Chapter 23
Sienna couldn’t fathom why Jarred was glaring at her like that, considering he was the one entirely in the wrong.
It wasn’t the first time she had been confronted with their affair. She was completely numb to the overwhelming flood of gossip columns back home.
But seeing it unfold right in front of her still sent a vicious, involuntary pang through her chest.
And with Celeste’s pointed comment just now, it was clear they couldn’t even be bothered to maintain the barest shred of decency anymore.
Jarred’s gaze never wavered from Sienna.
She sat bathed in the warm, ambient glow, the soft lines of her profile illuminated as Maloney gently placed a piece of lamb on her plate with tender consideration.
He was suddenly thrust back to the memory of Sienna’s first visit to the Sterling Manor.
His grandfather had told her to choose one of his three grandsons. She had kept her head down, cheeks flushed with pink, and hesitantly pointed her finger toward Maloney.
Of course.
After all these years… the man she truly wanted had always been Maloney.
The last trace of warmth vanished from Jarred’s eyes. His stare grew as dark and suffocating as the ocean floor, fixed entirely on Sienna.
Celeste was the first to slice through the heavy silence.
“Well, well. Maloney, Sienna… you two hid this quite well. Sneaking off behind everyone’s backs to fly all the way out here… for a dinner date p>
The words sounded innocent enough on the surface, but paired with her earlier comment, the insinuations about their relationship were glaringly obvious.
Celeste never respected her enough to use her given name in front of others. Even within the Sterling household, she only maintained politeness out of fear of the family patriarch.
Hearing her say her name now felt like nails on a chalkboard.
Before Sienna could utter a word, Jarred had already drawn his brows together.
Maloney didn’t even spare Celeste a glance. His sharp, calculating eyes remained entirely fixed on Jarred. “I wasn’t originally meant to take this trip. You were too busy, so I stepped in.
As for why we’re staying at this specific hotel, you’re welcome to look into it yourself p>
Jarred’s brow twitched slightly at the underlying challenge.
Celeste covered her mouth, giggling softly. “Oh my god! What did I miss? Since when do you and Sienna share little secrets, Maloney p>
Sienna couldn’t stomach another second of it. She set her glass down decisively. “I’m finished eating, Maloney. I’m exhausted, so I’m going back to my room p>
Maloney was already on his feet, his towering frame stepping deliberately in front of her to block the other two from view, his gaze sweeping over them appraisingly.
“I’ll walk you p>
“No need,” Sienna shook her head. “I’ll be fine. Enjoy your meal p>
She had barely taken a single step when Celeste’s mockingly ambiguous laughter echoed behind her. “Sienna, why are you rushing off the second Jarred and I get here? It makes it look like you’re guilty of something p>
Sienna froze in her tracks.
She had wanted nothing more than to preserve her energy and avoid any pointless drama, but clearly, someone was begging for a reality check.
She turned around slowly, and with a resounding smack, delivered a vicious backhand straight across Celeste’s left cheek.
The sharp crack echoed through the dining room, plunging the entire space into a stunned silence.
Celeste stood completely paralyzed, clutching her face as her eyes bulged in sheer disbelief.
Sienna looked down at her with utter contempt. “Who the hell do you think you are to question my whereabouts p>
“How dare you hit me!” Celeste finally snapped out of her shock, screeching as she lunged forward.
Before she could even finish her sentence, Sienna raised her hand and slapped her again with equal ferocity.
Sienna stared coldly at the immediate red swelling blooming across the woman’s cheeks, her eyes devoid of anything but disgust. “You’re nothing but a leech. If I want to slap you, I will. Do I need to submit an itinerary for that too p>
Celeste froze, her face burning with agonizing pain, but what hurt more was Jarred’s reaction.
His eyes bypassed her entirely, remaining stubbornly locked on Sienna.
Celeste wanted to lunge forward and demand retribution, but when she looked up, she crashed right into Maloney’s lethal glare.
He was standing right behind Sienna, exuding a suffocating, terrifying aura.
Celeste shrank back involuntarily, forcefully swallowing her venom.