Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 825

Every time Agnes returned to the Whitfield Manor, it felt like a gauntlet.

But ever since Nocturne came into the picture, her position seemed to have taken a turn for the better..

Tim put on a show of not accepting Nocturne, but Agnes could tell, Tim had a soft spot for Nocturne. He'd always replace some excuse to sneak a glance.

Alyssa genuinely adored Nocturne, and it was clear that Nocturne also genuinely enjoyed her company..

What Agnes hadn't expected was for Ryder to show up that day.

Ryder's car pulled into the Whitfield Manor's driveway almost in sync with Jared's.

They got out of their cars and bumped into each other.

Agnes felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her. Her mind was haunted by the image of her, as Ramona described, drunkenly trying to strip Ryder the night before.

She had no clue how to face him now.

Ryder, clad in a sleek black trench coat, merely glanced her way. He didn't bother greeting them and headed straight inside.

Agnes and Jared followed suit.

Tim and Alyssa were already in the dining room.

The table was set with a lavish dinner spread, but Tim's face was stormy. Upon seeing the group at the doorway, he said in a deep voice, "Come in, sit down."

They all took their seats, and Agnes strategically placed Nocturne next to Tim.

He looked at Nocturne, and his expression seemed to soften a bit.

During dinner, Tim addressed Ryder, "I told you to go into business, but you insisted on medicine. Now, when you're doing well in your medical career, you switch to business. I don't oppose you taking over the Thomas family's legacy. After all, you have their blood. But Ryder, never forget that you're a Whitfield too. You grew up here, in the Whitfield family. What's this about you siding with the Thomas family against the Tim Group?"

Ryder's face didn't show much change as he replied, "Grandpa, are you talking about the Harmony Hollow project?"

Although Tim had long stopped meddling in the Tim Group's affairs, the Thomas Group snatching the Harmony Hollow property from the Tim Group was public knowledge, splashed across newspapers and media.

Tim was, of course, aware.

He scoffed, "You know what I'm talking about."

Ryder said, "Grandfather, there's not much for me to say. Uncle told me when I was younger that the business world is a battlefield and deception is part of the game. I just won this battle, that's all."

"If your uncle hadn't stepped aside for you, do you think you could have outsmarted him? Your little schemes are crystal clear to me. If you really want to beat your uncle, you'll need at least another ten years o practice."

Ryder suddenly put down his fork, retorting, "Grandpa, you've always been biased. I never understood why. Is Uncle a genius and I'm just a dunce? Why do you all think I'm inferior to him? I don't need Uncle to be easy on me, and I won't be either. I'll do what I want to do, even if it means hurting Uncle's interests."

Tim, also infuriated, retorted, "You always say I'm biased. How have I ever been biased? Haven't I treated you well all your life? If I were truly biased, would I have let you become a doctor? I let you pursue what you loved, while your uncle slaved away for the company. You call that biased? Do you have any idea your uncle had his own dreams when he was a student, just like you?"

Ryder replied, "Grandpa, if you're talking about fairness, then I want half of the shares in the Tim Group."