Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 264

Right on cue, the elevator dinged at the lobby.

The doors slid open, and Sienna turned to step out.

But Jarred blocked her path, his dark eyes fixed on her.

He tipped his chin toward the black Maybach parked by the curb, uttering a short command. "Get in."

Sienna's face was calm. Without missing a beat, she gave a flat refusal. "No."

She turned to walk away, only for him to catch her wrist again.

A faint smirk tugged at the corners of Jarred's mouth, and he let out a low laugh.

"Sienna, are you planning to give up your whole life and never step outside again just to avoid me?"

His laugh was soft, carrying a hint of self-deprecation, but mostly it was laced with that seductive, careless charm he wielded so well.

He leaned down, closing the gap between them, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.

"If you really don't care about me, you could just treat me like air, or like any other guy on the street.

Treating me like a plague just makes me think..."

Jarred paused. The amusement in his eyes faded slightly, replaced by a careful, searching vulnerability. "You're not over me."

He tightened his fingers just a fraction, feeling the steady beat of her pulse against his skin.

"I can't possibly be that important to you, right?"

He stared intensely at her as he spoke, his dark eyes trying to peer straight into her soul.

Deep down, he was desperately praying for just one second of hesitation. Just one second.

If she hesitated, he could convince himself that she still cared, that she was just angry and needed time.

However, Sienna met his devastatingly handsome gaze without even blinking.

"You never were."

Sienna scoffed at his arrogance, her gaze instantly freezing over.

She tilted her head slightly, her tone casually lethal. "It's simple. From now on, whether Celeste Carlyle is sick, dying, or literally taking her last breath tomorrow, you treat her like she doesn't exist. You cut all ties with her completely. Can you do that?"

Jarred's face shifted immediately, shock and panic bleeding into his expression.

He opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't find the words.

Watching his hesitation, Sienna gave a small smile.

It was a beautiful smile, as if she had lovingly wrapped a gift and handed it to him.

Then watching him open it, only to find a blade aimed straight at his heart.

Her eyes turned ice-cold, the smile on her lips growing bitter.

"Since you can't do it, stop following me."