The Heiress's Comeback

Chapter 168: [Volume 1] - 168- Deal with her.

With that, Jenny dropped to her knees, pressing her forehead against the ground, the rawness of her emotions spilling out. The act was not just a gesture of submission; it was a surrender to the gravity of their situation, an acknowledgment of the power that Esme held over their lives.

Esme looked down at Jenny, her expression inscrutable, weighing the sincerity of her plea. "You understand that what I ask in return may not be easy for you," she warned. "But if you truly wish for your child to be safe, then you must be prepared to do whatever it takes."

Amber and Jenny exchanged a glance, a silent communication passing between them, the weight of their desperation pressing them closer together. There was no time to waste. If they had any chance at all, it lay with Esme.

"Tell us what you need us to do," Amber said, his voice steadying despite the turmoil inside him. "We’ll do it. Just please... don’t let anything happen to our child."

Esme regarded them, a flicker of interest dancing in her eyes. "Very well. But know this: once you step into my world, there’s no turning back."

The stakes were set, and the path ahead was fraught with danger. But for the sake of their child, Amber and Jenny were ready to face whatever darkness lay ahead.

...

Back in the present, the Aron brothers felt sick to their stomachs after hearing Esme’s words.

Ray, covered his mouth, trying to hold back the nausea rising in his throat. He could barely process what he had just learned. It was revolting.

He once adored his second aunt, followed her everywhere because she treated him kindly, always making him feel special. She’d been warm, approachable—someone he’d even looked up to.

But now, the memories of his mother’s warnings hit him like a ton of bricks. She had always told him, "Never trust that woman, no matter what."

At the time, Ray thought it was because of politics or family business disputes, nothing more. Now, the truth lurked behind those memories, and he shuddered at the thought that he had been so close to her.

Had she touched him? The very idea turned his stomach. He felt disgusted—she was disgusting.

And then, a darker thought slipped into his mind: Was his parents’ death in that car accident really an accident? Was his second aunt involved?

On the other side of the table, Kai was composed, at least more so than his brothers, though his mind was no less disturbed.

Being a lawyer, he had seen his share of horrible, twisted cases, but this? This was something different. Still, he knew how to keep his emotions in check, even as the weight of Esme’s words bore down on him.

Taking a deep breath, he asked, his voice steady but filled with tension, "So, what kind of deal have you made with that woman’s daughter?"

Esme shrugged in response, flashing a playful smile as if the conversation were merely a game.

"What do you think? Do you really believe I’m such a terrible person that I’d ask a child to kill her own mother?" Her voice was light, almost mocking, but there was something darker beneath the surface.

The brothers stared at her, their disbelief written across their faces. Yes, they did believe she was capable of that.

Seeing their expressions, Esme’s face took on a mock-innocent look, her eyes wide as she continued, "Oh, come on! I’m not that cruel." She paused, letting the tension build before she added, almost casually, "I just had them give her the same poison that was given to me. You see... I’m not that heartless."

Ryan, Kai, and Ray lowered their heads, the weight of her words settling heavily on their shoulders. They knew Esme too well to think she would simply let things go. But poisoning someone with the same substance that had been used on her—that wasn’t just punishment; it was a slow, agonizing fate, worse than any quick death.

"Isn’t it much more painful than death?" Ryan whispered, his voice filled with a grim understanding. The brothers shared a silent glance, each of them realizing that Esme’s vengeance was far from over. In her world, justice was slow, deliberate, and cruel.

Hearing Ryan’s words, Esme’s smile grew cold, like ice spreading across her face. Her eyes locked onto him, a serious expression slowly replacing the playfulness. Yet, the edges of her lips were still slightly curled, but the smile felt forced, almost painful. Her voice, too, was laced with a harshness that hadn’t been there before. "Ah, of course it’s not cool," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She clapped her hands, the sound sharp and hollow, drawing everyone’s attention. Her smile vanished altogether, leaving only the seriousness behind. "I’m being really generous here."

Ryan froze, caught off guard by her shift in demeanor. Her words, the weight behind them, were chilling. He had seen Esme in many different moods, but the one he saw now unsettled him deeply. It was as if a darker side of her had come to the surface, and the look in her eyes was murderous.

Before Ryan could fully process what was happening, Ray, finally shaking off his shock, asked hesitantly, "But if you poison them with the same poison, won’t someone figure it out? I mean, if you’re suffering from it too, wouldn’t there be a risk that someone could trace it back to you? Like they’d realize it’s the same poison?"

Esme opened her mouth, ready to respond, but a new voice interrupted her. "That’s why I’ve changed the formula," said Jay calmly, his voice cutting through the tension.

Everyone’s attention immediately shifted toward Jay, who had just entered the room. He was wearing a lab coat, the crisp white material standing in stark contrast to the dark atmosphere of the room.

Tap tap

Ray, his face lighting up upon seeing his youngest brother, rushed over and hugged him tightly.