Chapter 72
Right as he rounded the corner, Declan bumped into Celeste.
“Mr. Ward p>
Celeste stood there, her burns still untreated, her face alarmingly pale.
She glanced at the papers in his hand, her tone gentle. “Did you get the records? Can I take a look p>
Declan hesitated for a second.
But then he remembered how highly his boss valued his adopted sister.
Everyone in the capital knew that Jarred spoiled and protected Celeste despite their lack of blood ties, practically granting her every request.
Dropping his guard completely, Declan handed the records over without a second thought.
Celeste took the papers and glanced down. A triumphant gleam flashed in her eyes.
It was exactly as she had suspected.
The next second, she wiped the smirk off her face and let out a dramatic gasp.
Her features twisted into a mask of utter disbelief, as if she had just uncovered a scandalous secret.
Declan’s face fell, and he frantically shushed her. “Ms. Carlyle, keep your voice down p>
But it was too late.
The gasp had already reached Jarred and his grandmother down the hall.
The old woman frowned sharply. “What’s going on? What happened p>
Declan’s heart hammered against his ribs. He knew he had messed up.
Celeste immediately played the saint, shoving the papers back into his chest.
She whispered with fake urgency, “Mr. Ward, Grandma absolutely cannot see this. It will give her a heart attack p>
As she spoke, her hand subtly twitched, letting the pages slip from her fingertips and scatter across the floor.
A perfectly timed draft swept through the corridor, blowing the papers right to the wheels of the matriarch’s chair.
Declan turned pale and lunged to grab them, but he was too late.
The old woman gestured for her bodyguard to pick them up, then gripped the pages tightly.
Declan looked at Jarred in a panic, his eyes full of dread.
Jarred’s brow furrowed. Sensing the shift in his assistant’s demeanor, his gaze dropped to the papers in his grandmother’s hands.
When his eyes locked onto the two most recent calls, the aura around him turned to pure ice.
Both calls were to the exact same number—Maloney’s private line.
The first was placed the second Sienna fled the estate. The second was from half an hour ago.
Two phone calls spanning over ten hours.
His grandmother recognized her eldest grandson’s number instantly, her face turning a livid shade of purple.
She stared at the log, her hands shaking so badly she could barely hold the paper.
What a shameless, despicable woman.
Years ago, when her grandfather brought her to the Sterlings to force a marriage, giving her the pick of the three grandsons, she had chosen Maloney without hesitation.
Then she threw her self-respect out the window and spent a scandalous night with Jarred, who was gracious enough to overlook her past and make her his wife.
Yet after all these years, she was still pining for Maloney.
Setting a fire, running away, and dragging a man she had no business contacting into her mess—it was downright disgusting.
If word of this got out, the Sterling family would become the laughingstock of the city!
The matriarch erupted in fury. “Guards! Go get Sienna and bring her back here right now! I don’t care who she’s hiding with. Tie her up if you have to p>
“Hold on p>
Before anyone could move, a bone-chilling voice sliced through the air.
Jarred looked up, his predatory gaze devoid of any warmth.
He snatched the paper from his grandmother’s grip, folded it, and shoved it into his pocket.
His lips parted, his tone terrifyingly cold. “She is my wife. I will find her myself p>
He turned on his heel and strode away.
The old woman watched his retreating back, her lips moving, but she couldn’t find the words to stop him.
At the end of the hall, Celeste leaned against the wall, watching him go.
She lowered her eyes, a faint, victorious smile curving her lips.