Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 850

Agnes slid into the car, settling into the worn leather seat, but it was a long while before she instructed the driver to pull away from the curb.

At night, she lay restlessly in bed, her body tossing and turning beneath the sheets. Her gaze was fixed on the antique wall clock, watching the seconds tick away with excruciating slowness.

It was well past midnight when Jared finally returned. Agnes could hear the faint creak of the bedroom door opening. She quickly shut her eyes, feigning deep sleep.

Jared entered the room without a sound, not bothering to flick on the lights. Yet Agnes could feel his presence drawing nearer, step by silent step. She could even sense his gaze resting upon her, and the scen of wine grew stronger as he approached.

Indeed, Jared's eyes were fixed on Agnes' face. The room was dark, but they hadn't drawn the curtains, and the moon was out, full and bright. Its silver light streamed through the window, illuminating Agnes' peaceful visage.

Her skin was flawless, soft and pure in the lunar glow. It was the kind of complexion that begged for a gentle pinch or a tender kiss.

But at this moment, as Jared gazed at her, all he felt was an acute pang of heartache. For four long years, this was the scene he had yearned for every single night. To come home from the office and replace her sleeping just like this.

After all this time, he still found it surreal to have her back-so real that it frightened him. Had she truly returned to him in every sense, or had part of her remained absent during those lost years?

In his efforts to compensate for the time they had been apart, Jared had been nothing but accommodating, showering her with affection. He dared not show pettiness or reveal his true emotions, even feigning understanding when he saw her with Ryder.

But inside, his feelings were a tumultuous storm. Every time he witnessed her chatting and laughing with Ryder, his blood boiled with jealousy. It was as though a million ants were gnawing at his heart. Jared was envious of the time they had spent together in Manhattan. Agnes may have been by his side now, but the sense of threat never fully dissipated. He had this ominous premonition that the nightmare of losing her might replay itself.

Especially tonight, seeing Agnes and Ryder so at ease with each other, Jared felt he could no longer contain himself. Ryder's intentions were blatantly clear, almost admirable in their frankness. It was as if he had the confidence to be so open about it.

However, the complex relationship between Agnes and Jared could not be so easily severed, and that was what tormented Jared the most. If their love was a tree, no matter how tall and sturdy it grew, Ryder's presence was like a saw, always leaving its mark on the trunk. Jared didn't know if one day the tree might fall.

His fingers clenched tightly, and finally, he let out a heavy sigh before turning to the bathroom for a shower.

Only when she heard the sound of running water did Agnes dare to open her eyes. She could sense that Jared was troubled, and she felt a change in him. Their reunion was marred by conflict, struggle, and reconciliation.

On the surface, they seemed to have patched things up, but a mirror once shattered bore the scars of its history. And so, they both handled their relationship with cautious tenderness, each holding back just a little...

After his shower, Jared emerged to replace Agnes standing by the bathroom door, donned in a piece of lingerie that Mamie had gifted her four years ago. Considered far too daring, Agnes had never worn it before- but tonight was an exception.

At the sight of her, Jared paused, momentarily taken aback. Agnes seized the moment, stepping forward on tiptoe and capturing his lips with her own...