Chapter 977


    Agnes watched as Jared''s silhouette faded into the distance, her heart heavy with unspoken


    goodbyes.


    Saying farewell was never their strong suit, but maybe, just maybe, it was for the best.


    With quiet steps, she wrapped her arms around him from behind for one fleeting embrace, pressing


    her cheek to the warmth of his back. She knew she shouldn''t, yet she yearned for onest moment


    to feel his presence.


    "Take care of yourself, Jared," she whispered, before swiftly walking away from Maplewood Manor,


    afraid that if she lingered any longer, she might never leave.


    She wasn''t going far, though. Just to Kerri''s cottage, a mere stone''s throw away from Jared''s. As As


    she packed her few belongings, Agnes found herself obsessively arranging and rearranging, tears


    streaming down her face with each fold of fabric.


    Was she really ready to leave it all behind again?


    It felt as though everything hade full circle. Had she known this would be the oue, she


    might never have agreed to make up with Jared.


    Once packed, Agnes ascended to the rooftop, where she could barely make out the outline of


    Jared''s home through the trees. His windows glowed with life, and she wondered if he was still


    there, smoking by the ss-paneled walls, his lonely figure haunting her thoughts.


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    She spent the night sleepless.


    The next day, Agnes arrived at the airport early, even though her rendezvous with Ryder wasn''t until


    three in the afternoon. She found a café just outside the terminal and sat there, lost in thoughts that


    spanned her entire past, re-examining every decision, every person, every moment.


    Agnes remembered her childhood dream – a simple life as a journalist, a steady career, a loving


    partner, a family, a child, growing old together. She had never doubted that Elton Taylor, the boy


    who first rooted himself in her life, would be that partner.


    But life loved its cruel jokes.


    After the greatest betrayal, the once-na?ve Agnes learned that the world of emotions wasn''t just


    ck and white; it was filled with shades of gray.


    For an entire day, she managed not to dwell on Jared or Ryder. Instead, her mind wandered to


    distant memories of Elton and Jenny.


    As 2:50 PM approached, only ten minutes stood between her and the prearranged meeting with


    Ryder, and the same short span until the Tim Group''s shareholder meeting began.


    Rising from her seat, Agnes knew there was no turning back. She pulled her suitcase behind her as


    she entered the airport, where Ryder was undoubtedly waiting.


    The airport bustled with travelers, but Ryder had secured VIP tickets, allowing them to bypass the


    long security lines and head straight to the lounge. He had called her earlier, promising to wait for


    her there until it was time to board.


    Everything hinged on her decision, which was precisely why Agnes had arrived at the airport so


    early, yet hesitated to step inside. In that moment, she found herself reluctant to face Ryder.


    Lifting her gaze, as expected, she saw him.