Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 881

Hearing the life Michael described, Alyssa felt like she had lived half a lifetime in the span of his description.

And then, just like that, the words tumbled out.

The backyard fell into an eerie silence. It was as though time itself had ground to a halt. All Alyssa could hear was the frantic pounding of her own heart. Her mind became a blank slate, tossing all caution to the wind.

Michael was stunned too.

After a moment, he burst out laughing, "Girl, are you joking?"

"I'm not joking, Michael. I really like you. I've liked you for a long time. I came here today to see you."

In that instant, Alyssa threw caution to the wind. She seemed to forget about Julia. She forgot the shame, the constraints, the should-nots.

This was the first time she had fallen for someone, and she had never imagined she could be so reckless.

Michael's expression hardened, his voice stern as he asserted, "I don't like you. Don't ever say that again. And definitely don't let Julia replace out."

"Why can't she know?" Alyssa blurted out, not knowing why she asked such a naive question.

"Because it would break her heart. She sees you as a sister. How could you..." Michael's voice was cold and hard and his face turned to ice, no longer the Michael Alyssa knew.

Alyssa instantly regretted her words, but she couldn't control her heart.

Seeing Michael like this, she became defiant.

"I can get my dad to buy you a house and replace you a great job. You could even work at my dad's company. I can give you things that would take you ten years to achieve. Just break up with Julia and be my boyfriend."

Michael's face turned to stone.

He was holding a handful of hay for the sheep, which he now threw to the ground in disgust. "Alyssa, you should be thankful I was raised never to hit a woman, or I'd be tempted now. You're not fit to be friends with Julia. She treats you like a sister, and is this how you repay her? Get out of here, and stay away from Julia. If I hear any more of this, or if you hurt her, I won't let it slide."

Michael's face was a mask of frost, but Alyssa stood her ground, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails were digging into her palms.

She had always been the apple of everyone's eye; no one had ever spoken to her so harshly.

Michael now seemed terrifying. His gaze was cold, even disgusted.

Alyssa was truly frightened, yet she stubbornly faced him.

Emerging from the house, Julia bore witness to the scene - Alyssa on the verge of tears and an unusually furious Michael, a sight seldom seen. It seemed they had argued. Julia approached with a gentle voice, "What's going on? What happened?"

That's when Alyssa finally broke into tears, crying out, "You jerk, I hate you!" And with that, she turned and ran.

Julia was stunned. Before she could ask any questions, she was about to chase after Alyssa.

But Michael grabbed Julia's arm. "Don't go after her. Let her be."

Julia was frantic, "This is the countryside; she doesn't know her way around. She'll get lost."