Heartstrings on Fire

Chapter 25
Agnes froze, thinking she must have been dreaming.
Jared spotted Agnes and he was taken aback too.
In surprise, Agnes questioned, “What are you doing here?”
Jared composed himself, strolled in leisurely and closed the door. He nonchalantly responded, “This is my room.”
Only then did Agnes realize, Ryder had brought her to Jared’s room for cover.
Seeing Jared approach, Agnes felt a sudden surge of nervousness.
He took off his coat, revealing a crisp white shirt that made him look incredibly handsome.
Jared asked, “What brings you here?”
For some reason, Agnes felt a wave of unexplained anger.
Agnes retorted, “I’m here for your matchmaking banquet. All the eligible single girls of Willowbrook Town are here for you to pick
and choose. Quite a showstopping event.” She huffed discontentedly after she finished.
A smirk played at the corner of Jared’s mouth as he lightly pinched Agnes‘ puffed–up face, “Little one, are you jealous?”
Agnes denied, “I am not jealous.”
Suddenly serious, Jared said, “It’s you who doesn’t want to make our relationship public. How about this, come downstairs with
me now and I’ll formally introduce you to my father and sister. Your father is also here, we can tell them we’re married, and you
are my wife. That way, they won’t arrange these chaotic matchmaking events for me anymore.”
With that, he grabbed Agnes‘ hand and headed for the door.
Agnes suddenly felt scared, and she stopped in her tracks, “No, I’m not ready yet. And this isn’t the right occasion.”
Agnes was dressed casually today. She had just climbed over the wall, wrestled with a golden retriever in the garden and was
covered in mud. She couldn’t possibly appear before the Whitfield family elders and the other influential families in such a state.

Jared turned around, putting on an innocent expression, “See, I’ve been waiting for you to be ready, always accommodating you.
You should compensate me, don’t you
think?”
Agnes felt something was off, but she asked as Jared suggested, “How should I compensate you?”
Jared stepped closer, pinning her against the enormous window behind her, and planted a passionate kiss, “We haven’t seen
each other in three days. Have you missed me?” Agnes was dizzy from the kiss, but she managed to say, “This isn’t right. What
if someone knocks on the door?”
She was worried Ryder would show up.
While continuing to kiss her, Jared murmured, “The door is locked, and the soundproofing is excellent.”
“The window is transparent, people could see...”
“It’s one–way glass. You can see out, but they can’t see in.”
Although she knew they couldn’t be seen from the outside, Agnes could see everyone in the hall from the corner of her eye. It
felt as if they were under everyone’s watch... Agnes mentally couldn’t handle it, so she pleaded, “I can’t...”
Jared didn’t want to force her, so he finally let her go, leading her by the hand to the dressing room.
He pulled out a gown.
Agnes thought it was beautiful, “Is this for me?”
“Who else would I keep clothes for in my room, if not for you, my dear Agnes?”