Chapter 344
Celeste’s cries gradually weakened.
She shifted slightly to her side, and her collar slipped off her shoulder, revealing a jagged old scar just below her collarbone.
Sienna had seen that scar before.
It was long, stretching diagonally from her collarbone to her shoulder blade, as if split open by something sharp.
It was the mark left from when Celeste supposedly carried Jarred down from Azure Ridge all those years ago.
It was also Jarred’s biggest lifelong debt of conscience.
Even without saying a word, that scar was enough to tip Jarred’s internal scales in her favor right then and there.
Sure enough, Jarred’s gaze lingered on the scar for a second.
He acted as if he couldn’t even hear his phone ringing frantically.
Almost the moment the phone rang, he was already striding toward Celeste on the bed.
Seeing him approach, Celeste’s lips parted, but no sound came out as her hands desperately gripped the blanket.
“J… Jarred p>
Her breathy, trembling voice sounded as though it took every ounce of her strength.
Acting on pure instinct, Jarred stepped forward and scooped her out of the beddings.
“To the hospital first,” he said softly to her, then ordered Declan over his shoulder, “Get the car ready p>
Celeste leaned submissively into his embrace, her arms gently wrapping around his shoulders, her cheek pressed against his chest.
Using his blind spot, she glanced up at Sienna standing nearby, a triumphant, mocking gleam flashing in her eyes.
Her look seemed to say: See? So what if you exposed me? The one he trusts has always been me.
Watching Jarred’s rigid back, a slow smile curved Sienna’s lips. There was no anger, no feeling of being wronged.
She had known this would be the outcome all along.
More than a decade of intertwined history, combined with a scar earned by risking a life—how could a few words from her sever all of that?
Jarred seemed gentle and affectionate to everyone, but at his core, he was incredibly cold.
There were people he could easily let go of, and those he couldn’t let go of were the ones he held deeply in his heart.
Since Jarred’s phone went unanswered, Sienna’s immediately started ringing.
She picked it up right away. It was the police squad calling them to assemble.
Just as Jarred was carrying Celeste toward the stairs, Sienna looked up.
Her gaze landed on the hard lines of his profile, and she spoke coldly. “Captain Sterling, it’s time to assemble for the mission. Are you going or not p>
Jarred froze in his tracks, his arms tightening around the woman he held.
Feeling that momentary hesitation, Celeste’s heart clenched, and tears immediately welled up again.
She tightened her grip around him, tears rolling down her cheeks. Jarred don’t leave… Stay with me, please? I’m so scared… really scared p>
Her voice trembled uncontrollably, looking too fragile to refuse.
Jarred looked down at her, a complicated storm brewing in his deep eyes.
After a moment, he spoke plainly, “I’ll take you to the hospital first p>
With that, he carried her down the stairs.
A hint of smugness rose in Celeste’s eyes. Through her tears, she looked back at Sienna, the flaunting in her gaze completely undisguised.
Sienna smiled coldly, not even bothering to give her another look.
She casually turned to Declan, who was trailing behind Jarred. “Looks like your boss isn’t going to make it.
Call Director Holden and have the vice-captain fill in. Just tell him Captain Sterling’s little girlfriend is throwing a tantrum, so he can’t go p>
Declan’s face went stiff.
He carefully peeked at Jarred’s back, then at Sienna’s mocking expression, entirely caught in a bind.
Of course he knew he couldn’t make that call.
Not only was swapping personnel without prior notice a massive taboo, but submitting ‘girlfriend. throwing a tantrum’ as the official reason would guarantee a disciplinary write-up.