Heartstrings on Fire

Chapter 819

After Ryder got into the car, he managed not without difficulty, to buckle her into the seatbelt.

But he didn’t just start the car and drive away Instead, he turned to study her face intently

It felt like ages since hed allowed himself such a luxury in the past, he never dared to gaze at her so openly After all these years, he always felt shackled, and each stolen glance was a secret treasure

To be honest Ryder was tired of that feeling. He was tired of lurking in the shadows, aching for the sunlight. It was blinding, it hurt, but he couldn’t bring himself to settle in the dark corners where light never reached

He didn’t know how long he watched her. Memories flooded back as he looked at her face–most from their school days

Ryder remembered when they rehearsed a play together it was “Romeo and Juliet” He was Romeo, and she was Juliet

Night after night, they practiced their lines in the attic of Whitfield Manor.

would just collapse into the hammock chair and doze off

watch her then, much like he did now, as if only when her eyes were closed could his gaze wander freely and

were rare sparks of joy

started the car He drove along the city’s elevated roads, with

knew Agnes was living with

never stopped But in the end, selfishness

ended up taking Agnes

entered the elevator, they bumped into a neighbor from

internship at Hope

had been years, Ryder’s return had rekindled old acquaintances. After sharing

Kermit, the neurology

carrying Agnes, he couldn’t hide his curiosity. Dr. Ryder, finally brought