Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 868

Alyssa's gaze was a complex tapestry of emotions, and in the corners of her eyes, the remnants of tears shimmered.

Agnes felt a shiver of fear at the sight.

Straightening up in her seat, Agnes asked, "How long was I out?"

Alyssa, dabbing her eyes casually, replied, "Two hours."

Agnes just nodded in response.

Alyssa turned away, but Agnes couldn't help herself and asked, "Alyssa, what's wrong?"

After a heavy silence, Alyssa admitted, "Nothing, really. It's just... when I look at you, I can't help but think about your mother Julia."

The mention of her mother stirred a whirlwind of emotions in Agnes.

"Alyssa, can you tell me about my mom's past?" Agnes pleaded.

Her mother was an enigma to her, a gentle and loving mystery. Agnes had never known the countless stories that must have woven through her life.

For years, Agnes had harbored a deep-seated hate for Alyssa, a hate that had been twisted and turned by time and space, from bone-deep loathing to guilt over misunderstandings. Her memories of her mother were too faint, yet the longing remained.

Agnes had never heard much from Alyssa about Julia, but she could tell that Alyssa held a special place in her heart for Julia.

Alyssa wasn't repulsed by the mention of Julia. The name had haunted her like a demon, squatting in the recesses of her heart for years. She remembered everything; in the quiet of the night, the joys and sorrows of her youth replayed in her mind like scenes from a movie. Julia had been the first to step into Alyssa's world, the first to offer a friendship so pure and unguarded that Alyssa hadn't found its like since. As the only child, Alyssa had always longed for a sister. Julia was that presence, always attentive and caring like an older sister should be. But Alyssa had been spoiled from the start, expecting to always get her way, even shamelessly asking Julia to let her have Michael. Looking back, Alyssa wished she could throttle her younger self.

Her gaze was distant, unfocused, as she slipped into memories of the past.

And then, Alyssa began to recount the story of her and Julia...

"Your mom and I hit it off right away. I was the youngest, and she looked after me. She was kind, attentive, everything I'd ever dreamed of in a sister. She used to say, 'I'm older than you, so I should be the one taking care of you.""

A smile curved Alyssa's lips as she traveled back in time.

"Julia, you're already so thin, why do you always insist on giving me the best parts of your meal?"

The drama school's cafeteria was a relic from another age, and the food was barely palatable to Alyssa.

But back then, the school culture was strict. Dining out regularly meant enduring taunts about being too delicate to handle the rigors of the actor's life.