The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 20: [Volume 1] - 20-Alive?

Chapter 20: [Volume 1] Chapter 20-Alive?

The master of ceremonies continued, his voice warm and inviting, "Now, Diana and June, it is time for you to exchange rings, symbolizing your commitment and love for one another."

A live orchestra, positioned discreetly at one end of the hall, began to play a soft, romantic melody, setting the perfect tone for the moment. The guests watched in anticipation as a delicate cushion bearing two rings was presented to the couple.

Diana took the larger ring, her bold eyes meeting June’s gentle gaze. June, in turn, took the smaller ring, his hands trembling slightly with the weight of the moment.

As they moved to place the rings on each other’s fingers, the room seemed to hold its breath. Just as Diana was about to slip the ring onto June’s finger, a loud crash echoed through the hall.

The music halted abruptly, and all heads turned toward the grand entrance.

The massive double doors had been flung open, revealing a figure silhouetted against the bright lights outside. As the figure stepped forward, the tension in the room became palpable.

Soon, from the shadows, two figures emerged, their presence immediately commanding the room’s attention.

"Sorry we are late," a familiar cold and soft voice resonated through the hall, sending a shiver down Diana’s spine. Her grip faltered, and the ring she held slipped from her fingers.

Cling. Clank.

The delicate sound echoed as the ring tumbled from her hand, rolling down the stage in a series of metallic clinks before coming to a halt at the feet of the woman who stepped into the light.

Esme stood there, exuding an air of quiet authority. She was dressed impeccably in a formal black-pink suit that hugged her frame with tailored precision, a sleek black top peeking from beneath the blazer.

A smart watch adorned her right wrist, gleaming subtly under the lights, while blue diamond earrings added a touch of elegance to her ensemble. Her hair, stylishly combed yet left open, cascaded around her shoulders, adding to her sophisticated allure.

Esme’s eyes scanned the room with a mixture of cool detachment and sharp awareness. As she bent down gracefully to pick up the ring, her movements were fluid, almost predatory, every action calculated.

She straightened up, her gaze locking onto Diana’s with an intensity that made Diana’s heart race. Esme’s expression was unreadable, a blend of poised control and underlying determination that left no room for doubt about her purpose.

The hall, once bustling with murmurs and whispers, fell into a hushed silence, all eyes now fixed on Esme and the powerful aura she exuded.

Esme’s voice, smooth and slightly mocking, cut through the tense silence. "Oh my, how clumsy of you," she said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her gaze lingered on Diana, her expression a perfect mask of controlled amusement.

Madam Vallahe and her husband stood frozen, their faces draining of color as they took in Esme’s commanding presence. The shock on their faces was palpable, their breaths catching in their throats as they saw her striding confidently toward them.

Each step Esme took seemed deliberate, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, echoing ominously in the stillness of the hall.

Madam Vallahe’s eyes widened in horror, her mouth opening slightly as if to speak, but no words emerged.

Her husband’s face had gone ashen, his eyes darting nervously from Esme to his wife, then back again. The once-poised couple now appeared small and vulnerable under Esme’s scrutinizing gaze.

Esme’s smile remained, but it was edged with an air of cold satisfaction. Her movements were fluid, almost predatory, her confidence unwavering as she approached them.

The smile on her lips was a stark contrast to the icy gleam in her eyes, which seemed to pierce through the anxiety of the couple standing before her.

As she reached them, the atmosphere around the trio grew even more charged, the weight of Esme’s presence palpable.

Mr. Vallahe’s voice wavered as he spoke, the disbelief clear in every syllable. "Y-you, you are still alive! But... how?" His eyes were wide with terror, his hands trembling visibly as he clutched at the edge of his chair for support.

Esme’s gaze was unyielding, her expression a study in calm composure. Her smile, while still present, had taken on a sharper edge, as if she were savoring Mr. Vallahe’s shock.

She took a deliberate step closer, her presence magnifying the intensity of the moment. Each step seemed to echo with a sense of foreboding, the click of her heels resonating in the silent room.

Mr. Vallahe’s face had turned a ghastly shade of pale, his usual composure completely shattered. He looked like a man who had seen a ghost, his mouth opening and closing in a desperate attempt to grasp the reality of the situation.

The memories of the investigation—the body they had found, the CCTV footage showing Esme’s cell consumed by flames—were playing in his mind like a haunting specter.

The footage had clearly shown Esme, helpless and asleep, as the fire engulfed her, leaving nothing but ashes. How could someone he had believed to be dead return so unexpectedly?

Madam Vallahe, too, was visibly shaken, her hand clutching her throat as if trying to steady her breath. Her eyes darted between Esme and her husband, her lips pressed into a thin line of suppressed fear.

Esme’s eyes, dark and unblinking, fixed on Mr. Vallahe with an almost predatory curiosity. Her smile widened slightly, not out of kindness, but rather as if she took a grim satisfaction in witnessing his unraveling.

She tilted her head slightly, her posture relaxed but exuding an undeniable aura of power and superiority.

"Mr. Vallahe," Esme began, her voice smooth and controlled, "it seems you’ve underestimated the extent of my resilience." Her tone was soft, yet there was an underlying edge that made it clear she was not here to offer explanations.

"But I assure you, appearances can be deceiving. The world is full of surprises, and today, you’re witnessing one of them."

As Esme spoke, she maintained her poised stance, her gaze never leaving Mr. Vallahe’s stricken face. The room seemed to close in around them, the tension thickening as she prepared to confront the fear and confusion that gripped her once-oppressors.