Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 696

As Jared spoke, Agnes could only feel a wave of sadness washing over her.

He didn't look like he was lying or sugar-coating his words. Instead, he was deadly serious, his eyes shining with a light that was both deep and painfully touching.

He took Agnes' hand, leaning in as he spoke in a voice that was almost pained, "Agnes, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. About our past, our present, and our child. I've always tried to maintain my pride in front of you, never willing to back down. But after what happened today, when I thought I couldn't catch up with Hammer and you were in danger, I realized something. My pride, the grudges I hold, none of them matter as much as you do. I can let go of everything, the life you've been living these past few years, the people you've been with. All I want is to be with you, Agnes. Can we start over?"

Jared had said quite a bit. To Agnes' memory, he had never spoken so much in one go, not even in the past, nor in the four years since they were reunited.

And every word he uttered weighed heavily on her.

Suddenly, Agnes felt the urge to cry. It was as if something inside her was crumbling.

Jared had suggested they fall in love again, but how could they fall in love again?

She never stopped loving him.

Over the years, she convinced herself that she had moved on, forgotten him.

But in her heart, she knew it was all just self-deception.

Living alone in a foreign country, dealing with Nocturne's illness, she was too exhausted to even consider the wound in her heart.

Yet, four years later, seeing Jared again, every encounter, every word spoken felt like a battle.

Upon returning home, Agnes learned of Jared's womanizing ways.

It wasn't that she didn't care. In fact, it bothered her greatly.

He had loved other women just as passionately as he had loved her.

Were there any real feelings involved? Did he have children with them?

All of these thoughts were like needles, pricking her.

It made it impossible for her to bend or voice her agreement.

Jared seemed hurt by Agnes' hesitation and silence.

He had laid his heart bare in front of her and she still refused to accept it.

"Agnes, are you still bothered by the fact my sister was responsible for your mother's death? You shouldn't blame me for that, should you? If you can accept Ryder without any reservations, why can't you accept me?"

Agnes took a deep breath and finally spoke, "Jared, there's something I need to tell you. The reason I came back was to investigate Laura. I've found out that it was Laura who caused my mother's death and then framed Alyssa. My mother died of depression, but it was all part of Laura's scheme to advance her own position. Your sister had little to do with it, and if we were to assign blame, it was mostly due to a strained relationship between your sister and my mother."