Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 843

Cecile's laughter rang out with a piercing edge, drawing the gaze of everyone in the room. "Agnes, looks like I owe you a drink today," she declared with an unmistakable note of challenge.

Back in the day, Cecile had been the ringleader of the notorious Mean Girls at school. There wasn't a soul on campus who didn't know her name. Wielding her status as the mayor's daughter like a club, she bullied her classmates mercilessly, driving some to transfer and others to darker fates. She was the cancer everyone whispered about, the villain in every story.

The incident that led to Cecile's expulsion was still fresh in everyone's memory, and it was all thanks to Agnes. No doubt Cecile hadn't forgotten, and her sudden appearance now could only mean she was seeking a confrontation.

Cecile's eyes flickered to the glass of juice before Agnes, and without another word, she dumped out the fruit juice and poured a shot of whiskey. "Drink up, Agnes. Let's call it even for old times' sake, what do you say?"

Agnes replied coolly, "Sorry, I've stopped drinking."

"Come on, Agnes, don't make excuses. Just down this one and we'll bury the hatchet. I'll start." Cecile filled her own glass to the brim, downed it in one gulp, and gestured for Agnes to follow suit. Despite her show of bravado, Cecile's act wasn't fooling anyone. A murmur went through the crowd, and someone began to coax Agnes. "Come on, Agnes, keep the peace. Just have the drink." The room was quickly caught up in the atmosphere, and before long, a chant began to rise, "Drink! Drink!"

The pressure mounted as the crowd closed in, turning what had been persuasion into coercion. It was as if refusing the whiskey was a slap in the face to everyone there.

Agnes was caught between a rock and a hard place. She knew she couldn't handle her liquor-whiskey might as well have been poison to someone who got tipsy on two beers. Worse still, her drunken antics could cause a scene, something she had promised Jared she would avoid at all costs.

As Agnes hesitated, the alcohol was already fueling Cecile's aggression. She shoved the glass into Agnes' hand. "What, you think you're too good for me now? Don't be so stuck-up, Agnes. Today, you drink whether you like it or not."

The situation escalated quickly, with Cecile growing more belligerent by the second. People tried to intervene, but Cecile, fueled by rage and alcohol, shook them off.

She pointed an accusing finger at Agnes. "So, you're going to snub my toast, huh? Maybe it's time we settle our past, piece by piece. Don't think I've forgotten how you played two sides with Jared back in the day. He may have treasured you then, but you're not Mrs. Whitfield anymore. You've got no one to hide behind. If you don't drink up, I'll make sure you regret it."

Cecile lifted the glass, intent on forcing Agnes to drink. But Agnes, who wasn't without her own skills, was ready to defend herself if necessary. Just then, a large hand reached out and intercepted Cecile's, stopping her in her tracks.