Chapter 849


    Ryder leaned against the door of his truck, the glow of the streemp casting long shadows on his


    face. "Look, Agnes, no need for thanks," he said, his voice tinged with the weariness of long hours


    spent in theb. "I''ve put my soul into Nocturne''s treatments. I want him to have a normal life more


    than anyone. But this new dosage... I wasn''t part of that decision. I''ve looked into the ratios, and


    between you and me, if it were my call, I wouldn''t have gone through with it. Just... keep an eye on him,


    okay? If anything seems off, you call me. Day or night, it doesn''t matter."


    Agnes felt her heart tighten in her chest. "I will, Ryder. I promise."


    With a nod that seemed to carry the weight of the world, Ryder climbed the steps and disappeared into


    the building.


    Agnes lingered at the curb for a moment longer before she started her car and drove away into the


    night.


    The clock on the dashboard read 9:30 PM. These past few days, Jared had beening homete,


    swamped with work and meetings that stretched into the wee hours.


    She texted him – [When will you be home?]


    No reply came, and not wanting to intrude on what she assumed was his busy schedule, she refrained


    from calling.


    Instead, Agnes drove to Tim Tower. It had been a while since herst visit; her own career had picked


    up pace, demanding most of her time. The building was quieter at this hour, but still aze with light in


    the growing darkness.


    She made her way upstairs, intending to surprise Jared by waiting in his office. The secretary''s area


    was deserted, and she tiptoed past, eager to see the look on Jared''s face.


    The door to Jared''s office was ajar, light spilling into the hallway. Agnes paused, her hand on the


    doorknob, ready to push it open. But then she saw them – Jared and Valeria – standing by the massive


    floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the city skyline.


    They each held a ss of red wine, not working, just standing shoulder to shoulder, silhouetted against


    the night.


    Agnes'' initial impulse to enter faded as she watched them clink sses, share quiet conversation, and


    his domain with Valeria, his queen, by his side.


    A pang of something more intense than jealousy hit Agnes. She realized that Jared had reserved a


    special ce in his heart for Valeria, a ce that was off-limits to her. He had told her they were not


    lovers, not friends, butrades, allies – a bond that seemed to transcend friendship and encroach


    upon Agnes'' own connection with him.


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    Valeria had always been upfront, graceful, and aplished. Agnes knew she shouldn''t judge unfairly,


    but the sight of those two, perfectly matched shadows, made her feel as if a thorn was lodged in her


    chest.


    In the end, Agnes didn''t enter the office. She turned and walked away, a silent witness to a scene she


    was not a part of.


    Stepping out of the building, her phone chimed with a message. It was Jared, replying to her earlier text


    with a terse [I’m workingte.]


    The words felt like a ssh of cold water on her face. Workingte? Was sipping wine and engaging in


    deep conversation his idea of overtime? And was every night of Jared''s recentte stays just more of


    the same?