Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 895

Agnes couldn't figure out why he always managed to drag Ryder into the equation.

What did Ryder have to do with anything?

Jared was no fool; he had to see it.

Her disappointment wasn't about Ryder. It was about Valeria wedging herself between them.

And the confusion over what exactly their relationship was. It was like a series of stones had been piling up on her back. And just like that, they had crushed her.

Agnes was exhausted. Even being by Jared's side did little to ease that weariness.

"It's not because of anyone else, but because of you, Jared. Stop trying to shift the blame. I can only tell you that while you might not be entirely at fault, we're just not right for each other. I can't live with someone like you. I can't exist in a relationship that's so undefined. We need a break to sort things out on our own."

Agnes felt she had grown a lot compared to ten years ago.

She could speak to Jared with such calm now, even as they were parting ways.

But Jared couldn't understand.

He blocked her path, desperation in his voice. "You've got to be clear with me today, Agnes. We've come too far to simply give up. I refuse to believe you'd walk away so easily. Is it because of that mess with Berlin? Is he worth leaving me over? Just because of one well-intentioned lie? There's got to be more. I don't believe it, Agnes."

Agnes was beyond tired, and she didn't want to argue with Jared any longer.

"Yes, it's about that. You see it as trivial, but Jared, don't forget, my original intent for coming back was revenge. To me, that's important. And I have realized that you can't understand that."

"I can't understand you? Who can, Ryder?"

Agnes found the current Jared beyond reason.

He managed to link every word she spoke to Ryder.

That was Jared all over. Whenever he faced something he didn't want to, he'd blame someone else. Crafting a narrative of Ryder and her being intimate as an excuse for her disappointment. It made it seem like her departure was a betrayal, leaving Jared the victim.

Always the victim. It was always Agnes who wronged him. But did he ever truly care about what she'd been through, the turmoil in her heart, the tidal waves she'd survived?

Did he ever consider the root cause behind their repeated separations? Jared wouldn't think about it.

Now Agnes realized, even without those past events, she and Jared might never have made it to the end. Exhaustion was etched on Agnes' face. "Please, Jared, just stop. I can't do this anymore."

Jared's eyes were bloodshot, but he still clutched Agnes' arm, unwilling to let go.

As if the moment he did, she would vanish into thin air. Fear gripped him; he was truly afraid.

Just the other day, Ryder had told him he'd take Agnes away, and now she was saying goodbye in this manner. Agnes had been missing for days.

Unable to contain himself, Jared had tracked her location, which led to the Capital.

What was she doing in the Capital? Coincidentally, Ryder had returned to the Capital during the same period.

Agnes had even been spotted at the Thomas Group headquarters.

Could it really be a coincidence, or were they together?