The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 138: [Volume 1] - 138 - Made me bad guy.

Chapter 138: [Volume 1] Chapter 138 - Made me bad guy.

"Dictate?" he echoed incredulously, raising an eyebrow. "I’m not trying to dictate anything! I’m trying to be a part of this! When you shut me out, it feels like you don’t trust me or my brothers. You don’t think we’re capable of handling it alongside you." His voice softened slightly, revealing the vulnerability behind his anger.

Esme took a step back, her expression flickering as she considered his words. "You really think that’s how I feel? That I don’t think you can handle it?"

Esme sat behind her desk, the weight of the day pressing down on her like a heavy cloak. The arguments with Jay had become an exhausting routine, a cycle of misunderstandings and misplaced blame that drained her energy and frayed her nerves. The atmosphere in the room was charged, filled with unspoken words and unresolved tension that seemed to hover in the air like a storm cloud, threatening to burst.

She rubbed her temples, trying to soothe the headache that had begun to form. It wasn’t just the workload or the pressure of her job; it was the relentless bickering with Jay that seemed to surface over the most trivial things. Why does it always come to this? she wondered, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. Why can’t we just talk without it turning into a fight?

"Do you even realize how exhausting this constant fighting is?" she finally said, her voice breaking the silence like a crack of thunder. The words felt heavy, each syllable laced with the tension that had built between them.

"It’s like every little disagreement escalates into this massive battle. I can’t keep doing this!"

Jay stood across the room, arms crossed defiantly, his brow furrowing deeper with each word she spoke.

"Seriously, Esme? You’re making it sound like I’m the only one at fault here." His tone was sharp, but beneath his bravado, she detected a flicker of uncertainty. He was as worn out by the fighting as she was, but pride kept him from admitting it.

"Are you really that blind?" she retorted, stepping closer to him, her heart racing as she fought to keep her composure. "I’m managing my job, navigating this ridiculous arrangement we have, and you keep throwing obstacles in my way! I’m not your enemy!"

Jay’s voice cut through the tension in the room like a knife, the frustration radiating off him as he glared at Esme. "I don’t care about your excuses. Understand?" His tone was sharp, filled with an edge that made her flinch despite her resolve.

Esme stood her ground, but inside, her heart raced. Why does he always have to shout? she thought, her chest tightening with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

"Jay, this isn’t just about what you think I can or cannot do," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady, but the tremor betrayed her.

"If you cannot do something good, then don’t do it," he continued, dismissing her with a wave of his hand as if her efforts were nothing more than an annoyance. "Remember, we only gave you power of attorney and nothing more. The company is still under us."

The words stung like a slap to the face. Esme clenched her fists at her sides, fighting back the urge to retaliate.

"You act like I don’t understand my role here," she shot back, her frustration bubbling over. "I didn’t take this position just to be a figurehead for you and your brothers. I want to contribute, to be part of this company’s success!"

Jay stepped forward, his expression unyielding.

"Contribute? You think running around trying to prove a point is contributing? You’re making decisions without consulting us, without considering the consequences! You’re risking everything we’ve built!"

Esme’s heart pounded in her chest. "I’m not trying to undermine you! I’m trying to protect this company and make it thrive! If you would just listen to me instead of shutting me down at every turn, we could work together!"

"Work together?" he scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You’re so caught up in your pride that you can’t see how reckless you’re being. Do you even know how much is at stake? You’re playing a dangerous game, and you don’t seem to care!"

The heat of his words ignited a fire within her. "And you think being overbearing and controlling will solve anything? I’m not one of your employees, Jay! I’m your wife, and I deserve respect!"

"Respect?" he echoed incredulously, his voice rising again. "You want respect? Then earn it by making sound decisions and consulting us first! Stop acting like you’re the only one who knows how to run this company!"

Esme took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

"This isn’t just about your vision, Jay. We all have a stake in this, and I’ve worked hard to prove myself. You need to trust me, not treat me like I’m just here to fill a role!"

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken words. Jay’s expression softened slightly, and for a fleeting moment, Esme saw a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.

"It’s not that I don’t trust you, but..." he hesitated, searching for the right words. "It’s hard to watch you take risks without involving us."

Jay’s frustration reached a boiling point as he faced Esme, his voice rising with urgency. "Do you even realize that whatever you risk is not just going to hurt you? It’s going to hurt us and our future child!" He gestured emphatically, his emotions spilling over.

"What about me and my brothers? You think we can just walk away from this unscathed? We’re the ones left to deal with the fallout if things go wrong!"

Esme shot back, her voice firm but edged with a flicker of hurt. "You mean I’m going to endanger you and our future child and just live here? You really think I’m such a... such a person?"

"I don’t care!" Jay shot back, his voice rising in frustration. "I don’t care what you think this is about. You’re acting like I’m the bad guy here! And it’s still true... once this agreement ends, you’re going to pack up and go far away from here, aren’t you?"