Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 597

Agnes shook her head, "Jared wouldn't just hand his kid over to a stranger. He'd thoroughly investigate the person first. He has a tight network of information-gathering. He can replace out just about anything quickly. He hasn't been able to replace any info on me or Nocturne over the years because I had Nate erase everything about me from the data world. So, online, there's nothing on Agnes. I've been careful all these years to dodge Jared's network. But for him, replaceing others is a piece of cake."

Kerri didn't ask who Nate was.

She didn't know how Agnes had managed all these years.

But if a stand-in wouldn't work, and Agnes couldn't go herself,

What then?

Agnes sat, hands covering her face, looking utterly worn out.

"The only way now," Agnes said, "is to sneak Nocturne away when Jared isn't paying attention. By then, I'll have returned to Manhattan. Even if Jared starts looking, he'll start with you, seeking the parents. Jus fob him off with any excuse."

It sounded a bit far-fetched, but it was the only plan they had at the moment.

But it was going to be tough.

Agnes had Nocturne's location. She could tell where he was at any time.

But knowing wasn't enough.

Nocturne spent most of his time asleep.

There was always someone with him.

She had to wait for the right moment. It was a tall order.

"You've been on the go all night," Agnes told Kerri. "Get some sleep. I'll figure something out."

Kerri felt guilty. All this trouble was Brayden's doing, and it had roped in Agnes.

"If there's anything I can do to help, just say the word," Kerri said.

Agnes nodded and left the hospital.

She went straight back to Cedarwood Manor.

She hadn't slept all night.

After a shower, Agnes hit the sack.

But she didn't sleep well. She dreamt she was in court with Jared, fighting over custody of Nocturne.

In the end, the judge awarded custody to Jared and stripped her of visitation rights.

She woke up from the nightmare.

Checking the time, Agnes saw she'd slept less than an hour.

Picking up her watch, she saw that Nocturne's current location was the Capital City Center's Monarch International Hotel.

Turned out Jared had been staying there since he came to the Capital.

In the Presidential Suite of the Monarch Hotel.

Jared had just put Nocturne on the bed.

Nocturne stirred, and suddenly woke up.

Jared smiled. "You done hibernating, kiddo?"

Nocturne sat up, rubbing his eyes.

His first reaction was to survey his surroundings.

He kept his cool style in front of Jared. "Sir, where are we? How did I end up with you?"

Jared squatted down to pick up Nocturne's shoes and put them on for him. "It's a long story. Long story short, you were kidnapped while you were asleep. I rescued you." Jared was trying to scare him.

But the little guy didn't bat an eye. He asked calmly, "Where's my mom?"