Chapter 544
Celeste panicked and looked up, her eyes instantly pooling with frantic innocence as she shook her head vehemently in defense.
“Jarred… I honestly have no idea. I have never touched any offshore accounts, let alone know anything about illegal money laundering p>
Jarred’s gaze was dark, his obsidian eyes locking intensely onto her seemingly innocent ones, brimming with undisguised sarcasm.
“If the evidence were truly baseless, the police wouldn’t have forced you back to the Capital, nor would they have flagged it as a primary lead p>
Celeste’s mind raced, and the unease in her eyes vanished, quickly replaced by a new narrative filled with aggrieved confusion.
“I’m guessing… someone might have stolen my identity. I am just an innocent pawn in the hands of those criminals, used for nothing.
It just happens to be a perfect coincidence that Ms. Sloan caught wind of the flaw and used it as blackmail against me p>
As she spoke, she immediately raised a hand toward the roof, her eyes flushing red on cue.
“Jarred, I’m telling the truth. I swear to the heavens, I have never participated in any illegal activities.
You can investigate it thoroughly. If you find even half a lie or the slightest connection tying me to this p>
Do whatever you want with me, and I won’t utter a single complaint p>
Jarred stared quietly at her fear-stricken face, suddenly feeling it was all terribly surreal.
He had always thought Celeste was kind and obedient.
At the very least, his family adored her, and she seemed to get along with everyone.
Before he married Sienna, Celeste had never even had a dispute with anyone.
When one person thinks you have a problem, it might just be their problem.
But when everyone thinks you have a problem, then the problem is definitely you.
For the longest time, he assumed Celeste was simply suffering undue grievances because of Sienna’s domineering nature.
Yet now, after clash upon clash, he was starting to realize this seemingly innocent woman was anything but simple.
Jarred pressed his thin lips together, his expression remaining rigid and aloof, not yielding an inch.
Seeing him entirely unmoved, Celeste completely panicked.
She quickly leaned over and wrapped her arms tightly around his arm.
Pressing her warm body against him, she let her tears burst forth like a broken dam.
“Jarred, please believe me. If I truly: had that kind of manipulative power, how would I have ended up. like this disabled on the run, and hiding in the shadows p>
Celeste’s heart was racing at its absolute limit.
But a smile bloomed on her face—one far more tragic than simple grievance.
“Sienna holds all the power now, and she’s always hated the sight of me because she resents me.
She resents that I have your attention, she resents that I’m even alive.
She has ten thousand ways to forge evidence and frame me. You know her methods better than anyone p>
Celeste lowered her head, her voice turning hoarse. “I know nothing I say will make you believe me anymore.
To you, I’m just a liar. A massive burden.
You covered up my fake death and set me up in Zurich p>
Entirely because I saved your life back then. You feel indebted to me, you’re paying off a debt, and you’re only being nice to me while swallowing your disgust p>
As she uttered the last sentence, the tears finally fell, huge drops crashing onto the floor mats.
“I just wanted to live a quiet life… Why won’t anyone let me go p>
Her final words were laced with endless humility and sorrow.
Jarred’s brow furrowed, the suppressed irritation within him bubbling over uncontrollably.
Without waiting for her to continue her pathetic wailing, he impatiently raised a hand to cut her off.
“Enough,” he commanded. “Stop crying p>
Jarred’s voice was frigid and heavy, carrying an overwhelming exhaustion.” Since you’re back, stay En your lane, remain quietly at home”: and do not cause any more trouble.’ II
It was a simple sentence, yet Celeste caught the layered meanings hidden within.