Chapter 88
She put me in this bed, and now you want to run off and play her hero p>
Celeste smoothly took Helena’s hand, offering a soft murmur of comfort. “Please don’t get worked up, Mrs. Sterling. You’ll aggregate your stitches p>
She looked up at Jarred, her eyes swimming with just the right amount of distress, playing the role of the devoted peacemaker.
Jarred kept his jaw locked, refusing to utter a word.
But his dark, glacial gaze said enough.
He was silently broadcasting to his mother that nothing she said would stop him.
Seeing him so defiant left Helena speechless with rage.
She lashed out bitterly, “Why are you still obsessing over Sienna after everything she’s done? You two are finalizing the divorce at the end of the month! Why do you care if she lives or dies p>
Jarred remained like a stone statue.
Helena narrowed her eyes in sudden, horrified suspicion. “Why aren’t you answering me? Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for her p>
Jarred’s eyelashes flickered.
It was a microscopic flinch, but both Helena and Celeste caught it.
Celeste’s fingers curled into tight fists at her sides, though she maintained her innocent facade.
Helena’s face turned thunderous.
Jarred finally looked up, his tone utterly flat. “As you said, the divorce isn’t finalized yet p>
Helena choked on her outrage.
Jarred stared at her deadpan. “If something actually happens to her, the press will dig up our marriage in minutes. Have you considered what a PR nightmare that would be for the Sterlings p>
Helena opened her mouth, but couldn’t find a counterargument.
A flash of ugly resentment passed through Celeste’s eyes before she quickly pasted on her sweet, understanding smile.
She patted Helena’s hand gently. “Don’t be upset, Mrs. Sterling.
Jarred is an honorable man. Even if they were already divorced, he’d never just leave someone to die p>
Helena scoffed and turned her head away.
Taking a deep breath, Celeste shot Jarred a look of faux helplessness, offering him a comforting glance before leaning in to whisper to Helena.
She kept her voice just low enough to sound intimate. “I know you’re just worried about him, Mrs. Sterling, and you want someone who actually cares about him by his side.
But if he risks his life to save Sienna, surely she’ll finally show him some gratitude p>
It was a masterfully manipulative stroke—playing the peacemaker while stealthily giving Helena an out.
Helena’s eyes darted around as her expression softened a fraction.
She looked back at her son. “Fine. You can go. But you have to promise me one thing p>
Celeste kept her eyes downcast, pretending to focus solely on wiping Helena’s hands.
Yet, a faint, imperceptible smirk ghosted across her lips.
Meanwhile, at Eagle’s Point.
The rain was turning into a torrential downpour.
Sienna gripped the rope as she rappelled down the slope, icy water sliding off her hood and down her collar, chilling her to the bone.
She pushed through the freezing discomfort, her eyes scanning the churning river of mud for any sign of life.
Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a hand about forty feet away before it disappeared into the sludge.
“Is someone there p>
She lunged forward, grabbing the flailing hand and pulling with all her might.
An unfamiliar face emerged, eyes half-open and mouth choked with debris.
“Wake up p>
The man remained unresponsive.
Sienna dragged him onto a relatively flat outcrop and quickly checked his vitals.
He had a pulse, but it was dangerously weak.
She ripped open his muddy shirt and began chest compressions.
One, two, three… she counted silently, adrenaline fueling her strikes.
After what felt like an eternity, the man gave a violent cough, expelling a mouthful of muddy water.
Sienna didn’t stop, keeping up the compressions.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind her.