Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 366

Mamie looked seriously distressed. Agnes couldn't help but chuckle after hearing her out.

Mamie glared at Agnes. "You're not helping, and you're laughing?"

Agnes knew that Mamie must see her as family to confide in her this way.

Mamie had been in the entertainment industry for years. Despite being a big shot, she's pretty innocent at heart. She's always been protected by Ivan.

Mamie had felt deep guilt about Agnes since the last incident. When Agnes chose not to press charges against Ivan, Mamie's gratitude grew immensely. She now considered Agnes to be like family.

Agnes chuckled, "Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh. It's not a major issue. You two aren't siblings or married, so it's not a big deal."

Mamie looked hurt by Agnes's words. "It's more complicated than you realize. While I might appear as the cherished daughter of the Bartley family, they actually view me as a curse. Throughout the years, only my brother has stood by me. But he's the treasured eldest grandson, the apple of our grandpa's eye. I don't want him to lose his place in the family because of me."

Agnes sighed, "Why are you two thinking the same way?"

"What do you mean?" Mamie asked.

Agnes knew she shouldn't butt in. But the relationship between Ivan and Mamie was like looking through a layer of ice. And she was the only one who could see through it. Since what happened had happened, Agnes didn't see a need to hide anything anymore.

Agnes said, "Actually, Ivan's always had a thing for you. He never confessed cause he didn't want you to be blamed, to have a hard time in the industry, to be targeted by the Bartley family."

Mamie's face completely changed. She looked unbelieving, as if her heartbeat had stopped. "What did you say? My brother likes me?"

"He adores you, Mamie," Agnes started, her voice gentle. "The way he reacted when you were with Jared made that evident. But tradition and moral codes held him back, forcing him to remain the perfect, protective brother. I don't believe that what transpired yesterday was just the result of intoxication. It was the explosion of feelings he's been containing for so long."

At the mention of the previous night, a flush crept up Mamie's cheeks. She had consumed more than her fair share of alcohol, yet every memory from that night remained sharp. The image of Ivan, his face a mix of anguish and tenderness, was seared into her mind. She could still feel his kisses, reverent and lingering, tracing her skin.

His voice, soft and pleading, had echoed in her ears, "Mamie, I love you, I love you..."

She had initially dismissed the night's events as figments of her drunken imagination. But knowing now that Ivan's feelings for her weren't new revelations made her rethink everything. It wasn't just a fanciful dream; it was a deeply entrenched reality. The unexpressed love, the bottled-up emotions, and their heedless surrender to the moment had all been genuine.