Chapter 451
Sienna stood rooted to the spot, watching the two officers without a flicker of emotion.
In the suffocating tension.
A deep, authoritative male voice sliced through the crowd.
Jarred Sterling pushed forward, a chill radiating from him. He stepped squarely in front of Sienna, his tall frame acting as an impenetrable shield, exuding absolute dominance.
He stared at the officers, his eyes harboring a restrained intensity no one else could decipher. His voice was dangerously low.
“Officers, there must be a misunderstanding. My wife is not a murderer p>
Recognizing him, the two patrolmen immediately straightened up and offered a respectful nod.
“Captain Sterling p>
Everyone in the precinct knew the highly decorated SWAT captain; their reverence was instinctual.
One of the officers looked torn and offered an apologetic explanation. “Captain, we’re just following protocol.
We have a named informant and preliminary evidence. We have to bring Dr. Sloan in for questioning.
The law will determine what’s true and false. If she’s innocent, it will come to light p>
Jarred obviously knew the system and the legal process better than anyone. This wasn’t something he could wave away with a single plea.
The cops were just doing their jobs. Interfering now would only escalate the situation.
His jaw tightened. His dark, penetrating gaze dropped to the woman beside him.
He expected to see panic, grievance, or at least a sliver of anxiety in her eyes.
But Sienna gave him none of that.
From start to finish, her back remained perfectly straight, her expression unfazed. There wasn’t a trace of fear.
She didn’t even look at him. She just shifted her gaze, her cold eyes cutting through the crowd to lock perfectly onto Celeste, who was sitting there playing the worried bystander while reaping all the rewards.
A biting streak of mockery flashed through Sienna’s eyes.
Now, she was absolutely certain.
Celeste hadn’t acted on impulse. This was a meticulously calculated trap, playing perfectly on human nature.
She had anticipated that Sienna would show up today to expose her identity.
She knew that the second the confrontation erupted, throwing out a massive murder allegation would instantly hijack everyone’s attention.
It made all the suspicions about her faked death and forged identity vanish into thin air.
She had paved a flawless exit for herself, while digging the deepest, most venomous grave for Sienna.
Using Daisy as the trigger. Bringing the police to the door.
Forcing Sienna into a corner where she had no time or energy left to focus on Celeste’s resurrection.
The days Celeste spent locked in the psychiatric ward hadn’t dulled her mind one bit.
After a brief silence, Sienna finally looked up at the two stern officers, her tone perfectly even.
“I’ll cooperate. Just give me two minutes p>
The officers exchanged a glance and nodded.
Before anyone could react, Sienna stepped forward, walking straight toward Celeste, who was still playing the gentle, harmless victim.
They were inches apart. One radiating a sharp, icy dominance, the other looking soft and innocent. A complete clash of auras.
Sienna leaned in slightly, bringing her lips to Celeste’s ear, her voice barely a whisper.
“Looks like those few days in the psych ward actually sharpened your brain. Setting up a trap this big must have been exhausting, huh p>
Sienna straightened up, taking a step back with a flawless smile resting on her lips.
A flash of unease darted through Celeste’s eyes, but she instantly masked it.
She blinked her wide, innocent eyes, looking utterly bewildered, playing the manipulative victim to perfection.
“Ms. Sloan, I have no idea what you’re talking about. We’ve never even crossed paths. Today’s banquet is the first time we’ve met.
Why are you twisting things and targeting me like this p>