Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1186

It's understandable, really...

Sean had left for abroad at a young age to become a mercenary. And with Phenix and Nathalie being girls, they naturally didn't have a close bond with him. Among all the siblings, Kearney was always the closest to Naylor, from childhood up until now. Even Naylor's path to becoming a race car driver was heavily influenced by Kearney, who introduced him to the world of racing. Every year for Naylor's birthday, Kearney would gift him a brand-new, limited edition sports car, never skimping on the extravagance.

Looking back, it's possible these grand gestures were all part of Kearney's calculated plans. His ultimate goal might have been to seize control of the core power within Albert’s Arms. But for Naylor, life has been without burdens, carefree, always doing what he loves. This is why, after all these years at Albert’s Arms, he remains optimistic and pure-hearted.

In reality, Kearney was the closest to everyone. He managed the affairs of Albert’s Arms with a grace and efficiency that made him seem gentle and approachable. During Agnes's toughest years abroad, it was Kearney who took care of her every need. The thought alone was enough to make Agnes's heart ache.

Elton, however, had his reservations. "Godfather," he said, "I'm not sure about this. Kearney, despite his hatred for you and Albert’s Arms due to a huge misunderstanding, has shown his true colors. His jealousy over Phenix's affection led him to kill our brother with his own hands. This proves he's inhumane. Letting him off might only lead to more chaos. I believe we should hand him over to the police. As the head of a drug trafficking ring, he'll definitely face the death penalty, which is no less than he deserves."

After Elton’s piece, a heavy silence fell upon the group. Deep down, everyone knew Elton's suggestion was the most sensible, the most righteous. It was precisely because Elton was least attached to Kearney that he could view the situation from a neutral perspective.

After a lengthy silence, Reggie finally spoke up, "Septima, what do you think?" Agnes pondered for a moment before replying, "I also believe Kearney deserves the worst, but not yet."

"What do you mean?" asked Reggie.

"Kearney's life is worthless, but our immediate concern should be Phenix. Due to the drugs, he now sees Kearney as our brother. I'm not sure if this is temporary or permanent, but we can't act against Kearney now. If he dies, I'm certain Phenix will lose his mind. We all saw how he reacted when our brother died; nobody wants to see that happen again."

Another silence ensued. Agnes’s point was hard to argue against. Kearney’s life was expendable, but they couldn't risk Phenix’s well-being. The loss of Sean had already left Phenix shattered, leading him to attempt suicide multiple times. Dealing with Kearney now might resurrect past traumas.

Reggie was visibly distressed. He didn't ask Jared for his opinion, but Agnes did. "Jared, as an outsider, what do you think is the best course of action?"

Jared spoke calmly, "There's no perfect solution at the moment, only what's most appropriate. Dealing with Kearney can wait, but don’t forget, the mastermind behind the tragedy twenty years ago is still at large. Kearney is a crucial link to uncovering who forced his mother to leave that letter, leading to such a tragedy. I'm just curious about who this person is and why they did it."