Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)

A loud thud echoed through the private room, followed by Peter's agonized scream.

Everyone inside bore witness to the spectacle, their faces a tapestry of shock and disbelief.

Who would have thought that Ms. Pritchard, seemingly delicate, possessed such brute strength? She had just flipped a towering six-foot man over her shoulder with apparent ease.

But that wasn't even the main issue. The crux of the matter was that she had just manhandled the marketing manager of the Tim Group.

The Tim Group's annual advertising budget of fifty million dollars rested in his hands.

It was common knowledge that the station manager had been bending over backward to secure the Tim Group's advertising deal.

Agnes' action had just turned that sure-fire fifty million into a pie in the sky, suddenly sprouting wings and flying away.

Naturally, the other media representatives in the room reveled in the misfortune.

The station manager stood there, red-faced, clutching his chest as if on the brink of a heart attack.

Did Agnes even realize what she'd done? No matter how rude Peter had been, she couldn't just assault him. Wasn't this tantamount to burning bridges with the Tim Group?

But Agnes was beyond caring at that moment. Peter had simply pushed her to the limit.

Several of the Tim Group's staff hurried over to help Peter back on his feet. "Manager, are you alright? Shall we call an ambulance?"

Having been thrown over the shoulder by a woman in front of everyone and left in such a sorry state was a severe blow to Peter's pride.

Peter directed his fury towards the station manager, "Ulysses, don't you ever dream of making a dime off the Tim Group again. Not just the Tim Group, but any of our subsidiaries. I'd rather give the fifty million to some unknown little media outlet than let your station benefit."

"Since when did the Tim Group give you so much authority?"

A cool, male voice suddenly cut through the tension from the entrance.

Though it wasn't loud, the voice carried a chilling authority that demanded attention.

Every head in the room turned towards the door, including Agnes'.

To her surprise, the newcomer was Ryder.

Ryder's arm, though no longer in a sling, still hung uselessly by his side.

He had always been unable to move it, but now he was cloaked in a black trench coat that concealed his arm from curious eyes.

At that moment, he emitted a cold and forbidding air that seemed to drop the room's temperature several degrees.

Those in the room who didn't recognize him looked on with confusion.

However, those from the Tim Group, including Peter, wore expressions of sheer terror.

Someone quickly stammered out, "Mr. Whitfield?"

The station manager knew who he was, recognizing him as the general manager of the Thomas Group, which had been in the news for snatching up a prime piece of real estate in Harmony Hollow. But why were the Tim Group's people also addressing him as Mr. Whitfield?

Peter's face drained of color, as if he had transformed into someone else entirely. "Mr. Whitfield, what brings you here?"

Ryder moved to Agnes' side, his voice suddenly much softer. "Are you alright?"

Agnes hadn't expected Ryder to show up personally.

The situation was escalating.

With Ryder's arrival, it seemed all the more unlikely that this would end quietly.

Agnes glanced at Peter, noticing the change in his demeanor upon seeing her with Ryder. It was clear their relationship was not an ordinary one. His face twisted with a mixture of emotions, signaling a storm brewing on the horizon.