Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1146

Agnes broke the silence, saying, “Godfather, why don’t you come and stay with me for a while? It’s not good for you to be cooped up here all by yourself. How about I take you to Serenity Hall for a bit? Dr. Smith can check you out, maybe prescribe some herbal supplements to get you back on track.”

Though Reggie’s health seemed mostly recovered, he couldn’t shake a persistent cough that always lingered. It was nonstop. But he didn’t seem too concerned about it, which worried Agnes deeply.

Reggie responded, “I’m past my prime, better to just stay put.”

Agnes persisted, “Nocturne Pritchard is over there, godfather. Don’t you want to see Nocturne?”

Kearney joined in, “Godfather, why not visit Nocturne? Think of it as a little getaway. You don’t have to worry about Phenix, I promise to take good care of her.”

Perhaps it was the mention of Nocturne that finally swayed Reggie.

Agnes had initially wanted to bring Phenix along too. But Phenix didn’t want to go, and Agnes figured it might seem too forced. Besides, Agnes knew that if it came down to it, Kearney would never hurt Phenix, even if it meant harming others.

The next day, Agnes and Reggie boarded a speedboat, leaving Thousand Islands Lake behind.

Upon arriving at Serenity Hall, Reggie was overjoyed to see Nocturne. But at that moment, Nocturne was still asleep. Despite his happiness, Reggie remarked, “When will this child fully recover? He’s a bright spark, but spends most of his time asleep. Without this congenital condition, his potential would be boundless.”

Agnes reassured him, “Noc has improved a lot. Godfather, don’t worry too much. Once he’s better, he’ll be able to go to school like other kids. Honestly, I don’t dream of grand achievements for him; I just want him to be happy at every stage of his life. That’s enough for me.”

Reggie mused, “Indeed, what does it matter if one achieves greatness in life if they’re not happy? That’s a failure in my books.”

Agnes could see the toll recent events had taken on Reggie. His entire demeanor seemed to have shifted. After years of living through tumult and conflict, Reggie seemed to be questioning the very purpose of existence for the first time. Yet, looking at Nocturne, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Reggie settled into Serenity Hall. A disciple had recently left, freeing up a room for him. Reggie used to be surrounded by several bodyguards, all arranged by Kearney. But due to the lack of extra accommodations, Reggie sent them away. Now, Reggie lived much like any ordinary person. He had been out of the loop with Albert’s Arms affairs for some time, leaving everything in Kearney’s hands.

One evening, Reggie decided to cook beef stew. Agnes helped out in the kitchen. There was no gas stove, only a large, brick-built hearth. As Agnes stoked the fire, watching the flames grow, something sparked her curiosity, “Godfather, how did you end up taking in your eldest and second brothers?”

She was genuinely curious. But Agnes wasn’t sure if Reggie would want to delve into such memories. Sean had passed away not long ago, a fresh wound in Reggie’s heart. Bringing up the past now might be too painful. Yet, Agnes had her suspicions about many things and yearned to understand their backgrounds more clearly.