Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 154

Sienna met his gaze head-on.

His elongated, slightly downturned eyes were entirely devoid of emotion, dark as an endless night, impossible to read.

Suddenly, he let out a soft scoff, slipping effortlessly into his usual careless demeanor.

"Getting a young, gorgeous wife who's also a money-making machine? Of course I've been perfectly content."

Sienna stared at him, utter disbelief swimming in her eyes.

She could barely fathom those words coming out of his mouth.

Over the years, his scandals with Celeste had never ceased.

From renting out entire venues for her birthdays to playing the devoted companion at the hospital, every incident was public knowledge.

In front of the cameras, he played the fiercely loyal romantic, yet he had never offered Sienna a single ounce of genuine affection.

If he was so satisfied with her, why was he constantly tangled up with Celeste?

Arthur, however, seemed highly pleased with the answer. A long-lost smile appeared on his face as he raised an eyebrow at Sienna.

"So, you're the one asking for the divorce? Tell me, sweetheart, what exactly is it about him that you're dissatisfied with?"

"Dad!" Helena tried to interject again, but Arthur silenced her with a single glare.

Sienna took a deep breath, meeting the old man's eyes.

"We aren't compatible."

"What defines compatible?" Jarred suddenly took a step forward, looking down at her from his impressive height, a seductive edge to his dark gaze.

"We fit together flawlessly, our rhythms sync up perfectly, and we align on every level. If you ask me, we're practically tailor-made for each other."

"Jarred!" Sienna frowned, feeling like he had been spouting absolute nonsense all day. She desperately wanted him to shut up.

Jarred flashed a wicked grin. "I'm talking about our worldviews. What did you think I meant?"

Sienna felt heat rush to her cheeks. She turned away, refusing to look at him. "Marriage is a two-way street. Since we can't make it work, it's better to cut our losses. They say a forced bond is never sweet."

"A forced bond might not be sweet."

He knew the girl well enough to realize that if she was speaking this firmly, she truly meant it.

Arthur's complexion shifted, and he suddenly broke into a violent fit of coughing, struggling to pull air into his lungs.

Panic gripped Sienna. "Grandpa!"

But Jarred moved faster. He immediately supported Arthur's back with one hand while effortlessly snatching a glass of water from the nightstand with the other, bringing it to the old man's lips.

"Take it slow, Grandpa."

Arthur took a sip and spent a long moment catching his breath. His face remained deathly pale, his breathing ragged.

Jarred helped him lie back down and waited until the old man's eyes drifted shut.

Then, he turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder at Sienna, his voice dropping to a low murmur.

"His condition is highly unstable right now. Couldn't you just say something to make him happy?"

Sienna saw the rare trace of sincerity in his eyes, and her fingers instinctively curled inward. "...I was just telling the truth. Dragging this out any longer is only going to destroy us both."