The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 31: [Volume 1] - 31-Nightmare.

Chapter 31: [Volume 1] Chapter 31-Nightmare.

The man stretched his arms toward Esme, his movements slow and agonized, as blood began to trickle from his eyes like crimson tears.

"Why? Why don’t you protect me?" His voice was a haunting echo, raw and desperate.

"Whyyy, you promised..." With each word, he took a step closer, his presence growing more oppressive. Esme’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched him advance, her legs weakening beneath her. Unable to hold herself up any longer, she collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably. She clutched her ears, as if trying to block out the horror before her.

"No, please stop! Don’t come any closer, please..." she cried out in terror, her voice breaking. The fear consumed her, pulling her deeper into the abyss of despair.

Suddenly, another voice pierced through the darkness that surrounded her.

"Esme... Esme... Esme..." The voice was soft but insistent, like a lifeline pulling her back from the edge. It felt as if the voice was coming closer, warming the coldness that had taken hold of her.

A sliver of calm seeped into Esme’s panic-stricken heart, and with trembling hands, she forced herself to open her eyes. As soon as she did, she saw Kai kneeling beside her, his face etched with worry and confusion, his eyes searching hers.

"Esme, are you alright?" he asked, his voice a mix of concern and a quiet desperation to understand what she was going through.

Esme’s breath caught in her throat as she met his gaze. For a moment, the terror still gripped her, but she shook her head sharply, as if trying to dispel the lingering shadows in her mind. In a split second, her demeanor shifted; the trembling ceased, and her expression hardened into a mask of calm. She forced herself to breathe evenly, regaining her composure.

Her eyes drifted to the driver, who stared straight ahead, her face blank, though her eyes flickered toward the rearview mirror, glancing back at them from time to time, betraying a curiosity or concern she tried to hide.

Esme straightened, her hands slowly lowering from her ears as she squared her shoulders, pushing the fear deep down where it couldn’t be seen. She gave Kai a reassuring nod before hugging him and patting his back.

"It’s okay, baby, I’m fine... just a small nightmare," Esme whispered, her voice as soothing as she could manage. She wrapped her arms around Kai, trying to steady herself.

But Kai wasn’t fooled. Even as she spoke, he could feel her rapid heartbeat against his chest, a stark contrast to the calm facade she presented. Her hands, though resting on his back, still trembled faintly. He held her a bit tighter, trying to offer comfort, but his mind raced with concern. Just moments ago, he had been absorbed in his documents, the gentle hum of the car lulling him into a state of focus. When he glanced up, he noticed Esme, who rarely slept, had dozed off. He had decided to let her rest, thinking she must be exhausted, but then he saw it.

A single tear had slipped down her cheek, followed by another. Her peaceful expression had contorted into one of distress, her brows furrowing deeply. Her hands clenched into tight fists, her knuckles white from the pressure, as if she were desperately fighting off something in her dreams.

"Please... save me," she had murmured, her voice barely audible, but the fear in it was unmistakable.

That plea had jolted him into action. He remembered his brother’s words, the warning about Esme’s insomnia and how it stemmed from a traumatic event—a big accident that had left deep scars on her psyche. The memory had haunted her ever since, a shadow that chased away her peace.

Kai’s heart ached as he looked at her now, trying to push the nightmare away as if it were nothing. He had quickly reached over and shaken her gently, calling her name until she awoke, but the sight of her fear, even in sleep, still lingered in his mind.

As he held her close, feeling her tremors slowly subside, he whispered, "You don’t have to be strong all the time, Esme. I’m here. Whatever it is... you’re not alone."

But even as he spoke, he knew it would take more than words to chase away the demons that plagued her.

Esme, hearing Kai’s heartfelt words, was stunned for a moment. Her gaze shifted to the driver in front, and she quickly pieced it together. Leaning closer, she whispered in Kai’s ear, "Nice dialogue. Even I was fooled for a sec." With that, she released him, her lips curling into a playful smile.

Kai blinked, taken aback by her response. For a split second, he felt a twinge of frustration, but then his eyes followed hers to the driver. He sighed inwardly,

’Damn it, she misunderstood again.’

But what could he say? It wasn’t like he could just admit how worried he’d been. Esme was always so good at putting up a strong front, and the last thing he wanted was to make her uncomfortable or self-conscious. He figured it was better to let it go for now.

With a slight shake of his head, Kai settled back into his seat, picking up the file he’d been reading earlier. Yet, as he tried to focus on the text in front of him, his mind kept drifting back to Esme.

He couldn’t help but glance at her out of the corner of his eye, her earlier fear still lingering in his thoughts. But for now, he’d let it be, knowing that pushing her too much wouldn’t do any good.

And anyway, their relationship wasn’t one where they could easily ask or do anything for each other.

...

Cleark

Soon, a large iron door creaked open, and the car slowly entered, gliding down the long, winding driveway.

As they drove further, a grand mansion came into view, framed by sprawling gardens on either side, meticulously maintained with vibrant flowers and towering trees. The sheer size of the estate was imposing, and the beauty of the surrounding landscape made it feel like something out of a dream.