Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1228

Agnes couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy when she saw such a young child sighing deeply. Suddenly, Esther turned around and said, "Agnes, can you help my mom? I wish my parents could be together."

Agnes looked troubled. "But I don't know how I could help you."

Just then, Jared walked in from the doorway. He had heard their entire conversation clearly.

"I just want a complete family," Esther said. "Agnes, you're my mom's friend, and you're my dad's friend too. You must have a way, right?"

Agnes felt extremely conflicted. But there was such innocence in Esther's eyes. Her naive longing was heartbreaking. At that moment, Jared stepped forward.

"Sweetie, who taught you to say these things?" Jared asked directly.

Esther blinked. "Mr. Jared, nobody taught me. I said it myself."

Jared sat down on a nearby armchair, taking Esther's hand. "If you don't tell the truth, we can't help you. And you're best buddies with Nocturne, right? Nocturne never hangs out with kids who aren't honest."

After hearing this, Esther's face changed slightly, and then she looked down and said, "My mom taught me to say it."

Agnes felt a sudden chill. It hadn't occurred to her before. But with Jared's questioning, she realized something was amiss. These words had been taught to Esther by Jenny. A shiver ran down Agnes's spine. So, Jenny was using her child as a tool, leveraging her as a pawn?

Suddenly, Agnes remembered. Earlier, in the kitchen, Jenny had pleaded for reconciliation and hoped Agnes would speak to Elton. Agnes couldn't understand Jenny's reasoning. How could she possibly think of involving Agnes in such a scheme? It was utterly absurd. Naturally, Agnes refused. She thought that was the end of it.

But she hadn't anticipated Jenny's next move. Her strategy involved Esther, exploiting the child's desire for a complete family to manipulate her into speaking these words. But what does a child understand? Esther was only interpreting things with her innocent mind. Jenny had not considered the potential harm her words could inflict on her daughter.

Setting all that aside, the mere act of using Esther in this way was something Agnes found unacceptable. No matter what, children were off-limits. How could anyone exploit a four- or five-year-old child for their selfish desires?

Esther's eyes still held such purity. Looking at Esther's face, Agnes was at a loss for words. Esther, still with an innocent expression, said in her childish voice, "Agnes, I didn't mean to lie. It's just that my mom said not to tell anyone it was her idea. Actually... actually, I didn't want to lie. But mom said this was the only way dad would marry her, and then I could go to school like the other kids and live with both my mom and dad."

Agnes replied, "Esther, lying is never right, no matter the reason. Your mom and dad's issues are something only they can resolve. It's something between adults. But remember, your dad loves you very much, no matter what. You have to believe that."