Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1144

Late at night, Agnes found herself tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep no matter how hard she tried. Eventually, she gave up on trying to sleep. Glancing at the wall clock, she was surprised to see it was already 2:30 AM. Though tired, sleep eluded her. She was particularly sensitive to new sleeping environments, often finding it difficult to sleep anywhere but her own bed.

Her room housed a collection of vintage wines. Among them were several prized bottles. Agnes decided to pour herself a glass of red wine, hoping it might help her sleep. She walked out to the terrace, wine in hand, under a sky filled with stars. The countryside was the only other place where Agnes had seen such a breathtaking display of stars. But this was different. The villa, perched atop a hill, offered an expansive view of the endless ocean below, blurring the line between sea and sky. Looking up, the Milky Way stretched across the sky, dense and seemingly within reach.

Agnes sipped her wine, a '92 Romanée-Conti, savoring the luxurious taste that spread across her palate. With her eyes closed, the salty sea breeze mixed with the fragrance of roses filled the air, creating a momentarily heavenly sensation. After consuming half the bottle, Agnes felt a mild buzz. It was time to attempt sleep again. But as she prepared to head inside, faint sounds caught her attention - the unmistakable moans of a woman intertwined with the low growls of a man. The sounds were muffled, carried away by the wind. Agnes had a hunch they were coming from next door. The sounds were embarrassingly thrilling.

Curiosity piqued, she decided to investigate. But before heading inside, she accidentally shattered her wine glass. Shaking her head to clear the dizziness, Agnes made her way to Phenix's door. If her guess was correct, that's where the sounds originated. Knocking elicited no response. Just as she considered barging in, the door across from hers opened. Kearney, clad in pajamas, emerged, "Agnes, why are you up so late?"

"I heard some strange noises and got worried," Agnes confessed. Kearney said nothing but walked over and opened Phenix’s door. Phenix was sound asleep on the bed. Perhaps she had been hallucinating.

"What did you hear?" Kearney inquired. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Agnes shook her head, "Nothing, I couldn't sleep and had some wine. I must've been imagining things. You should go back to sleep, Kearney." Kearney advised, "You should try to sleep too. It's the middle of the night." Agnes nodded and returned to her room. Kearney watched her go, eyes narrowed in thought.

Agnes's head was heavy as she collapsed onto her bed, falling asleep shortly after. When she woke the next morning, the sun was already high in the sky. Her head throbbed slightly, but she could still recall the events of the previous night. Sitting up, she noticed the shattered wine glass on the terrace. The memory of the unexplained sounds puzzled her.