Chapter 234
Celeste’s head snapped up. Tears swam in her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering as if she had suffered the ultimate grievance.
Her lips trembled, but she couldn’t formulate a single word.
Gideon was sick with heartache. He immediately stepped forward and supported her. “Sienna, stop with the sarcastic remarks. Celeste just doesn’t want to be let down again. Stop pushing her p>
“A letdown is better than having zero hope, isn’t it?” Sienna arched an eyebrow, a provocative lilt to her voice.
“Or could it be that Ms. Carlyle’s legs aren’t crippled at all, which is why she’s too terrified to let Dr. Vance examine her p>
The moment those words hung in the air, the color drained from everyone’s faces.
Jarred’s eyes turned instantly piercing, locking onto Sienna.
He knew Sienna too well. This woman never fought a battle she wasn’t completely certain she would win.
Yet right now, he couldn’t decipher her endgame.
Was she genuinely here to heal Celeste, or did she have an ulterior motive?
Celeste’s body went utterly rigid. A flash of pure panic darted through her eyes before she hastily covered it up.
She suddenly buried her face in her hands, collapsing back onto the bed in a fit of tears.
“I really… I really don’t want to go through more treatments. Please stop forcing me p>
Gideon’s heart was practically shattering.
He knelt by Celeste’s side, clumsily trying to wipe away her tears while patting her back soothingly.
He whipped his head around to glare at Jarred, the fury in his eyes hot enough to burn through the air.
“Jarred! Look at what she’s doing to Celeste. I’m thankful Sienna brought Dr. Vance, but if she doesn’t watch her mouth, don’t blame me for tossing our friendship aside p>
Jarred’s voice was frigid, yet laced with an undeniable edge of protectiveness: “She wasn’t wrong. She’s only doing what’s best for Celeste p>
That single sentence was gasoline on the fire, completely detonating Gideon’s temper.
He stared at Jarred, too furious to even speak. “You… you p>
Watching the display, Sienna couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle as she turned to Jarred.
“It seems we really do need Mr. Sterling to step in. Out of everyone here, his words are the only ones Ms. Carlyle is actually willing to listen to p>
Jarred’s brows pulled tightly together, a rare flash of impatience surfacing in his dark eyes.
He looked at Sienna’s smiling eyes, catching the sly calculation swirling within them, much like a fox testing its prey’s boundaries.
He tore his gaze away, looking down at Celeste, who was sobbing beautifully on the hospital bed.
Something oppressive weighed heavily in his chest, finally condensing into a single, flat statement.
“Whether it works or not, we have to let him try. Don’t you want to get your health back and walk again p>
Celeste sniffled and looked up. “I want to… I dream about it every night… but p>
“Then don’t waste her good intentions. Dr. Vance isn’t easy to invite; not everyone gets this opportunity p>
Jarred’s tone carried an authoritative dominance that brooked no argument, his eyes narrowing slowly as he stared at her.
“Or is there truly a hidden secret p>
His voice was level, almost devoid of emotion.
Yet everyone in the room felt an overwhelming, crushing pressure.
Even Gideon and Lucas clamped their mouths shut, turning in unison to stare at Celeste.
Celeste kept her head bowed, her shoulders trembling delicately as she remained silent for a long time.
Finally, she lifted her head and nodded through her tear-blurred vision.
“Alright. Then… I’ll have to trouble you, Dr. Vance p>
Gideon let out a massive sigh of relief. “Dr. Vance, please! As long as you can get Celeste walking again, name your price p>
Lucas quickly agreed, “Exactly. Just tell us whatever you need. Medication, equipment—whatever it takes to cure her, consider it done p>
Dr. Vance gave a slight nod, taking the medical chart from the attending physician and flipping through a few pages.
The attending doctor explained from the side, “Ms. Carlyle has suffered extensive neuropathy in both legs. From the imaging, the nerves have almost entirely lost their vitality.