Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1073

The headline screamed a narrative that was too bizarre to be true: Jared accused of hiring a hitman, a story fabricated to make the real culprit lower their guard. It was all within the police's grasp. Now, the cops were hot on the trail of a drug manufacturer, having received a tip about their whereabouts.

Ryder checked the timestamp on the news piece—it had been published just three minutes ago. Which meant, it was aired right after he had disclosed the drug maker's location to the authorities. What did that imply? It meant they were waiting for this very moment. It meant Jared wasn’t just in cahoots with the police but had also looped in Agnes. Their goal was to extract the drug maker’s hideout from him. And Ryder, he was unwittingly part of their plan.

Ryder couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony. He gazed at the news, his laughter tinged with a sorrowful note. He had thought he was in control, that everything he desired was within his reach. In reality, he was merely a pawn in someone else’s game, blissfully unaware of the trap he was in. Every move he made had been anticipated. Even Agnes rifling through his computer for information one night was likely just an act, a ploy to catch him off-guard. And the melodramatic fallout between Agnes and Jared last night? Those tears, that despair, all put on for his benefit.

Ryder burst into laughter, tears nearly spilling from his eyes. So, it was all a setup. He had lost, utterly and completely.

Bystanders gave Ryder odd looks, clueless about the turmoil unfolding before them. Agnes approached Ryder, her eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. It was then that Jarvis made his entrance. Standing before Ryder, he announced, “Mr. Whitfield, you’re under suspicion for your connections to the NovaPlex drug trafficking case. Please, come with us for questioning.”

As Ryder was escorted away, he maintained a look that was a blend of a smile and a cry, directed at Agnes. It was a look Agnes would never forget, one that spoke volumes of disillusionment, of a man who had abandoned all hope. Agnes felt a pang of discomfort.

Jarvis had harbored suspicions about Ryder’s links to the drug ring but lacked concrete evidence. Now, with Ryder having leaked the drug manufacturer’s whereabouts to the police, they had a reason to bring him in for questioning.

Exiting the civic center, Agnes was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. She had already conspired with Jared; their actions were merely a performance for Ryder. From the moment Ryder had stepped back from the Tim Group, Jared had been suspicious. Both men had been plotting, each trying to outmaneuver the other. In the end, Jared emerged the victor.

Hand in hand, Jared led Agnes away from the civic center. Sitting in the car, Agnes was lost in thought, while Jared was equally pensive. He hadn’t anticipated Ryder’s involvement in the drug case, nor that Ryder would stoop so low to win Agnes over. More than disappointment, Jared felt a deep sorrow. The Ryder he knew had changed beyond recognition. But before the law, Ryder had to face the consequences.

Meanwhile, Alyssa called Jared. Agnes could faintly catch bits of their conversation. Agnes had only learned about Jared and Jarvis’s scheme to entrap Ryder afterward, and Alyssa was even more in the dark. Alyssa had been stressed out over Jared’s situation, her concern for him weighing heavily on her mind.