Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1017

Alyssa's face changed slightly, and she murmured, "It's none of your business."

"Of course, I know it's none of my business. Because, you see, he's also in the Capital. Michael Albert hasn't come to see you for years, knowing full well Jared exists but still cut you off completely. What are you still holding onto with a guy like that?"

"Enough, Cilian. Just stop," Alyssa nearly roared.

An eerie silence took over the hallway.

After a moment, Cilian spoke again, "Look at you, all these years, and still, you can't even hear his name without freaking out. But no matter what I do or say, I can't shake you, not even a little. Alyssa, what are you still hoping for?"

With that, Cilian turned and walked away.

He had just passed through the hallway when he nearly bumped into Agnes.

She couldn't avoid him in time and simply didn’t move, watching from a distance.

Cilian seemed slightly surprised to see Agnes but his gaze lingered on her for only a second before he continued on his way.

Alyssa stood in the hallway for a long while.

She seemed to choke up but quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and left through another corridor.

Only then did Agnes slowly walk down the hallway, her heart heavy with an inexplicable complexity as she watched Alyssa's retreating figure.

Finally, Agnes made her way to Ryder's hospital room.

The door was ajar, not fully closed.

Agnes wanted to knock but hesitated, fearing Ryder might be asleep, so she gently pushed the door open to peek inside.

Ryder wasn’t sleeping. Instead, he stood on the small balcony of the room, smoking.

One of his arms was still in a brace, hanging by his side, while the other held a half-smoked cigarette.

He flicked the cigarette butt into a nearby ashtray, a layer of ash already present in the crystal container—how many had he smoked?

Agnes frowned deeply.

Ryder approached her, "Agnes, are you saying all this just to distance yourself from me? It's okay, I'm not mad. I'm just happy you came."

Agnes retorted, "I didn’t come because I was worried about you. I just think you shouldn’t be wasting your time on pointless gestures."

"You remind me of that every now and then," Ryder said nonchalantly, grabbing a bottle of liquor from the table.

Agnes couldn’t stand it anymore, "Do you think the doctors would approve of your drinking and smoking like this?"

"Agnes, you seem to forget, I'm a doctor too."

For a moment, Agnes found herself at a loss for words.