Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 241

His lip was undeniably swollen, blooming with a purplish bruise that looked especially harsh under the dashboard lights.

"Fuck."

He cursed under his breath, mentally wishing a spectacular demise upon Jarred's entire bloodline.

Putting the mirror away, Silas glanced sideways, quietly studying the woman sitting next to him who was calm to the point of apathy.

The scene of her explosive argument with Jarred was still fresh in his mind.

Her gaze had been ice-cold, decisively severing her ties to the past.

But Silas was perceptive. He had easily seen past her feigned indifference to the torrential emotions buried deep beneath.

Every cruel word she had spoken was steeped in resentment and layered with trauma—the culmination of years of love mutating into hatred.

On the outside, she seemed indestructible.

But the exhaustion and endurance hidden in the depths of her eyes couldn't lie.

She was never as willing to let it all go as she pretended to be.

She had just loved him too fiercely, amassed too much disappointment, and was ultimately forced to walk away.

Silas's heart twinged slightly, and a self-deprecating smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Why had he, like everyone else, assumed that Sienna was in love with Maloney?

Even Jarred had been trapped in that misconception.

Yet, during the argument just now, the profound meaning behind her words was glaringly obvious.

Jarred was simply the one who had misunderstood everything from the very beginning.

Silas reeled in his chaotic thoughts and, while keeping his eyes on the road, casually probed her.

"Jarred is rich, handsome, and boasts a flawless physique. His background and capabilities are impeccable.

If you can't stand seeing him with Celeste, you could easily just live separately.

Firmly holding onto your title as Mrs. Sterling, never worrying about food or clothes, spending his money however you please, and living comfortably—wouldn't that be nice?"

Though the neighborhood was aged, it was still located in a bustling part of the city center.

There was no way she should have ended up in a place like this.

Silas looked at her in sheer disbelief. "You live here?"

Sienna unbuckled her seatbelt without a change in expression and glanced back at him. "Not a word of this address leaves your lips. If this leaks, I will immediately take back the necklace you have up for auction."

She paused, a smirk playing on her lips. "I know for a fact that my necklace has multiplied your business recently."

Hit right where it hurt, Silas scoffed. "Fine, you play hardball."

Saying nothing more, Sienna turned and walked down the dim alley.

Watching her figure retreat into the shadows, a slow smile crept onto Silas's lips.

Sienna wasn't living in a place like this because she was broke, nor was it because she couldn't find anywhere better.

She did it because she wanted to completely vanish from Jarred's world.