Chapter 109
Sienna stared at him.
She looked into those icy, unfeeling eyes, at the face that was once so familiar yet had now become that of a total stranger.
He paused, his tone growing heavier with a blatant threat. “If you don’t want any more trouble, behave yourself. I’ll dispatch an extra transport this afternoon p>
Without waiting for her response, he threw her arm aside, turned around, and halted the villagers who were loading the wounded. He instructed them to assist Celeste into the emergency evacuation vehicle instead.
Under the shocked gazes of everyone present, he slammed the door shut, didn’t spare Sienna a single glance, and sped off into the distance.
Sienna stood frozen, watching the vehicle disappear. Her knuckles turned white from the force of her clenched fists.
From start to finish, he hadn’t asked if she was okay, nor did he ask what had happened to her after plunging off the cliff.
It was as if the man who had stayed by her side all night and made that solemn promise wasn’t him at all.
Their seven years of knowing each other and five years of marriage had finally reached their absolute end.
The replacement transports didn’t arrive until after three in the afternoon.
This time, three vehicles showed up, ensuring everyone could board.
Sienna pushed past her exhaustion, working alongside Caleb and the captain to load the survivors, verify their details, and soothe their panic.
In between, she merely gave her injured leg some basic first aid.
The bone wasn’t broken, and there were no open lacerations. It didn’t look severe on the surface, so she dismissed it.
It wasn’t until late at night, when the final patient was safely on board, that she finally let out a sigh of relief.
Instantly, agonizing pain flared from her ankle and swept through her entire body. Her leg was swollen grotesquely, making it impossible to put any weight on it.
Caleb noticed something was wrong as she leaned heavily against a wall, inching her way toward the break room.
He ran over, and his face drained of color when he saw her leg. “Dr. Sloan! What happened to your leg p>
Sienna glanced down.
The swelling had worsened considerably, the skin stretched tight and shiny. It truly looked horrifying.
“It’s fine,” she insisted, still trying to put on a brave face. “I can walk p>
“You call that walking?” Caleb immediately saw through the facade. “Hurry, you need to head to the hospital with Lynn right now. Leave the rest to us p>
Unable to hold out any longer, Sienna gave a weak nod.
Caleb gestured for Lynn Zeller to come over.
The moment Lynn saw Sienna’s leg, her eyes filled with tears. “Dr. Sloan… why didn’t you say something sooner p>
“Complaining wouldn’t have helped,” Sienna smiled softly. “Have all the transports left p>
“There’s one private shuttle left,” Lynn said as she supported Sienna’s weight. “The driver said it’s heading back to the Capital, carrying the medical and rescue staff. We’re going straight to Capital Hospital p>
Sienna nodded.
By the time she boarded the shuttle, her leg was in such agony that every step felt like needles driving deep into her joints.
Lynn helped her into a seat, her own hands trembling at the sight of the cold sweat clinging to Sienna’s forehead.
Frantic and red-eyed, Lynn said, “Just hang in there, Dr. Sloan. I’m calling Director Coleman right now p>
When the call connected, Lynn relayed every detail of Sienna’s condition to Jonathan Coleman.
The moment the shuttle pulled up to Capital Hospital, Jonathan was already waiting at the entrance with a medical team and a stretcher.
“Jonathan,” Sienna greeted him faintly.
Jonathan ignored her entirely, waving his team forward. “Get her inside p>
After a thorough examination, the doctor’s diagnosis caused everyone’s faces to pale.
“It’s articular cartilage damage. Cartilage can’t regenerate, and since treatment was delayed, there’s a risk of permanent deterioration,” the specialist reported.
“The follow-up rehabilitation is crucial. If she doesn’t rest properly, there will be severe long-term complications—chronic pain while walking, intense joint agony on rainy days, and premature joint degeneration p>
At those words, the temperature in the room plummeted to freezing.