The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 111: [Volume 1] - 111- your whole family is innocent !

Chapter 111: [Volume 1] Chapter 111- your whole family is innocent !

It had been a while since someone had asked her that, and Esme was caught off guard. For a moment, she just stared at him, surprised. He wasn’t one to ask questions like this, and the effort he made to say something felt clumsy, like it didn’t quite fit.

Esme quickly recovered, her practiced smile widening as she tried to brush it off. "Of course I’m okay," she said, her tone too bright, too polished, as if saying it out loud would make it true.

Ryan didn’t say anything else. He just kept looking at her, his face not giving much away, but his silence saying more than his words.

As soon as Esme and Ryan entered the house, the sound of a child crying echoed down the hallway. Esme, used to the usual quiet of the mansion, paused for a moment, surprised by the noise. Then it hit her—there was a new member in the house now. Ryan, still trying to piece together what was happening, glanced at Esme. Before he could say anything, she rushed forward, her steps quick and determined.

Descending the stairs, Esme found the child sitting alone in a cradle, crying. The house was bustling, with the kitchen staff busy and the servants preoccupied with other tasks. But it was Ray, in his wheelchair, slowly approaching the child, who caught her attention.

Without missing a beat, Esme hurried over, carefully placing her bag down before scooping the little one into her arms. She cradled the child gently, her voice soft and soothing. "What happened? Why are you crying, baby?" she cooed, her tone filled with warmth as she cuddled the child close.

Both Ryan and Ray watched, clearly taken aback by how quickly her maternal instinct kicked in. Ryan especially, who wasn’t used to seeing this side of her, blinked in surprise. Esme met Ray’s gaze with a reassuring smile before turning her attention back to the child.

"Shh, shh... it’s okay now. See? Auntie’s here." Her voice was a soft hum, and the child, who had been wailing moments before, now looked up at her with wide, teary eyes, as if silently complaining about being left alone.

Esme chuckled softly, holding the child close. "Okay, okay, I’m sorry. Auntie was wrong for coming late," she said, her smile growing as she gently rocked the baby. The little one, calmed by her touch, stopped crying, and nestled into her arms with a small, contented sigh.

Ryan stood nearby, quietly observing the scene. He wasn’t great at expressing emotions, but something in the way Esme held the child, the softness in her voice, made him feel something stir inside him—a quiet admiration for how naturally she had handled the moment.

Esme was softly swaying the child in her arms, her eyes crinkling with a tender smile as the baby gurgled in response. The room was filled with a peaceful quiet, interrupted only by the baby’s coos. She was so engrossed in comforting the little one that she didn’t notice Aron stepping out of the kitchen, a milk bottle in one hand and the other resting firmly on his waist, clearly exasperated.

"Very good," Aron muttered, his tone laced with sarcastic irritation as he approached, shaking his head. "Now you decide to pick him up? How very nice of you," he added, his eyes narrowing playfully as he walked over and lightly tapped Esme on the head in mock reprimand. "You and your friend are just ruining this kid’s routine," he complained. "No matter how hard I try to calm him down, he won’t stop crying. But the second he sees you, it’s like magic. Suddenly, he’s all smiles again. Liar," Aron finished, half-seriously blaming the baby, his eyes softening as he glanced at the child.

Esme let out a light-hearted laugh, her eyes twinkling as she cuddled the baby closer. "Why are you picking on him like that?" she teased, poking Aron’s arm lightly. "How can such a cute little thing do anything wrong?" She then shifted her attention back to the baby, who grasped her finger with his tiny hand, his toothless smile beaming up at her. "See?" Esme said triumphantly, shooting Aron a playful look. "He’s perfect."

Aron, not one to let it go, crossed his arms and let out a deep, exaggerated sigh. "Oh sure, you’re innocent, the baby’s innocent, your friend is innocent, and of course, your whole family is innocent too," he grumbled, though the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, betraying his fondness despite his frustration.

Esme giggled again, rocking the baby gently in her arms, but then she noticed Aron’s gaze drift towards the stairs, lingering with a mix of expectation and worry. His usually composed face tightened, jaw set, and his brows furrowed ever so slightly. Esme’s smile faltered as she followed his line of sight, her heart sinking a little. She knew where his mind had gone.

"She’s not coming," Esme said softly, her voice filled with quiet understanding.

Aron’s eyes snapped back to her, his expression hardening. "What do you mean?" he asked, a trace of sharpness in his tone, though it was clear it was more out of concern than anything else.

Esme continued rocking the baby, who had finally calmed down in her arms. "She’s busy with work," she explained gently. "It’s going to take her at least another hour before she comes back."

Aron’s face tightened in frustration. He turned away, gripping the bottle in his hand a little too tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Who cared if she comes or not?" Aron snapped, his voice filled with irritation as he thrust the milk bottle into Esme’s hand. His movements were stiff, his frustration simmering just below the surface. Without waiting for her response, he turned on his heel and started to walk away, his steps heavy as though he wanted to distance himself from the conversation.

Esme watched him for a moment, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips. She could see right through him.