Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1106

Agnes stood up and left the room, leaving Kearney and Phenix alone.

Phenix was in a state of utter desolation. If it weren't for the tears that kept streaming from her eyes, Kearney might have doubted if she was even still alive. She hadn't moved an inch since waking up, a picture of lifelessness.

The room was enveloped in silence, so profound that one could almost feel time passing by, slow and heavy.

Kearney took Phenix's hand gently. "Phenix, Sean's gone, but you've still got me, okay? I'll take care of you for the rest of our lives, just like he would have wanted."

At the mention of Sean's name, there seemed to be a flicker of something in Phenix's expression. She didn't move but let her vacant gaze rest on Kearney's face. Her voice was barely a whisper, her lips cracked and bleeding.

"Why did this happen? Why?" she asked weakly.

Kearney responded, "I should've been there. If I had been, I'd have fought to protect you and Sean, but what's done is done. We have to look forward now, Phenix. Pull yourself together. Everything's going to be alright."

But Phenix just laughed, a sound more heartbreaking than tears. "Alright? How will anything ever be alright again? Sean's dead. I'll never see him again."

She was on the verge of collapse. "Why did it have to happen on my wedding day? Why wasn't it me who got shot? Sean was so skilled; he wouldn't have been hit if he wasn't protecting me. It's my fault. I killed Sean."

Kearney raised his voice, trying to shake some sense into her. "Phenix, you can't think like that. You can't carry that guilt. It'll crush you."

"I'm already crushed. I want to be with Sean. I don't want to live anymore," Phenix sobbed, feeling as though she had been shot alongside Sean. She remembered the look in Sean's eyes before he died – a mix of pain and despair – and it haunted her.

Kearney fell silent, then spoke with a heavy heart, "If Sean gave his life to save you, and he knew you were giving up like this, his sacrifice would be in vain. You need to live well, Phenix, for both your sake and his, you understand?"

Phenix didn't respond, just continued to cry silently.

After leaving the room, Agnes felt an overwhelming exhaustion. Her steps were unsteady, as if she could barely keep herself upright. She headed straight to Reggie's hospital room. Reggie was in the ICU, with everyone waiting outside.

Finding Jared, Agnes said, "Jared, go get some rest. Your godfather will pull through."

Jared had always had a special place in his heart for Reggie, not treating him as a stranger. When Reggie was still in surgery, Agnes had held Jared's hand, feeling his palm cold and trembling slightly. He cared, deeply so. Blood was thicker than water, after all.

Jared turned to Agnes, "I'm fine. You go rest."

"I'll stay with you," Agnes insisted, and Jared didn't argue, knowing how she felt.

They sat together on a bench in the corridor, Agnes leaning on Jared's shoulder, and despite the chaos, she found a moment of peace and fell asleep. When she awoke, to her surprise, she found herself tucked into a bed.