Chapter 176
Sienna stepped out of the bedroom.
As she passed the corner of the hallway, her eyes instinctively flicked toward the terrace.
It was completely deserted now, the wicker recliner swaying gently in the cold night breeze.
She looked away and headed straight for the bedroom.
Staring around the space she hadn’t slept in for nearly five years, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion crashed over her.
She felt absolutely zero connection to this room, just as she felt zero connection to the man she was married to.
Emerging from the shower, she noticed Jarred still hadn’t returned.
Sienna stood in the center of the room, her gaze drifting toward the plush rug in the living area.
She refused to share a bed with him. Even the thought of sleeping in the same room made her skin crawl.
She had only agreed to Grandpa’s three-month condition out of pity for his fragile health. She couldn’t bring herself to deny a sick old man.
But that didn’t mean she was accepting this farce of a marriage, and it certainly didn’t mean she was accepting Jarred.
Without a second thought, Sienna moved to action.
She pulled a clean duvet and pillows from the closet, marching over to the living area and setting up a makeshift bed directly on the floor.
Once her space was prepped, she retreated into the main bedroom, locked the door from the inside, and collapsed onto the mattress. Exhaustion pulled her under almost instantly.
She didn’t know how long she had been asleep.
Through a hazy fog, the distinct click of a key turning in the lock jolted her awake.
Sienna thought she was dreaming.
She had definitely locked the door. Who else had a key?
Before she could process the thought, the bedroom door swung open.
A tall, imposing shadow stepped into the room, striding purposefully toward the bed.
Her lingering sleepiness vanished instantly. She shot up, her hand slamming against the bedside lamp.
Golden light flooded the room, illuminating the intruder.
Jarred stood casually by the edge of the bed, hugging a pillow to his chest.
He had clearly just stepped out of the shower. Damp strands of hair fell across his forehead. He was wearing a dark gray silk pajama shirt, the collar hanging open to reveal his collarbone and a generous expanse of his chest.
Before Sienna could even shout, Jarred tossed his pillow onto the mattress, effortlessly shrugged off his shirt, and lifted the covers to slide in.
“What do you think you’re doing p>
Sienna frantically wrapped the duvet tightly around herself, glaring at him like a cornered animal. “Jarred, you are not sleeping in my bed p>
He arched an eyebrow, a lazy, mocking smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “This is my bed too p>
He bent his knees, fully intending to lay down next to her.
Seeing he had absolutely no intention of backing off, a fiery mix of panic and anger surged through her.
In a moment of pure desperation, she shot her leg out, planting her foot squarely against him to block his descent.
“Playing the happy couple in front of Grandpa was my absolute limit. Don’t push it. If you do one more thing that disgusts me, I’ll burn this whole charade to the ground.
Let me make this perfectly clear—I am not changing my mind about the divorce just because of this three-month delay p>
But Jarred was entirely unfazed, his tone growing maddeningly arrogant. “Legally, I am not a single man.
As long as our marriage certificate is valid, there is zero chance we are sleeping in separate beds. Not in this lifetime p>
He took another step forward.
Panicking, Sienna shoved her leg harder. Her bare foot pressed firmly against his lower abdomen, effectively halting his movement.
Even through the thin fabric of his pajamas, the sole of her foot registered the intense heat radiating from his body.
It wasn’t just warm; it was a scorching heat that felt like it could set her on fire.
Sienna’s ears instantly flushed a deep crimson.
Jarred’s dark eyes dragged slowly from her ankle up the line of her calf.
His predatory gaze locked onto her violently blushing face. A low, raspy chuckle slipped from his throat, his voice dripping with seductive tension.
“Are you absolutely sure you aren’t just playing hard to get p>
“I’m not!” Sienna ground her teeth, wishing looks could literally kill.
She tried to yank her foot back, but a massive, burning hand clamped down like a vise around her ankle.