Chapter 230
Everyone stared in stunned silence, rooted to the spot.
They couldn’t comprehend Jarred’s completely uncharacteristic behavior today.
For decades, they had known Jarred to protect Celeste to the bone, his blatant favoritism clear for all to see.
His restraint and patience were entirely reserved for Celeste, while his cold detachment was solely for Sienna.
His affection had always been obvious; it never needed to be spoken.
Only Celeste, sitting in the hospital bed, looked up at Jarred’s hard expression, a complex emotion flashing through her eyes.
Celeste’s eyes darted around, and she was just about to change the subject.
Beside her, unable to hold back any longer, Gideon demanded with a livid face, “Jarred, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?
Celeste has compromised so much with Sienna just for you. Do you know how much she’s suffered and swallowed for your sake?
Now that she’s finally awake, her heart and eyes are completely filled with you. And yet, you turn your back on her, refusing to give her a proper status?
You don’t even have the guts to openly admit that you truly like her p>
Before Jarred could speak, Gideon fumed again, “You claim you only see her as a sister p>
He let out a cold laugh. “What kind of ‘brother’ drives across the city in the pouring rain in the dead of night just to deliver a special medication to his sister?
What kind of brother defies his superiors and secretly abandons a mission, just to keep her company over New Year’s Eve to cheer her up?
And what kind of brother publicly rejects the requests of the entire hospital administration, just to cater to her little mood swings p>
Gideon took a step closer, his dark eyes fixed on Jarred’s somber face.
“There are countless similar incidents. Do I need to keep going? You p>
“Who I like, and who I don’t like,” Jarred cut him off, meeting his gaze calmly. “I don’t need you to tell me p>
Gideon choked on his words, his face flushing bright red as his chest heaved.
Seeing this, Lucas hastily stepped in to smooth things over. “Gideon didn’t mean it like that. He just feels that the way you usually treat Celeste… well, we all have eyes. We can all see it.
You treat her well, you protect her, and when she gets hurt, you’re more anxious than anyone else. If that’s not liking someone, what is it p>
“Do I need a special reason to take care of a sister I grew up with?” Jarred retorted, his tone as indifferent as ever.
“Sister?” Gideon scoffed, his smile dripping with sarcasm.
“If you don’t have even the slightest feelings for Celeste, why would you do all these incredibly intimate, heart-wrenching things for her?
If I remember correctly, not even Sienna got that kind of treatment. How many times did you abandon Sienna for Celeste p>
Gideon pressed on aggressively, his voice sharp. “If all of that doesn’t count as liking her, then tell me, what does p>
Everyone’s eyes focused on Jarred.
Celeste slowly raised her head. Her eyes were red, her lips trembling slightly like a startled deer.
Jarred remained silent.
His lips were pressed into a tight, thin line. A storm of conflicting emotions raged in his chest, leaving him unable to utter a single word of defense.
Only now did it belatedly dawn on him.
Inwardly, the boundaries he had sworn to keep had long since crossed the line.
His actions were nothing but a series of misunderstandings that hurt both himself and others. They were sharp blades that had thoroughly chilled Sienna’s heart.
The figure who had been waiting quietly outside the door must have heard every single word of this exchange clearly.
Was that what she thought, too? That he favored someone else.
Day after day of growing cold, year after year of disappointment, until she finally turned away with absolute resolve, never to look back?
An invisible, suffocating weight clamped down on his throat, making it hard to even breathe.
Just as everyone waited for Jarred to give his answer, the ward door was gently pushed open.