The Heiress's Comeback

Chapter 187: [ Volume 1] Chaper 187-Guilt tripping

The three of them became inseparable. Their days were filled with the mundane rhythms of life—cooking meals, studying, and simply existing together.

Esme, despite her wild and unpredictable nature, could cook exceptionally well, often whipping up meals that brought warmth to their small household. Helga, though more calm and collected, was equally skilled in the kitchen, able to create meals that were nourishing and comforting.

Aron, however, was a disaster when it came to cooking. More than once, he had nearly set the kitchen on fire in his attempts to learn. His clumsiness became a running joke between them, a light-hearted reminder of how far he had come.

Each time he failed, Helga would patiently guide him, while Esme would tease him mercilessly, though always with a grin that softened the sting of her words.

But through every misstep, through every challenge, the bond between the three of them grew stronger. The days turned into weeks, then months, and with every passing moment, they became more intertwined in each other’s lives. By the time they were seventeen, both Helga and Aron had made up their minds.

They wanted to be someone Esme could rely on, someone who could support her through thick and thin. They studied tirelessly—Aron diving into subjects he never thought he’d understand, from coding to business management, while Helga focused on learning skills that would help them navigate the complexities of life together.

They weren’t just learning for themselves; they were preparing to stand beside Esme, to be her anchor in a world that often felt too chaotic.

And then, just as Esme had once joked, the day came when she made good on her promise. When they turned eighteen, she married them—acting as the bridesmaid and officiant in the same breath.

Aron could still remember the feeling of pure joy that surged through him at that moment. For him, Helga was everything, the steady presence he had relied on for so long. And Esme? She was the whirlwind that had brought them together, the force that had pushed them to become who they were meant to be.

He would never forget the playful smirk on her face when she said, "Didn’t I tell you, brother-in-law? I’d be the one to push you into marriage."

After the wedding, they all went to college together. Esme, ever the enigma, quickly formed new connections, one of which was Cain. Cain brought something new to Esme’s life—a lightness, a kind of happiness that Aron hadn’t seen in her before.

She smiled more, became more punctual, more focused. It was as if Cain had grounded her in a way that neither Aron nor Helga ever could. Esme, being Esme, started a whole group just to gather information about Cain, her curiosity and dedication as sharp as ever.

But then, the unthinkable happened. Cain’s death shattered Esme in a way that left her unrecognizable. Aron still remembered the day they found her, sitting alone in the dark, tears silently streaming down her face, her eyes vacant and lost. She looked like a ghost of the girl they once knew, a lifeless shell staring blankly at the wall.

The vibrant, reckless Esme had disappeared, leaving behind someone who seemed to be punishing herself for something that was out of her control.

Though she eventually found her way back to laughter and smiles, something had fundamentally changed. Her joy never fully returned; her smiles became less frequent, and when they did appear, they often seemed hollow. Esme transformed into a powerful figure—a CEO that no one dared to cross—but to Aron and Helga, she was no longer the same.

The reckless girl who had once danced and laughed with abandon had been replaced by someone who seemed to be merely surviving. Even so, Aron and Helga stood by her side, determined to support her no matter how much she changed. Even if they had lost the Esme they once knew, they would never abandon her.

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Back to present....

As Aron stood gazing at the building in front of him, the wind swept gently across his face, carrying with it a sense of fleeting nostalgia. He let the cool air pass through his hair, lost in thought. With a small, teasing smile, he glanced sideways at Helga, his voice light as he broke the comfortable silence. "What, now you’re trying to guilt-trip me?"

His tone was casual, playful even, but Helga didn’t respond with her usual quip or laughter. Instead, she shook her head, her expression unusually serious. "No," she replied softly, her voice quieter than he had ever heard it, the weight of her words surprising him. "There’s something I’ve never told you."

That was enough to pull Aron completely out of his thoughts. His brow furrowed, and he turned to face her fully, his smile fading. Something she’d never told him? After all these years, the very idea felt impossible. Helga had always been open, an anchor of honesty and support in his life. Sure, she had kept the occasional work-related secret, but personal? That was unheard of.

He studied her for a moment, waiting for her to continue, but there was a tension in the air that made him feel like this was more than just some fleeting confession.

Helga’s gaze remained fixed on the building in front of them, almost as if she couldn’t bear to look at him while she spoke. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag, knuckles pale, as though the weight of her secret was something she had been carrying for a long time. She inhaled deeply before speaking, her words deliberate and careful. "I never told her about you. I wasn’t the one who sent Esme to you."

Her confession landed like a blow. Aron’s entire body went rigid as his mind struggled to process what she had just said. He blinked, his breath catching in his throat. "What?" His voice came out softer than he intended, barely more than a whisper, disbelief etched in every syllable.