Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 392

Laura said, "Look, I'm just looking out for you. This whole thing is a real head-scratcher. We can't say for sure if your mom was the one who embezzled or if Alyssa set her up. What's done is done, as long as it doesn't mess with your relationship. But not long ago, Alyssa came to me, asking all sorts of questions about you and if you knew about your mom's past. This caused a big row between your dad and me. I thought it's only right to let you know, to keep you on your toes. I'm worried if Alyssa really had a hand in your mom's death, she might come after you, and your dad wouldn't let me tell you. He's worried it'll affect you and Jared, plus, Starlight International Group is hanging on by the skin of their teeth thanks to the Tim Group's help, we have to tread lightly."

Agnes was taken aback, "What do you mean?"

Laura started to explain, "Your dad didn't want to tell you this, but Starlight International Group didn't get a bank loan, the Tim Group directly gave us a big sum of money to get us through the hard times."

Agnes was shocked.

Her father had given her the sum of money back.

He said it was a loan from a Japanese bank that saved Starlight International Group, but she hadn't expected it was the Tim Group that had stepped in.

Jared had never mentioned this.

Laura continued, "I have a recording of a conversation I had with Alyssa, and you'll understand once you listen to it."

Laura pulled out her phone and played a recording.

The recording began, Laura's voice clear and direct, "Did you make that 2 million donation?"

Alyssa responded, her tone laced with regret, "I owe Julia so much more than just an apology for that year. All I wanted was for her to feel the sting of humiliation; for her to finally admit her wrongs to me. But I never imagined that she'd take her own life over a mere 2 million. The weight of that guilt has haunted me ever since, and facing it has been terrifying. Discovering that Agnes is Julia's daughter... life has a twisted sense of irony."

The recording ended there.

Agnes could tell it was Alyssa and Laura's voices.

Agnes was shaking all over.

So the 2 million back then was indeed a trap set by Alyssa for her mother.

Agnes was fuming.

Laura said, "I know I'm your stepmother, and you probably won't believe anything I say, or think I mean well. You can totally ask Alyssa about this, I'm sure she won't deny it. But your dad is also right. What's done is done, you're already married to Jared..."

Agnes coldly said, "Cut the act. You brought Beatrice into the picture from the start, the aim was to leak the fact about my mom's death and its link to Alyssa, so I'd start digging. You knew I'd confront you sooner or later, that's why you recorded this conversation, waiting for me to fall into your trap, right? Your real goal is to use this old feud to mess with my relationship with Jared. Because Beatrice has feelings for Jared, you want me out of the picture so Beatrice can become Mrs. Whitfield, right? Even if Alyssa was the culprit back then, you don't need to play the good guy in front of me. Everything that's happening now, you've carefully orchestrated it, haven't you?"