Heartstrings on Fire

Chapter 12

Preston walked over to Agnes, held her hand and said, “Agnes, why didn’t you tell your old man about something so serious?”

Agnes replied, “There’s not much to tell, really. Just a breakup, it’s all in the past now.”

Despite Agnes‘ dismissive words, Preston knew his daughter too well. These two kids had been best friends since childhood, with a bond as thick as thieves. The Pritchard and Taylor families had long considered each other as in–laws, but no one could’ve predicted this turn of events.

Preston sat next to Agnes and said, “Well, what’s done is done. No point crying over spilled milk. Maybe it’s for the best. You’ve always been top-notch in your studies, while that Elton kid never took anything seriously. I always thought he wasn’t good enough for you. Only the best man in the world deserves my girl.”

With that, Preston took an invitation out of his pocket and said, “This is an invite to Tim’s 70th birthday bash. All the big families in Willowbrook Town received one, specifically asking to bring a daughter along. It’s pretty clear they’re setting up a dating event for Jared from the Whitfield family. Each family gets only one female spot, and I was thinking of taking you.”

Agnes was surprised to hear Jared’s name at home. She wondered how Preston would react if he knew she was already married to the man he mentioned.

Agnes didn’t spill the beans,

I’ve been neglecting you at home,

a little girl, she would have believed him. But now, she just nodded and said,

and then left the

the invitation blankly. The Whitfield family was setting up

looked at the date on the invitation. It turned out that Tim’s birthday was in a week, but she had never heard Jared mention it. She felt a little sad, but even if Jared had mentioned it, what difference would it make?

she felt that her marriage to Jared was nothing but a farce.

her thoughts, the door was pushed open, and in strutted Beatrice.

asked, “What do you

“I heard everything Dad just said to you, Agnes. The idea of you catching Jared’s eye

didn’t want to give it to her. So, hiding the invitation behind her, she said, “Beatrice, you’re underage. You want to go on