The Heiress's Comeback

Chapter 177: [ Volume 1] Chaper 177- Tensions Rise

Ryan stood, towering over Ray, and for a brief moment, Ray felt like a cornered beauty at the mercy of a bad man. His cheeks flamed even redder, feeling helpless and exposed. The whole situation made him want to shout in frustration—so he did. "Ah!" he cried out, burying his face in his hands as if trying to hide from this ridiculous and humiliating moment.

Meanwhile, Esme was just outside in the hall, calmly tending to her work. Hearing Ray’s frustrated shout echo through the house, she gave a knowing sigh. It seemed Ryan was finishing his "duties." She calmly closed her laptop, picked up her bag, and without a trace of concern, made her way out of the house. She knew all too well how Ryan handled things.

Once seated in the car, she leaned back against the headrest, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. Ray may be mortified, but in Esme’s mind, everything had gone according to plan. After all, Ryan’s methods, though unconventional, always got results.

....

Esme sat calmly in her office, tapping away at her laptop as usual. She had a pen between her lips, absentmindedly nibbling on it as her mind worked through a report. Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door, breaking the silence. Esme paused, pulling the pen from her mouth. "Come in," she said, her voice low but firm, her head still slightly bent over her work.

As the door opened, Aron and Helga stepped in together. Esme’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. This was the first time both of them had entered her office at the same time. The sight of them together, and the serious expressions they wore, told Esme everything she needed to know. Still, she exhaled slowly and played it off with a sigh, her head shaking just slightly.

"Oh my God! What did I do to deserve both Secretary Ruby and Prince Aron visiting me today?" she teased lightly, but her humor didn’t land. Neither Aron nor Helga smiled. They stood there, staring at her with unwavering seriousness.

Esme’s eyes shifted between them. The weight of their silent stare made it clear this wasn’t a casual visit. Sighing softly, she placed her pen down and leaned back in her chair. "What’s wrong?" she asked, her tone less playful now. "If you have something to say, just say it."

But the room remained tense. Aron’s jaw tightened, and Helga seemed conflicted. Neither of them spoke right away, and that only confirmed Esme’s suspicions. They were here for something important, something they weren’t quite ready to confront her with.

Esme turned her gaze to Helga, who seemed on the verge of speaking. "Helga, what is it?" she asked, her voice gentler now, coaxing.

Helga took a deep breath, her brows furrowing as she finally gathered the courage to speak. "Esme, we’re friends, right?"

Esme’s expression softened slightly, the question catching her off guard. "Of course we’re friends," she replied without hesitation. "Do you really need to ask that?"

Helga’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Then tell me," she continued, her voice wavering just a bit. "If we’re friends, why are you doing things... without telling us? Things we should know about?"

Esme’s heart skipped a beat. She had known this was coming, but hearing Helga’s words still sent a wave of unease through her. She met Helga’s gaze, understanding exactly what she was referring to. There were things Esme had kept hidden—things she’d hoped to handle alone, but now, it seemed, the time for secrets was over.

Esme’s smile faltered, freezing in place as Helga’s words sank in. She blinked slowly, trying to maintain her composure. "What do you mean by not telling you guys?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral. She shifted her gaze between Helga and Aron, hoping for a hint of explanation, but both stood firm. Neither flinched. Something about the way they stared at her told her that whatever they were about to say, she already knew where it was heading.

Helga didn’t waste any time. "You remember, don’t you? The first promise we made when we became friends—what was it, Esme? Never hide anything from each other." Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that hadn’t been there before.

Esme nodded slowly, her mind drifting back to that day, a time when the three of them had made their pact. "Of course, I remember," she replied, her smile still faint but now tinged with something else—deflection, perhaps. "But what happened? Why are you bringing this up now?"

Before Helga could respond, Aron cut in, his voice quiet but pointed. "You spent the night with Ray, didn’t you?"

The room fell silent.

Esme’s breath caught for just a second, and her hand paused over the papers on her desk. Slowly, she looked up at Aron, her expression hardening. "So what?" she asked, her tone suddenly cooler. "What does my personal relationship have to do with either of you?"

With that, she turned back to the file on her desk, picking up her pen as if the conversation was over. But it wasn’t. Aron’s next words cut through the room like a knife. "Can we ask why, Esme? Why did you spend the night with him?"

Esme’s grip tightened on the pen. She kept her gaze fixed on the papers in front of her, but her voice was cold when she spoke. "Why? What’s wrong with spending the night with my own husband?"

Helga’s patience snapped. She slammed her palm onto the desk, making the pens rattle. "Esme, we’re talking to you. Can you be serious for once?"

Esme finally raised her head, eyes sharp now. "What the hell do you two want from me?" she demanded, her tone icy, her calm exterior beginning to crack.

Helga didn’t back down. "We’re asking you why, all of a sudden, you’re playing this role. Spending the night with Ray—fine, that’s your business. But why now, when you’re investigating the Valhalla family? When you’re trying to find out about your parents? Why, Esme?"

Esme stared at her for a long moment, her thoughts racing. She knew hiding anything from these two was impossible. They knew her better than she knew herself sometimes. The truth was already on the surface, lingering between them, but saying it out loud felt like a final blow.

With a heavy sigh, Esme dropped her pen. "Fine," she said quietly, her voice losing its edge. "Let’s just say... I’m fulfilling my contract. That’s all."