The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 323: [ Volume 1] Chaper 323- Trembling hands

Chapter 323: [ Volume 1] Chaper 323- Trembling hands

The word murderer echoed in the room, the accusation hanging in the air like poison. Esme’s eyes widened, and a shiver of hurt ran through her. Her breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening with the weight of his words.

Before she could even think, her voice rose, cutting through the tension like a sharp cry for justice. "Jay!" she shouted, her voice booming louder than before, shaking with raw emotion. "Stop!"

Her shout was so powerful, so full of rage and desperation, that it reverberated through the house, sending Kai and Ryan rushing down the stairs in a panic. Jay froze, his body rigid at the unexpected force of her outburst.

For a moment, there was silence. Jay, taken aback, stood still, his own anger faltering as Esme’s piercing gaze held him captive. It was the first time in a long while that anyone had seen her truly lose control, her voice so filled with grief and fury that even the coldest of hearts couldn’t help but feel the weight of it.

Esme stood still for a moment, her chest rising and falling as she forced herself to calm down. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she steadied her breathing. The surge of emotion that had caused her to raise her voice had startled her as much as it had startled everyone else. Slowly, she exhaled, letting the tension in her shoulders ease.

With a composed yet distant tone, she spoke, "Jay, let’s talk later. I’m tired." Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heels and walked away, her steps measured but purposeful. Her departure left a heavy silence in the room, the echo of her earlier shout still hanging in the air. Jay and the others remained rooted to their spots, their expressions a mix of surprise and disbelief. None of them moved to stop her.

---

Outside, the cool night air greeted Esme as she stepped out of the house. She didn’t head to her room as she usually would; instead, she made her way to her car. The faint glow of the moonlight reflected in her golden eyes as she slid into the driver’s seat and closed the door with a soft click. She leaned back, closing her eyes briefly before reopening them. The golden hue in her irises seemed to flicker, burning brighter as a wave of defiance coursed through her.

Starting the car, she gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white. The hum of the engine was steady, but her thoughts were anything but. Her gaze shifted, and that’s when she noticed it—a small, faint red light blinking behind the rearview mirror. Her breath hitched as her eyes locked onto the camera, its presence mocking her.

Her jaw clenched, and an uncharacteristic flash of anger surged through her veins. They’ve been watching me. Again. Every step, every moment, like I’m some caged animal. The thought alone was enough to send a cold fury rippling through her.

Without hesitation, she reached up and grabbed the rearview mirror. Her fingers curled around it, trembling with restrained rage. The sound of the plastic creaking under her grip was barely audible over her sharp breaths. With a swift, forceful yank, she ripped the mirror free, the camera still attached.

Rolling down the window, she didn’t pause to reconsider. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she hurled the mirror out into the darkness. The crash of glass and metal shattering on the pavement was a strangely cathartic sound. For the first time in what felt like hours, she exhaled, her chest rising and falling as she regained a semblance of control.

---

In the dimly lit surveillance room, the old man’s sharp eyes were fixed on the monitor. He had been watching every second of Esme’s movements, his lips curling into a faint, satisfied smirk. But then, without warning, the screen went black.

"What happened?" someone blurted out, panic evident in their voice. The room erupted into chaos, voices overlapping as people scrambled to figure out the issue.

The old man didn’t join the clamor. His frown deepened as he leaned forward, his sharp gaze narrowing. His silence was more unnerving than the chaos around him.

Rei, standing near the back, stepped forward, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "She... she pulled the camera along with the rearview mirror. And she threw it out."

The room fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned to Rei, then to the old man.

The old man’s fingers drummed slowly against the armrest of his chair. A flicker of something unreadable passed across his face—annoyance, perhaps, or a grudging respect.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low but heavy with meaning. "Esme... you’re not as broken as I thought." His lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes gleamed with cold calculation. "Good. It’ll be all the more satisfying to watch you shatter."

A sudden knock on the car window jolted Esme awake. Her heart pounded as she blinked, trying to shake off the haze of sleep. The knock came again, sharp and deliberate, cutting through the stillness of the night. Turning toward the sound, her breath hitched.

It was Ray.

He stood there, wearing a loose hoodie that hung off him in a way that made him look almost unfamiliar. The hood cast deep shadows over his face, but his eyes—those unmistakable eyes—shone through, locking onto hers like they always had. A chill ran down her spine, though she couldn’t tell if it was from the cold or the sheer shock of seeing him.

She froze for a moment, her mind racing. How could he be here? Her car windows were one-way glass—she could see him, but there was no way he could see her. Yet, his gaze was steady, almost knowing, like he could feel her presence. The way he stood there, motionless and silent, made her chest tighten with a strange mix of emotions: relief, disbelief, and an undercurrent of fear.