Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)

Chapter 857

Agnes felt Jared had become utterly unreasonable, a master of twisting words and bullying truth.

It was clear he was picking fights on purpose.

For days, aware that Jared was in a sour mood, Agnes had bent over backward to play nice, even

going out of her way to appease him in every way she could.

But her forbearance and retreat were met with his escalating demands and baseless nitpicking.

"Jared, can you stop nitpicking for once? If all I wanted was someone to share a meal with, there's a

whole crowd back at the TV station. Why on earth would I trek all the way here to bring you dinner?"

A cold smile played on Agnes' lips as she said, "Jared, can't you stand the sight of me that much?

Sure, I'm no Valeria with her savvy and the ability to keep you company with a glass of wine at

midnight. If you think she suits you better or you're having regrets, go ahead and be with her. We

haven't officially gotten back together, so you're free to choose again."

Jared's presence seemed to crumble, "Agnes, it sounds like you're the one with regrets."

Agnes admitted to herself that her words were spoken in the heat of the moment. But the pent-up

frustrations felt like the last straw breaking the camel's back.

Valeria had been Jared's business partner in the past, but now they were together day and night.

Facing Valeria, Agnes couldn't help but feel insecure. She even began to suspect that Jared's feelings

for her were more about not letting go of the past four years.

That's why, now together, they were at constant odds.

Jared's expression cold, he dressed and left the house again, and it was already the wee hours of the ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

morning.

Agnes felt exhausted.

Reflecting on it, she couldn't quite pinpoint why things between her and Jared had suddenly gone

south. It wasn't like anything major had happened.

Yet, it felt like they were on completely different tracks, drifting further apart with every step.

Agnes spent the night awake.

Seated on the couch, she stared blankly out the floor-to-ceiling window, watching as the dark blue sky

began to lighten.

In the morning, Agnes went to check on Nocturne in his room.

Nowadays, Nocturne would wake up once every morning. Though his lucid moments were brief, this

was a huge and heartening breakthrough in his treatment, thanks to the new medication.

When Agnes entered, Nocturne was already awake, shaking in bed, moaning in pain.

Agnes was terrified, rushing to his side.

Touching Nocturne's forehead, she asked frantically, "Summer, what's wrong? Are you in pain

somewhere?"

Nocturne, however, seemed dazed, unable to speak.

Agnes immediately thought of Ryder's warning about the new medication he had been researching. He

had told her to keep a close watch on Nocturne's condition.

Without a second thought, Agnes dialed Ryder's number.

She rushed Nocturne to the hospital. But Agnes knew that for Nocturne's condition, ordinary doctors

might be at a loss. She needed Ryder.

Agnes and Ryder arrived at the hospital almost simultaneously.

Nocturne was wheeled into the emergency room, and Ryder went in too.

He had interned at Hope Hospital; almost everyone there knew him. After explaining the situation, he

joined the medical team.

Agnes sat in the hallway, waiting, feeling an overwhelming sense of emptiness.