Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 991

Agnes was at a loss for her next move. She needed time to sort out her jumbled thoughts, to reevaluate her relationship with Jared, and to seriously consider her future direction. After clocking out, Agnes headed back to Maplewood Manor. But she didn't go to see Jared. Instead, she made her way to Kerri's place.

Exhaustion weighed on Agnes. Upon arriving at Kerri's, she collapsed into bed and fell asleep. Her rest, however, was fraught with nightmares. In her dreams, Ryder's hands wouldn't stop bleeding, and no matter how hard she tried, Agnes couldn't staunch the flow. Then the scene would shift abruptly to Jared. But it was only his silhouette. Within the fog, Agnes struggled to see clearly. She chased after him, reaching for his hand, but it always eluded her grasp.

Dreams seemed to contradict reality. Yet, the fear felt in the dream was palpable. Agnes was acutely aware of how terrified she was of losing Jared. She awoke at 3 a.m., her back drenched in cold sweat, unable to fall back asleep. Agnes hadn't eaten all day. She felt dizzy, barely able to stand. Staggering to the kitchen, she fixed herself a bowl of instant noodles. But as she ate, tears began to fall uncontrollably. What should she do? What could she possibly do?

Agnes took two days off work. During that time, she went nowhere, staying home and sleeping. Only with the help of sleeping pills did she manage to rest over the two days. But upon waking, her head throbbed mercilessly. Agnes had avoided the news, her phone, and any serious thought for two days. But she knew well that avoidance was only a temporary measure. On the third day, Agnes resolved to face her situation. No matter what lay ahead, she would confront it step by step, even if it meant stumbling into a quagmire.

And she had come to a realization: Ryder's madness was fueled by her relationship with Jared. Ryder's obsession, in large part, stemmed from the fact that the man she loved was Jared. At his core, Ryder was always competing with Jared, vying for what he had. But what if she chose neither of them? There would be no reason for their struggle to continue. Agnes was weary. Every relationship was draining. And she felt like a knife, wounding anyone she got close to. Agnes was frightened of herself. Everyone seemed to be in pain. Perhaps it was better to be alone. She didn't need to run away; she could just live her life. No one would lose, no one would gain. Wasn't that fair? At least it would avoid a lot of conflict. Once she had come to terms with this, the pain seemed to subside.

Agnes decided it was time to have a clear talk with Jared. When she turned on her phone, she found a dozen missed calls from Jared, all from two days ago. There were also a few calls from Mamie and Ivan. Agnes frowned slightly. Before she could ponder the calls, her phone vibrated again. She swiftly answered. It was Mamie: "Agnes, where have you been these past few days? I've been calling and calling. I was worried something had happened to you."

Agnes offered a vague excuse: "I'm sorry, Mamie. I've been dealing with some things." Then Agnes asked, "You called several times. Is something wrong?"

"Agnes, you need to come over now. Jared's here, and if you don't come soon, something bad is going to happen."

Agnes's heart clenched: "What's wrong with him?"