The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 22: [Volume 1] - 22-Shrew son of Aron family.

Chapter 22: [Volume 1] Chapter 22-Shrew son of Aron family.

Hearing Diana’s words, Esme and Kai exchanged puzzled glances. Their brows furrowed in silent confusion as they turned their heads towards the door, searching for something or someone.

But the hallway was empty, only the quiet stillness of the room lingering. Slowly, they turned back, their gazes settling on the Valhalla family.

Diana noticed the subtle shift in their expressions, the uncertainty now mirrored in her own.

"Family matter? Sister?" Kai finally spoke, his tone laced with disbelief. His eyes darted around the room before settling on Diana. "Who are you talking to? I must be blind because I don’t see anyone incredibly fascinating in front of me.."

The words hung in the air like a cold draft, sending a shiver down Diana’s spine. Her expression darkened momentarily, her breath catching as she raised a trembling hand to point directly at Esme.

"I’m talking about my sister!" she insisted, her voice wavering slightly, betraying the certainty she struggled to maintain.

Esme and Kai exchanged another glance, this time with a hint of something more sinister—amusement. A small, almost mocking smile tugged at the corners of their lips, as if they were in on a cruel joke that Diana couldn’t comprehend. Esme’s eyes gleamed with cold indifference as she let the silence stretch, her gaze never leaving Diana’s.

Esme took a few slow, deliberate steps forward, her movements calculated and graceful. "I’m sorry... Miss Vallahe," she began, her voice laced with feigned politeness, each word carefully measured. She paused, tilting her head as if she were choosing her next words with the utmost care. Then, with a sudden sharpness in her gaze, her smile faded into something more dangerous, a glint of menace flickering in her eyes. "But I think there’s been some misunderstanding," she continued, turning her head slightly to glance at Kai. "Right, darling?"

Kai, who had been standing with an air of cool detachment, let a slow, confident smile spread across his face. "Of course, honey," he replied smoothly, his voice steady and assured.

"Don’t worry, let me help them understand." He turned to face Diana and the Vallahe family, his demeanor still calm, but before he could say another word, Mr. Vallahe’s voice rang out, sharp and venomous.

"What do you mean by misunderstanding, you bitch? Now you don’t even recognize your father?" Mr. Vallahe’s voice boomed across the hall, his face flushed with anger, eyes blazing with righteous indignation.

The atmosphere shifted in an instant. Kai’s expression darkened, the easygoing smile disappearing as his features twisted into a mask of cold fury. He took a step forward, his finger pointed sharply at Mr. Vallahe.

"Oi, old man," Kai growled, his voice low and dangerous, every word dripping with barely contained rage.

"I’m warning you, control your tone."

The room plunged into a tense, suffocating silence. The guests, who had been following the exchange with growing unease, now stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock. Whispers rippled through the crowd, disbelief mingling with fear.

The stories of Kai, the shrewd and ruthless second son of the Aron family, suddenly became very real. No one had ever seen anyone speak to Mr. Vallahe like this, and certainly not in front of so many witnesses.

Mr. Vallahe staggered back slightly, stunned by the audacity of the young mer before him. His voice, once commanding, now faltered.

"Y-you..." he began, but the words stuck in his throat.

"What? Huh?" Kai snapped, his voice rising with barely restrained fury. He tugged at his tie, loosening it with a rough jerk, his frustration evident in every movement.

"I can’t believe this!" he raged, pacing back and forth like a caged animal.

"Here I am, trying to keep my cool, trying not to upset my wife, but you..." He leaned forward, his hand instinctively moving to his waist, lifting his coat slightly as if to hint at something concealed beneath. His eyes narrowed as he glared at Diana.

"Do you think you can keep running your mouth just because we’ve been silent? And you," he spat, his gaze icy, "what nonsense are you babbling about? Family matter? Sister? Who is your sister here, huh?"

He turned back to Esme, his frustration simmering just below the surface. "Oi, do you really know these people?" he demanded, his voice tight with barely controlled anger.

Esme shook her head slowly, her lips pressed into a thin, unyielding line, her eyes never leaving Diana.

"See?" Kai whirled back around to face the Vallahe family, throwing his hands up in irritation.

"This is my wife—our Aron brother’s wife—not someone’s sister, and definitely not the daughter of some Vallahe family!" He waved his hands dismissively, as if trying to shake off the absurdity of the situation.

But Diana wasn’t one to back down. Her posture stiffened, and she crossed her arms defiantly, her eyes locking onto Kai with a fierce determination.

"Mr. Aron, no matter what you say, it doesn’t change the fact that she is my sister—Esme Vallahe," she declared, her voice strong and unwavering, a challenge in every word. Diana’s gaze was hard, unyielding, as she stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated by Kai’s outburst.

"You..." Kai gritted his teeth, his patience wearing dangerously thin. He reached into his coat’s inner pocket, his movements swift and resolute, and strode up to Diana. Without a word, he flung a few documents directly at her.

Slap

The room fell into an eerie silence, the sharp sound of impact reverberating through the air like a thunderclap. It was so sudden, so unexpected, that the noise echoed in the stillness, drawing every pair of eyes to the scene.

Thud

The documents collided with Diana’s face before scattering onto the polished floor with a dull thud.

All eyes turned to the items now strewn across the ground. Among them, a small blue booklet with the word "VISA" emblazoned on its cover, and a red booklet, unmistakably a marriage certificate, caught the attention of everyone present. There, lying among them, was a driver’s license and an identity card, both displaying a clear photograph of Esme.