Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 151

"Dad..." Richard choked up, gripping Arthur's frail hand.

Arthur's clouded gaze swept across the room, finally settling on his son's face.

He parted his lips, letting out a faint breath. "Richard..."

"Dad, I'm here."

Marcus crouched down by the bed. "Grandpa, it's Marcus."

Arthur gave a subtle nod. Though his voice was weak, his mind was remarkably clear.

Finally, his gaze landed on Jarred.

"Jarred..."

Jarred stepped forward immediately, his voice hoarse. "Grandpa, I'm here."

Arthur's fingers twitched. He surveyed the room, his brow furrowing. "Where's... Sienna? Why didn't she come with you?"

Jarred's brow snapped together as realization hit him.

He had received the call from the family doctor in the dead of night and had been keeping vigil at the manor ever since, completely forgetting to contact Sienna.

He had intended to find time to explain things to her this morning, but with his grandfather's critical condition, he simply hadn't had a spare second.

Hearing his grandfather ask for her, he paused before answering in a low voice, "She's on her way. I already sent someone to pick her up."

Outside the villa.

Sienna had just lit a fresh string of firecrackers when she saw a maid pushing Helena out of the grand double doors in a wheelchair.

Helena was still in recovery. Even dressed in loose, simple loungewear, she wore a massive emerald necklace, projecting the unmistakable aura of high society.

"Well, well, look who it is!" Helena stopped a few feet away, eyeing Sienna up and down with blatant disgust.

"I suppose this is the appropriate way for you to interact with the Sterling family. If your grandfather hadn't used underhanded tactics, do you really think you'd have ever become the madam of this house?

Going from a swan back to an ugly duckling must be quite the fall from grace, isn't it?"

Sienna turned and met a pair of gentle, warm eyes.

"Maloney..." Helena looked visibly uncomfortable.

Maloney offered his mother a brief nod before turning his attention to Sienna.

His gaze lingered on the firecrackers in her hand for a split second, a faint smile touching his lips. "Sienna, are you planning to blow up the manor?"

Sienna pressed her lips together and remained silent.

Maloney turned to the security guards. "You're no longer needed here. Go back to your posts."

He then looked at Helena. "Mom, head inside. I'll handle this."

Helena looked like she wanted to argue, but ultimately spun her wheelchair around and headed back into the villa.

Only then did Maloney look closely at Sienna, noting her reddened eyes and clenched fists.