The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 123: [Volume 1] - 123 -Rides.

Chapter 123: [Volume 1] Chapter 123 -Rides.

"That’s the spirit," Esme said, clapping her hands together. She started toward the queue, and the brothers hesitantly followed.

As they neared the front, the screams of the riders ahead grew louder. Esme could feel the tension building around her, but she remained calm, confident. The brothers, on the other hand, had their hands stuffed into their pockets or crossed over their chests, each trying to act like this was no big deal.

Once they were strapped in, Esme glanced over at them, biting back a grin. Ray’s knuckles were white as he gripped the safety bar, his earlier nonchalance completely gone. Jay, sitting beside him, had his eyes fixed straight ahead, as if mentally preparing himself for the ride of his life.

"Too late to back out now," Esme teased, her voice light.

Ray scoffed. "I’m not backing out. This is nothing."

"Sure," she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

The ride jerked forward, beginning the slow ascent up the first steep hill. The sound of the chains pulling them higher echoed around them, adding to the anticipation. Esme leaned back in her seat, her heart pounding in excitement.

But next to her, Jay muttered under his breath. "Why did I agree to this?"

As they reached the peak, there was a brief, terrifying pause. The world stretched out below them, and for a moment, it felt like time stood still.

Then, without warning, the roller coaster plunged downward, and all hell broke loose.

Jay’s scream was the first to cut through the air, followed quickly by Ray’s. Even Ryan, normally so composed, let out a shout of surprise. Esme couldn’t help but laugh, the thrill of the ride sending a rush of adrenaline through her veins. Her brothers, however, were not having the same experience.

As the roller coaster twisted through loops and sharp turns, their earlier bravado was completely shattered. Ray, who had claimed this ride was "nothing," was gripping the bar for dear life, his eyes squeezed shut. Jay’s hands were in the air, but his face was a mixture of terror and excitement. Ryan, though silent, looked tense, his jaw clenched as they whipped around the curves.

Kai, the quietest of them all, was sitting calmly, though his wide eyes betrayed the fact that he was definitely feeling the rush.

When the ride finally screeched to a halt, they all sat in stunned silence for a moment. Esme was the first to unbuckle, stepping out with a triumphant grin.

"Well, that was fun," she said, turning to the brothers who were still trying to collect themselves.

Ray was the first to stand, though his legs wobbled slightly. "It... wasn’t so bad," he muttered, brushing off his shirt like it was no big deal.

Jay, still catching his breath, nodded quickly. "Yeah, piece of cake."

Ryan, ever the calm one, gave a small nod of agreement but remained quiet, still processing the experience.

As the day went on, Esme watched her husbands try to regain their confidence, still acting as though nothing had happened in the cinema. She decided to help them save face, offering them a gentle smile and ignoring the earlier scene. They wandered through the amusement park, soaking in the sounds of laughter and excitement around them, and after a few more rides, the tension between them finally started to melt away.

"How about we try something else?" Esme suggested lightly, gesturing toward the more moderate rides—ones that didn’t involve towering heights or terrifying drops.

Her husbands, now more relaxed, nodded in agreement. They slowly began to enjoy themselves, taking on the haunted house, a few smaller roller coasters, and swings. As long as the rides didn’t take them too high or too fast, they seemed to have fun. Esme watched them laugh and tease each other, their earlier fears forgotten.

But as they strolled through the park, the brothers spotted another roller coaster ahead. This one was different. The ride in question had a massive bucket attached, spinning wildly as it flung its riders in dizzying loops.

"How about we try this one?" Ray suggested with a mischievous grin, pointing at the ride.

Esme froze for a moment, eyeing the ride warily. She had been calm all day, watching her husbands struggle through their fears, but this...this was different. The sight of the spinning bucket made her stomach churn. With a forced smile, she looked at them and tried to sound casual. "Um, how about we try something else?" Her voice wavered slightly as she added, "I think we’re all a little tired from the other rides, don’t you think? Maybe I can get us some ice cream instead?"

Kai raised an eyebrow, a slow smile creeping across his face. He exchanged glances with the others, instantly sensing something was up. "Ice cream, huh?" he asked, his tone teasing. "Are you sure, Esme?"

The others, now fully aware of her discomfort, grinned widely. Ray’s eyes sparkled with playful mischief. "No, I think we’re good. I mean, we’ve done all the other rides, right? We should definitely try this one."

Esme’s heart skipped a beat as she glanced at the ride again, the sight of the riders being flung around like rag dolls making her palms sweat. She swallowed hard, her voice quieter now. "Seriously, I’ll get you anything—ice cream, snacks, whatever you want. Just... let’s skip this one."

But the brothers had already made up their minds. Ray, Jay, and Kai exchanged a wicked grin, and Ray said, "No, no, we’re going on this ride. You can’t back out now, Esme."

Esme’s eyes widened as she realized what was happening. They had seen through her, and now they were going to make her face her fear. She opened her mouth to protest again, but it was too late. They were already dragging her toward the line for the ride, their laughter filling the air.

"Come on, Esme," Kai said, barely able to hide his amusement. "You can handle this, right? You’ve been so fearless all day."