Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared) novel Chapter 926

Ryder found the food at the Thomas Group utterly unpalatable.

Agnes, not one to let her nephew suffer the indignity of bad hospital food, had gone out and bought a portable induction cooker, taking it upon herself to whip up some comfort food – homemade porridge with all sorts of variations.

One evening, she simmered a savory fish chowder, its aroma wafting through Ryder's room.

Ryder was on the mend, up and about. The doctors were impressed. Youth and a solid foundation, coupled with his own medical knowledge, were on his side.

When Agnes walked in, Ryder was struggling into his jacket. His one hand wasn't cooperating, and he'd been wrestling with it for a while without success.

Agnes hurried over to help, carefully sliding the jacket onto his shoulders.

Then, standing in front of him, she began to fasten the buttons. She was focused, perhaps too intently, on the small task at hand. Honestly, it felt a tad intimate for her liking.

She'd only done this for one other man in her life – Jared.

But just the thought of Jared sent a pang of bitterness through her.

Once she finished, she looked up to find Ryder staring at her, his eyes deep and fathomless as a starry sky. There seemed to be a whirlpool of emotions swirling within them.

And those eyes... they were so similar to Jared's. For a moment, Agnes felt as if it were Jared standing before her. Both men had a certain magnetism in their gaze, an intensity that made you feel exposed, without refuge.

Caught in the moment, Agnes forgot to look away. But Ryder, he bent his head, leaning in slowly, cautiously—as if testing the waters.

Agnes, however, was staring at those pair of eyes, she was still haunted by thoughts of Jared, which had been tormenting her lately. She forgot to move away.