Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 518

"Maintain order. Make sure no one gets physically hurt."

That was it.

Jarred only cared about keeping the situation from escalating into a full-blown riot.

From start to finish, not a single ounce of his action was for Celeste's sake; it was nothing but the cold indifference of an outsider.

Buried in Helena's embrace, Celeste's vision blurred with heavy tears.

Through her hazy, tear-filled eyes, she gazed at the devastatingly aloof man in the distance.

A bone-deep chill spread through her veins, suffocating her with a despair far worse than the public humiliation she was currently enduring.

All her meticulous calculations, all her disguises, all the fragile illusions she had so carefully maintained...

They had all been shattered to dust beneath his scrutinizing gaze, leaving no room for salvation.

It took an immense amount of effort from the bodyguards to finally extract the two trapped women from the mob.

Celeste watched the tall, imposing man stride toward her.

She watched as he smoothly took control of her wheelchair from the bodyguard and began pushing her toward the exit without a moment's hesitation.

Looking up at the sharp, cold line of his jaw, Celeste's eyes reddened even more. "Jarred..."

She opened her mouth, her voice trembling as she tried to say more.

Jarred cut her off, his deep voice carrying a terrifyingly flat indifference. "Get on the plane first."

Celeste's hands, resting on her lap, clenched into tight fists.

If he truly doubted her and didn't believe a word she said, why was he still protecting her right now?

But she knew she hadn't misread the sheer apathy in his gaze moments ago.

He never looked at Sienna like that. Not once.

The group navigated through a side corridor. Jarred led the way, with Helena pushing Celeste right behind him.

The bodyguards flanking them barely managed to hold back the straggling reporters.

Someone had leaked their exit route, and dozens of people were now swarming the parking lot.

The moment they spotted Celeste, they lunged forward like cats smelling fresh blood.

"That's her!"

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