Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1053

Agnes sensed that something was deeply troubling Jared.

Trying to offer some solace, she said, “Look, what's done is done. Ryder has backed off, hasn't he? Otherwise, he wouldn't have handed over The Tim Group so easily.”

Jared's expression was grave.

Backed off?

No, their battle had only just begun.

It was more accurate to say that Ryder had finally made his move.

Jared just hadn't expected their conflict to reach a point of no return.

Jared's return to The Tim Group sent shockwaves through the media world.

Ryder's rise to power had already been the subject of endless speculation.

Now, with Jared reclaiming his position, he couldn't escape the media's various narratives either.

Many portrayed it as a war between the two brothers of the Whitfield family, fighting for control.

First, it was seen as fratricide and usurpation, but Jared's swift and remarkable comeback was nothing short of spectacular.

At The Dark Night Bar.

Ryder sat at the bar, nursing a drink.

One of his arms hung limply by his side, clearly incapacitated, but it did nothing to diminish his allure.

Women, bold and beautiful, approached him, but were invariably dismissed by his icy gaze.

Before long, a shadowy figure took the seat next to Ryder.

“It seems you've taken my advice and decided to make a move.”

The voice was smooth and magnetic, yet carried an unmistakable chill.

The undercurrent of menace was palpable, sending shivers down one's spine.

Ryder's fingers clenched tightly around the edge of the bar.

He was filled with hatred, wishing ruin upon everyone, yet he couldn't abandon his principles to act on such thoughts.

The man beside him was unphased.

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the surface of the bar, a sound that was oddly unsettling.

“Do you really want to lose to him forever? He took everything from you—your family's respect, your mother's love, and the woman you cherished the most. Don't you want to take it all back?”

Ryder's grip tightened, his head bowed, his voice a bitter snarl, “But...”

Before Ryder could finish, the man interjected, “Mercy to others is cruelty to oneself. You'll never achieve greatness like this. Your brother understands this well—he's never shown you mercy, has he? Otherwise, how could he repeatedly steal the woman you love?”

At this, Ryder seemed to falter, “Stop.”

But the man just gently patted Ryder's shoulder, “Relax. It's not about committing a crime, just about giving yourself an ace up your sleeve. With this ace, what can't you achieve?”