Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 238

It was an expression Jarred had never seen before.

It wasn't anger, it wasn't sadness, and it wasn't disappointment. It was dead, rippleless apathy.

It was as though, in her eyes, he was no different from a complete stranger on the street.

His grip was hurting Sienna. Frowning, she reached up, pried his arms apart, and took two steps back.

She put a definitive, polite distance between them.

Her clear, bright eyes remained perfectly tranquil as she looked at him. "Jarred, do you still not get it?

I lost interest in everything about you a long time ago.

And when it comes to anything regarding Celeste, I have absolutely no desire to hear a single word. I want nothing to do with it."

There was no hysterical resentment in her gaze—only total, absolute revulsion and detachment.

This absolute alienation was a freezing chill Jarred had never had to endure.

It was a thousand times more despairing than screaming matches or the silent treatment.

At this exact moment, reality came crashing down on him.

He had repeatedly ignored the damage the rumors caused her, carelessly bleeding her heart dry with his indifferent attitude.

Now, he had truly and entirely lost her.

A suffocating wave of despair carved through his chest, leaving behind a hollow, agonizing ache that spread through his veins.

He opened his mouth to speak, but it felt like an invisible hand was choking him, stealing his voice entirely.

His arms, which had been reaching for her, subconsciously fell back to his sides.

Sensing his surrender, Sienna pushed him away without a shred of hesitation, turned on her heel, and walked away.

She stepped briskly into the elevator, descending to the ground floor without breaking her stride.

She rushed to the side of the road and raised her hand to hail a cab.

But for some inexplicable reason, the streets were entirely devoid of empty taxis.

Frowning, she was just about to walk further down the block to try her luck.

When a sleek, eye-catching Aston Martin pulled up silently right in front of her.

The window rolled down smoothly.

"Looks like you aren't exactly eager for him to catch up?"

Sienna ignored him, picking up her pace even more.

Propping his chin on one hand, Silas drawled casually, "The news just reported a massive pile-up in the Redwood Tunnel half an hour ago. Traffic over there is completely gridlocked. You're not going to hail a cab out here anytime soon."

Sienna abruptly halted.

She immediately looked up, scanning the road ahead.

Sure enough, let alone taxis, there were barely any private cars driving by.

The occasional car that did pass was speeding by without any intention of stopping.

"Need a lift?"

The heavy footsteps behind her were closing in fast.

Sienna involuntarily tightened her grip on her purse.

This was only the second time she had ever crossed paths with Silas. She had no idea what his true background was, nor whether he was friend or foe.