Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared) novel Chapter 850

Agnes slid into the car, settling into the worn leather seat, but it was a long while before she instructed the driver to pull away from the curb.

At night, she lay restlessly in bed, her body tossing and turning beneath the sheets. Her gaze was fixed on the antique wall clock, watching the seconds tick away with excruciating slowness.

It was well past midnight when Jared finally returned. Agnes could hear the faint creak of the bedroom door opening. She quickly shut her eyes, feigning deep sleep.

Jared entered the room without a sound, not bothering to flick on the lights. Yet Agnes could feel his presence drawing nearer, step by silent step. She could even sense his gaze resting upon her, and the scent of wine grew stronger as he approached.

Indeed, Jared's eyes were fixed on Agnes' face. The room was dark, but they hadn't drawn the curtains, and the moon was out, full and bright. Its silver light streamed through the window, illuminating Agnes' peaceful visage.

Her skin was flawless, soft and pure in the lunar glow. It was the kind of complexion that begged for a gentle pinch or a tender kiss.

But at this moment, as Jared gazed at her, all he felt was an acute pang of heartache. For four long years, this was the scene he had yearned for every single night. To come home from the office and find her sleeping just like this.

After all this time, he still found it surreal to have her back—so real that it frightened him. Had she truly returned to him in every sense, or had part of her remained absent during those lost years?

In his efforts to compensate for the time they had been apart, Jared had been nothing but accommodating, showering her with affection. He dared not show pettiness or reveal his true emotions, even feigning understanding when he saw her with Ryder.