Chapter 71
Jarred’s voice was muffled and low. “It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself p>
The moment the words left his mouth, the faint sound of a wheelchair rolling down the corridor approached.
His grandmother had woken up and was being pushed out of her hospital room by a bodyguard.
The moment the old woman saw Jarred, she burst into tears.
“Jarred, thank God you’re here p>
She grabbed his hand, her frail fingers trembling violently. “That viper! That ungrateful wretch! The Sterlings raised her for years. When her grandfather brought her here to force the marriage, did we ever mistreat her?
And what does she do? She attacks people, sets fires—she’s trying to kill us all p>
Jarred furrowed his brow, remaining silent.
His grandmother’s voice shook with escalating fury. “Look at Celeste! Just look at her! Her leg was finally healing after Sienna broke it, and now…
And your mother is in the emergency room right now! The doctors said if things go south, they might have to amputate!
A woman like that has no place in our family! Listen to me, Jarred. You must divorce her. Immediately p>
Jarred lowered his eyes, his long lashes concealing the storm brewing within him. He said nothing.
Yet the predatory, suffocating aura radiating from him grew so intense that the air itself seemed to freeze.
Celeste, standing nearby, spoke softly. “Grandma, please don’t get worked up. Your health comes first p>
“How can I not get worked up? I was almost burned alive in there!” The matriarch had yet to fully recover her strength and was already panting from the exertion.
Seeing this, Celeste quickly rubbed her back to soothe her.
Outwardly, Celeste looked devastated, but she secretly peeked at Jarred’s expression.
Noticing his gaze was as dark as a looming thunderstorm, a faint smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.
In the blink of an eye, she shifted into a mask of overwhelming guilt, her voice thick with emotion. “Jarred, Grandma, it’s all my fault. I didn’t stop Sienna in time. That’s why everyone got hurt so badly. Helena is terrified of pain. I wish I was the one in the emergency room instead p>
Her feigned innocence and understanding only made Sienna appear more purely malicious to everyone else.
The old woman’s heart ached for her. She turned to Jarred, her voice shaking. “Look at her. This sweet girl got hurt trying to save us, and she’s still trying to defend that viper. Why are you so blind p>
“Grandmother,” Jarred said, his voice low but sharp enough to cut her off. “Get some rest. I will handle this p>
She wanted to argue, but the sheer intensity of his gaze forced the words back down her throat.
Just then, Declan Ward jogged down the corridor, his expression grave.
“Boss, we’ve checked everywhere. Madam’s house is empty. The hospital said she didn’t show up for her shift today, and we scoured her usual spots. Nothing p>
The matriarch scoffed coldly. “Hiding after causing a disaster. Absolutely lawless and shameless p>
Declan asked cautiously, “Mr. Sterling, should we check Madam’s friends’ houses p>
Jarred immediately shook his head, his dark eyes narrowing. “No. With her personality, she would never drag her friends into her mess at a time like this p>
A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the group as they hit a dead end.
Celeste lowered her eyes, a calculating gleam flashing through them before she spoke softly. “Jarred, when I was near the window trying to put out the fire, I thought I saw Sienna on her phone as she ran out…
I bet she called the person she trusts and relies on the most. The one she’d ask to clean up her mess p>
Jarred’s gaze turned icy as he issued an order. “Pull her phone records p>
“Yes, sir p>
Less than ten minutes later, Declan hurried out of the elevator, clutching a freshly printed call log.