Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1045

Agnes felt a twinge of guilt in her heart. Reggie was just concerned about her safety. But for a moment, Agnes had doubted him. She looked down, "I'm sorry, Reggie."

Reggie seemed unfazed. Approaching, his voice softened, "I used to be a man without weaknesses, fighting my way through life, making it to where I am today. But things have changed. I worry about your safety, about Noc's safety. I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe, but I still hope you can stay away from all this turmoil. This isn't your world, nor should it be your burden. With your strength, you can't stand against it. So, take care of yourself, don't give me something else to worry about."

Reggie rarely spoke such heartfelt words. But Agnes knew Reggie truly cared about her. Her feelings were complex. He really treated her as if she were his own daughter.

Suddenly, Agnes thought of Jared. She knew this wasn't the time to speak up, but she couldn't help herself, "Reggie, are you this kind to me because I am Julia's daughter?"

At the mention of Julia, Reggie's calm demeanor changed instantly. A look of disbelief flashed across his face. But eventually, he admitted, "So, you've known all along."

Agnes decided to be honest, "Yes, I've known. You're my mother's first love, Michael. Meeting me and then taking me as your goddaughter wasn't a coincidence, was it? You knew who I was."

Reggie no longer denied it. He had kept this secret for five years, never imagining it could stay hidden for so long.

Reggie shared, "Back then, I remember you were a budding actress, coming to the Capital to shoot a film. The first time you came to my diner to eat, I knew there was something special about you because you looked so much like your mother. That's when I started to investigate and found out you were Julia's daughter."

Agnes also spoke, "I should have realized something was off. Running a diner was just a hobby for you, rarely staying in one place for more than a week. Yet, you stayed there for three months. I went almost every day to eat there, but never sensed anything unusual."

Reggie explained, "I opened the diner there for you. You liked the noodles I made, so I made them for you. The flavor was actually a secret recipe your mother developed. When I was young, I loved beef noodles, thinking they were the most luxurious and delicious thing I've ever eaten. Julia often made them for me. After we parted, I never tasted noodles like hers again. So, I started to experiment, mixing countless ingredients and recipes until I finally found something close to Julia's flavor. But it was just close; it could never match the taste of her cooking."

Remembering the past, Reggie couldn't help but feel melancholic. Seeing the pain in his eyes, Agnes knew he was thinking of her mother.

Agnes reassured, "Reggie, what you make is delicious, just like the taste my mother created."