Chapter 648
He wanted to stay a little longer.
He wanted to rightfully occupy the same space she was in.
Even if it was just for one short hour, even if they had nothing to say and simply sat in silence, it was better than being completely separated and watching her from afar.
This was the only opportunity he could fight for.
He spoke hoarsely, “I’ll pack up as quickly as possible p>
“Okay p>
Sienna didn’t suspect a thing. She gave a slight nod, didn’t spare him another glance, and turned to walk straight up the stairs.
Her crisp, unhesitating footsteps echoed on the staircase.
Once she reached the second floor, it didn’t take long for Jarred to hear the beeping sounds of the individual electronic locks on every bedroom and study door being reprogrammed.
Jarred stood alone in the spacious, luxurious living room on the first floor.
The whole house was brightly lit, a mix of warm and cool tones. He had personally cleaned and arranged everything, customizing every corner just for her.
But now, the vast living room was terrifyingly silent.
The doors on the second floor were shut tight, refusing to budge, sealing off all sound and presence.
He couldn’t hear her movements, couldn’t see her figure, couldn’t even feel the slightest warmth of her existence.
He had absolutely no luggage to pack.
He could only stand frozen in place, utterly at a loss, like a broken man with nowhere to rest his soul.
Just moments ago in the boardroom, he had masterminded everything, turning the tides with effortless dominance.
He had easily swept away all her professional crises, striking fear into a group of shrewd, seasoned directors.
Everyone believed he was her strongest backer, a safe harbor that could shield her from the storm.
But only he knew the truth.
He had defeated every rival, settled every dispute, and controlled everyone’s destiny.
Except hers.
His dramatic rescue was, to her, nothing more than a favor that could be squared away with money.
He was trying everything to make up for his mistakes.
But she refused to let herself wallow in the past, nor did she afford him any chance to win her back.
For the first time, Jarred faced a cruelly stark reality.
Everything he did truly meant nothing to Sienna.
His protection was redundant, his attempts at redemption were futile, and even his deep devotion felt incredibly cheap.
He was the one who had single-handedly destroyed her trust and drained all her love.
Now, she had risen from the ashes, no longer needing to depend on anyone.
All his silent sacrifices, all his self-indulgent attempts at atonement, were simply too little, too late.
The one-hour timeframe felt excruciatingly long.
Jarred just stood silently in the center of the living room, never moving an inch, never attempting to go upstairs and knock on her door.
He stood quietly, allowing the overwhelming sense of helplessness to swallow him whole.
When the time was up.
The second floor remained perfectly still, as if his presence over the past hour was entirely inconsequential to Sienna.
Jarred slowly closed his eyes, suppressing the hidden misery swirling in his gaze.
He finally took a step, turned around, and walked out the front door.
The courtyard gate clicked shut behind him, cutting off the bright light from inside.
The night was thick, the evening breeze slightly chilly.
The driver and bodyguards were waiting quietly in the shadows not far away.
But Jarred didn’t get into the car.
He stood all alone under the sycamore tree outside the villa’s yard.
His gaze was glued to the second-floor window emitting a warm, yellow glow, refusing to move for a long time.
They were separated by mere feet, yet they were worlds apart, divided by an insurmountable chasm.
Declan hesitated for a long while before slowly stepping forward to comfort him softly, “Mr. Sterling, the temperature drops quite low at night. If you stand here too long, you’ll catch a cold.
Why don’t we head back so you can rest? We have plenty of time. Sienna will eventually see your true intentions p>
The wind rustled, messing up the hair on the man’s forehead.
After a long time, Jarred finally spoke, his voice low and raspy.