Chapter 268
The Cullinan hadn’t even come to a full stop.
Sienna already spotted the fleet of luxury cars parked outside Sterling Manor.
She recognized several of the license plates; they belonged to the heavy hitters of the Sterling extended family.
This was much worse than she had anticipated.
Everyone remembered the family doctor’s strict warnings after Arthur’s last close call.
The old man was fragile. His body couldn’t handle intense emotional spikes or accidental falls, and they were told to guard him with their lives.
For him to suddenly collapse with no warning p>
A heavy cloud of dread hung over everyone, whispering that he might not make it this time.
Jarred’s posture was rigid and icy as he led the way.
Seeing him, a group of family elders instantly swarmed him, murmuring words of comfort as they walked him into the manor.
“Jarred, don’t panic. Dr. Clayton is with him p>
“That’s right. He’s a tough old bird. Heaven will watch over him p>
Jarred gave a curt nod but stayed silent.
Yet, Sienna could clearly see the deep-seated fear in his eyes.
Sienna trailed at the very back of the group, completely ignored.
After all, she was just the soon-to-be ex-wife, completely irrelevant to the family’s core.
Helena Sterling stood near the grand entrance of the foyer.
Spotting Jarred approaching with the elders, she hurried forward, leaning heavily on her cane.
The burn scars on her legs, though thick and uneven, had healed enough for her to walk slowly.
But a faint limp still betrayed her injury.
“Mom.” Jarred stepped up quickly, catching her arm to stop her from straining herself. “How is Grandpa p>
His voice was tight, unable to mask his crushing anxiety.
Helena’s lips trembled, the worry lines on her forehead deepening.
“Clayton is still examining him. He called in the entire medical team p>
Her voice was laced with panic. “He said… it’s much worse than last time p>
Gasps rippled through the crowd behind them.
One of the family elders immediately demanded, “He was doing so well. How did he just collapse p>
“Exactly.” Another elder leaned in. “I visited him just two days ago. He was in fantastic spirits laughing and joking with us. He didn’t look sick at all p>
The group exchanged uneasy glances, dropping their voices into anxious whispers.
The most respected elder in the group turned his sharp gaze onto Helena, his tone stern. “Did something happen p>
Helena shook her head repeatedly, looking utterly helpless.
She rubbed her temples, looking as though she had answered this question a dozen times already, but could only give the same answer.
“No, absolutely nothing out of the ordinary happened. A maid served him lunch. He was in a wonderful mood finished a whole bowl of soup, and said he wanted to take a nap. He specifically ordered us not to disturb him p>
Helena’s voice grew frantic. “I just stepped away to make some tea! When they came back, he was just p>
She choked on her words, turning and raising a trembling arm to point at the grand staircase.
Everyone followed her finger.
Sienna had remained silent, but her gaze tracked the movement as well.
When she saw what Helena was pointing at, her pupils contracted.
There, smeared across the pristine marble floor, lay a dark, horrific puddle of blood that had yet to be cleaned up glaring and gruesome.
A collective shock hit the crowd, their faces paling in horror.
“It looks like he slipped on the stairs. A fall like that… at his age, it’s a death sentence p>
The elderly voice sounded like a death knell.