Chapter 85
Jarred clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.
They were clearly husband and wife, the most intimate of relations by law.
Yet in her eyes, he didn’t even count as an attachment.
He desperately pushed down the surge of bitterness welling up in his chest and raised his eyes. “A high-risk mission like this requires a family member’s informed consent. Why wasn’t I notified p>
Looking at his reaction, the corner of Jonathan’s mouth twitched—whether in mockery or something else, it was hard to tell.
He let out a cold laugh, his gaze filled with sarcasm. “Didn’t Sienna call you? You were the one who hung up on her p>
Jarred narrowed his eyes.
The phone call Sienna had made to him not long ago instantly flashed through his mind.
Her voice had sounded a bit weak then, saying she had a document that needed his signature.
He hadn’t given it a second thought, assuming she was talking about the divorce agreement. He impatiently told her he didn’t have time and hung up.
So it turned out, it wasn’t the divorce agreement.
He had been the one to push her away with his own hands.
Jarred’s eyes were clouded with gloom, though his face remained utterly unreadable.
He fell silent for two seconds before giving a slight nod, his voice returning to its initial politeness. “Sorry for the intrusion p>
With that, he turned and took large strides toward the exit.
“Mr. Sterling p>
Jonathan’s voice rang out from behind.
Jarred’s footsteps halted, but he didn’t look back.
“I heard you have a woman you’d protect with your life,” Jonathan said slowly. “Then you’d better protect her well, and step aside so another man can protect Sienna p>
Jarred turned his head slightly, his gaze piercing.
Jonathan met his stare, refusing to back down a single inch.
The two men locked eyes for a couple of seconds.
Jarred knew that Jonathan was the person Sienna respected the most.
In the end, he didn’t say another word. He just tightened his grip on his phone, turned around, and disappeared through the doorway.
Four o’clock in the morning, the Northern Region disaster zone.
The rain was falling hard and fast. The headlights barely pierced the darkness, illuminating nothing but a vast sea of white mist.
The road ahead was completely washed out. Over a dozen vehicles were blocked at the foot of the mountain; people were shouting orders and handing out gear.
Sienna followed the rescue team. Just as they arrived at the temporary command center, she was assigned a mission to head into the mountains.
The team leader shouted at the top of his lungs, “Because of the terrain, many villagers are trapped on the mountain and can’t get out! We’re splitting into small groups and heading in on foot.
Due to limited resources, each group will only have two rescue workers and two medical personnel. We move out in thirty minutes p>
Sienna took her gear and looked down as she strapped it on.
Good thing she had gotten that IV and taken medication on the way here; she felt full of energy now.
“Dr. Sloan.” A young woman hurried over to her side. It was Lynn Zeller, the intern from their department, her eyes shining bright. “Can I be in your group p>
Sienna glanced at her and nodded. “Sure p>
Lynn was thrilled for exactly two seconds before the nerves kicked in again. “This is my first time participating in this kind of rescue. Is it yours too, Dr. Sloan p>
Sienna froze for a second as an unforgettable image instantly surfaced in her mind.
She closed her eyes to shake off the memory, pulled up the hood of her raincoat, and offered a faint smile. “No p>
Lynn waited for a couple of seconds, and when no further explanation came, she couldn’t help but ask, “Dr. Sloan, aren’t you scared p>
Sienna’s hand paused on her strap.
Scared?
She thought about it, but she honestly didn’t feel much of anything.
Being afraid was a luxury reserved for those who had loved ones to worry about.
She didn’t answer the question, simply saying, “Let’s go p>
The command center had assigned them a local village chief to act as their guide.
The village chief held a map, looking grim as he approached Captain Lawson and Sienna.
“Captain Lawson, Dr. Sloan, your group is responsible for Eagle’s Point. It’s the most dangerous zone out there. The mountain path has already collapsed twice, the communication signal is spotty at best, and heavy machinery can’t get in. We’ll have to rely entirely on hiking p>