I Stopped Loving Him When He Let Me Bleed Out novel Chapter 473

"Penny, thanks for the heads up." Sienna offered a reassuring smile.

Penny gnawed on her lower lip, scanning Sienna's serene expression before her tone grew even more frantic.

"Sienna, are you here to beg him for a favor? I'm telling you, that man holds a grudge like nobody else. He's never forgotten the scene you caused when you left. Showing up here now is basically walking straight into a firing squad!"

As Penny continued her desperate rambling, she noticed the warm, patient way Sienna was looking at her, and her eyes suddenly grew wet.

"Sienna, I just don't want you to get hurt again. I remember everything they put you through, all the targets they painted on your back... I couldn't protect you then, and I can't protect you now, but I have to at least try to warn you..."

Sienna reached out, clasping Penny's trembling hands and giving them a gentle, steadying squeeze.

"Penny, I'm not here to ask him for anything."

Penny blinked, entirely lost.

"Huh?"

Sienna flipped her ID badge around, making sure Penny had a crystal-clear view of the engraved text.

"Health Commission, Lead Inspector Sienna Sterling. I'm here to investigate him."

Penny stared blankly at the badge for a full two seconds.

Her jaw practically hit the floor as her brain struggled to process the information, a blinding light slowly filling her eyes.

She slapped both hands over her mouth to muffle a scream, fat tears spilling over her lashes and racing down her cheeks.

She furiously wiped at her wet face, laughing and crying all at once.

"Sienna... you... you're an official now!" she choked out a sob. "This is incredible. This is just incredible!"

Sienna patted her hand warmly.

"Alright, I have a meeting to get to."

Penny nodded wildly, releasing her grip and taking a reverent step back, pumping her fists as if funneling every ounce of her fighting spirit into Sienna.

Sienna marched back to Elias's door and delivered three sharp knocks.

A sluggish, profoundly irritating "Come in" oozed through the wood, exactly as she remembered it.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Elias was lounging behind his massive desk, legs crossed, casually sipping his tea.

His open thermos sat dangerously close to his elbow, plumes of steam curling toward the ceiling.

Elias shot to his feet, accidentally knocking over his thermos. Goji berry tea flooded the desk, and the metal bottle clattered loudly against the floor.

He completely ignored the mess, planting both palms heavily against the desk to steady his shaking legs.

His mouth twitched uncontrollably, his face twisting into a grotesque blend of sheer panic and desperate fawning.

"C-Cooperate? Of course we'll cooperate! Please, Inspector Sterling, take a seat. I'll have someone pull the files right away."

The transition to "Inspector Sterling" was astonishingly smooth.

Sienna elegantly took a seat on the leather sofa.

Elias lunged for the landline, barking frantic orders the second the call connected.

By the time he slammed the receiver down, a cold sweat had broken out across his forehead.

He pasted on a sickeningly sweet smile, turning his attention entirely to Sienna.

"They'll be right up, Inspector."

His grin stretched wider, slick and obsequious.

"I always knew you were destined for greatness, Inspector Sterling. You see, our hospital really does have an eye for talent. I pegged you for a rising star from day one, and look at you now..."