, the man making an excuse to leave soon after, likely to find Bridget.

The other doctor finished his smoke and left as well.

With the area finally deserted, Sylvia collapsed onto the grass, her breath the only sound around her.