Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1138

Agnes spun around, her resolve as sharp as the edge of a knife. "As long as I'm here, no one at Albert’s Arms is going to lay a finger on him. And as for Ms. Thomas, I wouldn't dare align with you. You're too clever by half, Ms. Thomas. You could sell me out, and I'd probably end up thanking you for it. So, no, I can't team up with someone I don't trust."

With those final words, Agnes turned her back and left.

As she reached the door, Valeria's voice cut through the tension. "You're not worthy of Jared. You only care about yourself, not his safety."

Agnes didn't look back. "Our marriage is none of your concern, Ms. Thomas," she retorted and walked out of the café, her departure anything but amicable.

Stepping outside, Agnes felt a weight on her shoulders. If what Valeria suggested was true, that Berlin Thomas wasn't the mastermind, then someone else was pulling the strings. Agnes had always felt it, deep down.

She had scrutinized that video countless times—the gunmen storming in and firing indiscriminately. Dressed in black from head to toe, their arms were bare, revealing no marks.

Her brother had insisted they were terrorists from IS, seeking revenge over old grievances. But Agnes, who had rubbed shoulders with various characters in Manhattan, knew IS militants sported their tattooed insignia with pride. Yet, these men bore none.

From the start, Agnes doubted these attackers were affiliated with IS. But they were all dead now, taking their secrets to the grave.

Valeria's words had sparked a thought in Agnes. She'd never connected the drug trafficking with Phenix's wedding before. But what if...

Ryder, before slipping into unconsciousness, had hinted that the real target was Reggie. That framing the Tim Group and Jared was for the same reason—aligning perfectly with Valeria's speculation.

If Phenix's wedding was indeed a meticulously planned conspiracy, the implications were horrifying. And that meant Reggie was in grave danger.