Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)

Valeria's words were brief, but they revealed so much.

Turns out Ryder had returned to the Tim Corporation and even won a takeover battle.

Work matters weren't Agnes' forte, nor did she want to meddle.

Agnes turned and went inside, deciding to ignore the rest.

Jared, meanwhile, wore a detached expression and said coolly, "I'm aware."

Then to Valeria, he added, "Go back, and don't come looking for me here anymore."

Valeria was taken aback by Jared's reaction to the news.

How could he remain so calm? Even she, an outsider, was finding it hard to watch.

Ryder was clearly overstepping, acting out of turn, but Jared seemed indifferent.

He had vanished without a word for half a month.

Meanwhile, the company had been through a whirlwind of events.

The board was losing faith in Jared.

Now, with Ryder's impressive acquisition, they might just agree to appoint a new chairman.

If so, the empire Jared had painstakingly built would undergo a regime change, snatched away by Ryder.

Valeria questioned, "Don't you plan on coming back with me?"

Jared replied, "I don't want to go back just yet."

Valeria frowned, but her voice remained steady, "Fine, then tell me, when do you plan on going back?"

Jared's answer was firm, "I've got my plans, don't worry about it."

"You plan on skipping the board meeting, deliberately handing over the Tim Corporation to your brother? You've already given up the woman, and now you're handing over the company as their dowry?" Valeria's words carried a rare bite of sarcasm, but it was born of frustration.

This wasn't the Jared she knew. The Jared she knew wouldn't just give up. Or perhaps, he wanted to stay because Agnes was here? "Enough, Valeria. It's not your place to worry about my choices. Go back. I'll get in touch with Leo about the company business." Disappointment flickered across Valeria's face.

At last, she managed a resigned smile, "I just came to inform you. You know I always respect your decisions."

With that, Valeria turned and left the apothecary.

Inside, Agnes was helping Esther get dressed.

Esther had only just woken up.

The entire morning, she and Jared hadn't exchanged a single word.

At lunchtime, Agnes couldn't help but say, "You should go back, deal with the company's affairs."

Jared's response was indifferent, "You don't need to worry about my business."

Agnes had no standing, of course. But she knew Ryder's ambition.

Ryder's desire to take over the Tim Corporation was to prove that he was no less capable than Jared. Perhaps her own role had played a part in his motivation. However, Agnes didn't want to see their relationship deteriorate to such an extent.

"Jared, what exactly are you giving up on? Because we broke up, you're willing to let go of the company too?"

Jared scoffed, "Agnes, you think too highly of yourself."