Chapter 107
The moment he said that, a wave of discontent rippled through the crowd, but given Jarred’s status, no one dared object out loud.
“When does the next vehicle arrive?” Sienna asked, her voice dangerously low.
“Not until this afternoon p>
Sienna stood motionless, staring at the transport.
The vehicle was built to seat dozens of people, yet it was being commandeered entirely for Celeste. Was she the size of an elephant?
Just then, the door to the break room swung open.
Jarred emerged, carrying a ghostly pale Celeste on his back.
Her leg was wrapped in thick gauze, the exposed skin covered in scrapes. She kept her brows furrowed, looking the picture of fragile vulnerability.
Clinging to Jarred’s back, her shoulders trembled slightly as she let out the occasional suppressed whimper, as if the agony might cause her to pass out at any moment.
Jarred’s expression was taut, his eyes brimming with deep anxiety.
He moved swiftly, his eyes locked on the path ahead, completely ignoring the large crowd gathered in the courtyard.
Seeing him approach, the crowd immediately stepped aside.
Only Sienna remained planted in the center of the yard, refusing to budge an inch, blocking their path entirely.
Jarred frowned and looked up.
When he saw who was standing in his way, he stopped in his tracks.
For a fleeting second, something flickered in his eyes—a mix of profound relief and something far more complex.
His gaze quickly swept over the countless scrapes covering her body. Seeing no fatal wounds, his tense jawline relaxed a fraction.
But in the next second, noticing her deliberate blockade, his expression instantly darkened.
“Move,” he ordered, his voice dripping with ice. “Can’t you see she’s in unbearable pain p>
Sienna met his glare fearlessly, a frosty smile curving her lips. “I can see that just fine. That’s exactly why I’m not moving p>
Jarred’s face hardened, the air around him dropping several degrees. “Sienna, what the hell are you doing p>
Sienna ignored him and turned to the rescue captain. “This vehicle was dispatched by the command center, right p>
The captain nodded. “Yes p>
“Then by what right does Celeste get to take it for herself p>
Sienna pointed to the injured villagers scattered around the yard, all of them pale and suffering.
She glared back at Jarred. “Are you blind? Every single person out here is in a worse state than her p>
Jarred’s voice grew even colder. “Her leg injury goes down to the bone. A crowded vehicle could jostle her and cause secondary damage p>
“And why is that our problem?” Sienna cut him off, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather. “We didn’t cause her injury. Why should everyone else suffer for it p>
Tired of wasting her breath on him, she turned back to the rescue captain and Caleb. “Load the critically injured first, prioritize by severity p>
Though hesitant, the two men immediately sprang into action. “Understood p>
Jarred’s face turned thunderous. He had never imagined Sienna would publicly defy him like this.
Still, he figured he knew exactly why she was throwing this tantrum.
He handed Celeste over to a nearby nurse, strode over to Sienna, seized her wrist, and dragged her to the side.
“When I woke up, I saw Celeste crying over me. She was covered in blood. She mutilated herself searching for me—was I just supposed to abandon her p>
He let out a frustrated breath. “I checked the area, and when I saw you weren’t nearby, I carried her down and immediately called people to start searching for you.
I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, and I kept my word. You’re standing right here perfectly fine p>
He kept his voice low, but the chilling authority in it was absolute.