Chapter 292
Jarred’s dark eyes remained firmly locked on the spot where Sienna’s figure had disappeared.
Her resolute, stinging questions churned relentlessly in his mind, throwing his thoughts into absolute chaos.
He stood there quietly, letting the evening breeze tug at his coat.
It wasn’t until her slender silhouette was completely gone from view that he slowly withdrew his gaze.
Pulling out his phone, Jarred dialed Declan Ward’s number.
“Launch a full investigation into my kidnapping at Azure Ridge from ten years ago. I want every single detail, every person involved—leave no stone unturned. That includes… the person who saved me p>
On the other end of the line, Declan respectfully agreed.
“And one more thing.” Jarred’s voice dropped an octave. “The day my grandfather collapsed, did truly no one at Sterling Manor see anything p>
Declan’s breathing grew noticeably heavier for a brief second.
This was a direct challenge to Ms. Carlyle’s narrative, a challenge to the unified alibi of every single person residing in the Manor.
Having served as Jarred’s most trusted aide for years, Declan understood exactly how much weight that question carried.
He also knew that Jarred voicing it meant he had completely lost faith in everyone living in that household.
“I’ll look into it immediately p>
The Cullinan merged smoothly into the city traffic, disappearing like a drop of water into the ocean.
But the turmoil churning inside Jarred refused to settle.
He realized Sienna would probably never know.
She would never know just how much strength it had taken for him not to chase after her the moment she walked out of his sight.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to; he simply didn’t dare.
He was terrified that if he caught up to her, she would deliver an even more final rejection, stripping him of the tiny shred of hope he still desperately clung to.
The next day.
As the early morning light broke, Sienna met up with Luna Lennox.
Using the excuse of checking on the old man’s condition, the two women smoothly gained entry into Sterling Manor.
They didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to find Dr. Clayton.
Sienna got right to the point. “Dr. Clayton, you know his physical condition better than anyone. His blood pressure and heart rate have always been exceptionally stable.
He might have a bit of a temper, but ever since he woke up last time, he has been incredibly cautious about his health, even watching his every step.
It is absolutely impossible that he fell down those stairs from trying to overexert himself. Wouldn’t you agree p>
Dr. Clayton had already been harboring his own deep suspicions.
For days, he had been replaying the events surrounding the incident, and the more he thought about it, the less sense it made.
However, because Celeste lived at the Manor permanently and had charmed everyone in the household, he hadn’t dared to speak out of turn.
Now that Sienna had brought it into the open, he dropped his guard and nodded truthfully.
“You’re right. His vitals are excellent. I also find it highly improbable p>
Sienna looked at him quietly, not rushing him to continue.
Dr. Clayton took a deep breath. “Ms. Sloan, what are you planning to do p>
“Gather evidence,” Sienna replied firmly. “I need you, in your capacity as a medical professional, to conduct a field investigation with us. You’ll handle the injury analysis and blood spatter assessment, while we coffect the physical evidence p>
Dr. Clayton hesitated for a few seconds before finally nodding. “Alright, I’ll go with you p>
The three of them deliberately avoided the Manor’s staff and quietly made their way to the first floor.
Because it was still early, the matriarch and Helena hadn’t woken up yet, leaving the massive living room entirely deserted.
The marble floor at the base of the stairs was spotlessly clean, showing no visible trace of the blood that had supposedly been there.
But Luna had brought a luminol kit, capable of detecting residual hemoglobin completely invisible to the naked eye.
Even if the floor had been scrubbed repeatedly, the chemical reaction would emit a distinct blue-white glow wherever blood had been present.
The moment the spray misted the area, the hidden traces slowly illuminated.
The amount of blood actually belonging to his grandfather was negligible, far below the volume one would expect from a severe, tumbling fall.
Instead, there was a massive, glowing pool of blood that Greta had publicly scrubbed away, glaringly obvious under the chemical light.
Dr. Clayton frowned deeply. “This little amount of blood here completely contradicts a high altitude fall. That massive stam over there cannot possibly be the total volume left by his head injury p>