Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 796

Agnes merely grunted in response to Jared's explanation, seemingly emotionless.

It appeared that her attention was wholly absorbed by the interview clip she was editing on her computer screen.

The interview contained footage of Sharon, whose face was so beautiful and endearing. Even as a woman, she found Sharon's face quite charming.

Jared insisted that he only saw Sharon as a sister. But Agnes wasn't quite sure what his definition of a sister was.

This led to the age-old question that has baffled couples for centuries: Can pure friendship exist between a man and a woman?

Agnes' mind was in turmoil. But Jared seemed to have already seen through her thoughts.

Jared said, "There's something I think I should explain to you about Sharon."

Agnes' heart inexplicably skipped a beat. Her finger, which had been operating the mouse, suddenly stopped.

"When I first met Sharon, she was a student at Stanford, excelling in both academics and character. But because of her poor family, she worked as a bartender at a local pub. Back then, I was in a bad place, frequently drowning my sorrows with a bunch of reckless friends, and she would come over to recommend drinks."

Agnes was reminded of the photos Beatrice had used to frame Sharon.

She had indeed seen Sharon working at the pub. Agnes even saw Jared in the background, and they didn't seem to be close.

Agnes wondered if that could have been their first encounter.

Jared continued, "The first time I saw her, she reminded me of you, especially her eyes. At that time, I had been searching for you for a year, like a madman. In that year, I saw many girls who resembled you, but Sharon wasn't the most similar. However, her eyes were incredibly like yours, which made me take a second look."

Agnes couldn't describe what she was feeling. She knew her departure had caused Jared immense pain. And when people are in pain, they often seek out ways to escape that pain. That's why so many people get addicted to smoking and drinking. But Jared had found a substitute.

Despite his strong dislike for Beatrice, who had undergone surgery to look like Agnes, Jared had somehow managed to maintain a relationship with her for four years.

And what was Sharon to Jared? Thinking about this, Agnes felt a mix of heartache and sadness.

Jared continued, "But that one look almost ruined her."

Agnes frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

A look of pain and guilt crossed Jared's face.

"The pub manager, in an attempt to curry favor with me, got her drunk and brought her to my bed. I was furious at his audacity and gave him a piece of my mind. Enraged, he took it out on Sharon, and handed her over to a bunch of spoiled brats. That night, she was..." Jared's voice trailed off, his fingers clenched tightly.

"When I heard about this from Brayden, I rushed over. She had just attempted suicide by overdosing, but I managed to save her. After that, I kept her close. However, not long after, she was found to be pregnant. She didn't even know who the father was."

Agnes was seething, "Did those scumbags get punished?"

"Don't worry about that. I wouldn't let them off. But they were from influential families. Two of them managed to escape overseas and disappeared."

Agnes felt a whirlwind of emotions. "So, was the news about you accompanying Sharon to the gynecologist because of this?"

"Sharon insisted on keeping the baby even though she didn't know who the father was. However, the baby was not developing well and she miscarried at two months. I was with her at the hospital. After the miscarriage, I tried to persuade her to start anew, to forget the past. I even wanted to send her abroad to study.

But she wanted to join the entertainment industry. I respected her decision, but the consecutive blows led to severe depression. These years, she's been battling depression. She's attempted suicide three times, and I'm not sure if there won't be a fourth."