Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 911

Jared's gaze was fixed intently on Agnes' face. There was a constant air of indifferent sarcasm about Agnes as she spoke, "Jared, just because I've kept quiet doesn't mean I'm blind, and it certainly doesn't mean I'm a fool. When I texted you, called you, you told me you were buried in work, that you were too busy. And your 'busy' was drinking with a lady friend?"

Finally, Agnes had voiced the thorn in her heart. She had convinced herself countless times to be generous, to be composed, to trust Jared, but what had her understanding been met with?

In the end, Jared had completely taken Valeria's side.

Jared retorted, "Drinking was just an escape from the stress, and Valeria happened to be there, that's all. To me, she's no different than Brayden Simonds or Ivan; I've never looked at her as a woman. We're just partners."

Agnes laughed bitterly, "You could've just told me the truth, but every time you claimed you were busy."

"Agnes, why do you think our relationship was so terrible then? Don't you know why? And you really think it's because of me? If there was anything to happen between Valeria and me, wouldn't it have happened by now? What's there to doubt? Agnes, I'm surprised by your narrow-mindedness."

Agnes chuckled, "Jared, you're right, I'm petty. After four years apart, I haven't grown at all; still prone to irrational tantrums, still jealous. You say if something was to happen with Valeria, it would've happened already. If I hadn't come back then, wouldn't you be engaged to her by now? You call it a contract, but Jared, let me tell you, no woman treats her marriage like a business deal unless she chooses to. That's my woman's intuition. Our initial meeting was a misunderstanding, but when you proposed, I struggled because I realized I did like you a bit. If you don't understand that, then you don't understand Valeria either. If you really think she's content just being your business partner, then you don't know how deep a woman can hide her feelings."

Jared listened, utterly perplexed. For all these years, he and Valeria had been together without a hint of romance. Valeria was someone whose heart and mind were focused solely on her career and interests; he knew this well.

And he had explained all there was about Valeria time and again.

Now Agnes was accusing him over a drink with Valeria.

Didn't he know why he hadn't wanted to return?

It wasn't that he hadn't gone back, but upon returning, he saw Agnes laughing and chatting with Ryder at the campus food court, then she just went back to the company.

Jared shot back, "And what about you, Agnes? How are you any better? You drank with Ryder, got drunk, and he took you home. Everyone thought you two were an item. Did you ever consider my feelings? You said you were reuniting with old classmates for dinner, but was it really a reunion? You and Ryder hit every spot on the campus food trail and still wanted more. Agnes, didn't you ever ask yourself if what you were doing with Ryder was crossing a line? Compared to your constant, ambiguous relationship with Ryder, my interactions with Valeria were beyond reproach."

Was he admitting that his relationship with Valeria was beyond reproach? He was admitting it?