Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)

She finally poured her heart out. Was this what she'd been hiding deep inside her heart?

In the end, Jared chose to walk away, leaving behind the tranquility undisturbed.

Before long, Ramona burst in with urgency, "Boss, the rescue team's here, we can head back."

Hope flickered in Agnes' eyes upon hearing this.

She looked down at Ryder and said, "Ryder, did you hear that? Help is here, your hand will be okay."

But at that moment, Ryder had already passed out from the pain on her shoulder.

What followed seemed chaotic.

Agnes was evacuated with the rescue convoy.

They headed to the nearest city with three hospitals.

Agnes hadn't fully recovered herself, she was running on sheer willpower.

On the rescue vehicle, Ramona suddenly said, "Boss, didn't you see Mr. Whitfield?"

Agnes asked, "What?"

Ramona explained, "Mr. Whitfield, the CEO of the Tim Group, he was here too. They say the mountain road was cleared so quickly because of the resources the Tim Group poured in. I heard Mr. Whitfield was with the rescue team the whole time, waiting outside the blocked road, not sleeping for days and nights. As soon as the road was cleared, he rushed over, probably for you. But you had just left when Mr. Whitfield arrived, you missed each other."

Agnes' heart felt like it was pricked by a needle.

Jared was here, and she had no idea. A deep sigh escaped Agnes' heart.

All she remembered was when she and Yara were trapped, she wasn't sure if it was a dream or reality.

Jared filled her thoughts.

It was so dark then, her body ached, and there was an endless wait.

No water, no food, no visible hope, life seemed to be ebbing away moment by moment.

She didn't know how to hold on, so she clung to thoughts of Jared, of Nocturne.

That was the belief that kept her going, but deep down, Agnes knew things with Jared had turned sour.

It was no surprise Jared came in person, but Agnes was relieved she hadn't encountered Jared.

She could imagine hurling herself into his arms if she saw him.

But things were no longer the same between them.

Jared might still be concerned, but she didn't want to compromise again in a moment of vulnerability.

To fall back into the same old cycle of torturous uncertainty.

Soon, they arrived at the hospital.

Ryder was rushed into surgery, and Agnes was nearly fainting from exhaustion.

When she finally awoke, she was lying in a hospital bed herself.

This was the Thomas Group-owned hospital.

Closest to Goldfield Heights, yet untouched by the earthquake.

As Agnes came to, the first thing she saw was Jared's face.

For a moment, she thought she was hallucinating.

But that distinct, cool aura could only belong to Jared.

Opening her eyes, her first question was, "How long have I been out? How's Ryder?"

All she cared about was whether Ryder's hand could be saved.

Jared's voice was calm and detached, "Don't worry, the surgery's done, but recovery will be a long and enduring process."

Agnes didn't know whether to feel relieved or sad.

At least Ryder's hand was saved, but even if he recovered, he wouldn't be able to perform surgeries anymore. The thought left a particularly bitter taste in Agnes' heart.