The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 326: [ Volume 1] Chaper 326- my fool only

Chapter 326: [ Volume 1] Chaper 326- my fool only

"If I wasn’t such a fool, how else would I have waited this long to find you? To marry you? Obviously, I’m the biggest idiot alive," Esme declared with a teasing tone, though her eyes held a softness that betrayed the depth of her feelings.

Ray stared at her, his expression a mix of disbelief and incredulity. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out. Esme’s playful smile faltered as his silence stretched longer than she expected. Her mind began to race. Why is he looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?

Her heart skipped a beat as she recalled Ryan’s warnings about the emotional volatility of pregnant Mers. She had heard countless stories, but none stuck in her mind as vividly as the nightmare that was Aaron’s pregnancy. Aaron, who almost killed her during one of his rage-filled episodes. Aaron, whose mood swings nearly brought a billion-dollar project to its knees, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

Esme swallowed hard. She didn’t think she could handle Ray losing control, not when she’d grown so used to his calm and steady demeanor. But now, seeing the way he was staring at her—silent and unreadable—she braced herself for the worst. Her thoughts spiraled. Did I go too far? She took a step back unconsciously, prepared for the possibility of an outburst.

Ray’s gaze remained fixed on her, unmoving. Esme, though outwardly composed, felt her heart pounding in anticipation. Her mind was already crafting escape routes, plans for how to handle the situation. But just as she was about to speak, Ray’s frown deepened, and he finally broke the silence.

"Well, obviously, you are the biggest fool," he said flatly, his tone carrying the weight of complete certainty.

Esme blinked. For a moment, her mind struggled to process his words. This wasn’t the anger or frustration she had braced herself for. No yelling, no sudden shifts in mood, no accusations. Just a calm, almost matter-of-fact statement that left her entirely unprepared.

"What?" she managed to squeak, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ray folded his arms and leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as if assessing her. "You said it yourself," he replied, his tone still infuriatingly even. "If anyone would wait this long just to marry someone like me, then yeah, they’d have to be a complete idiot."

Esme gaped at him. Her initial shock dissolved into indignation. "Excuse me?" she sputtered, her voice rising. "Did you just agree with me? Are you calling me an idiot?"

Ray tilted his head slightly, his expression unyielding. "You said it first," he countered, his tone so dry it bordered on sarcastic. "I’m just agreeing with you. Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do as your husband?"

Esme stared at him, momentarily speechless. Any traces of fear she had felt earlier were gone, replaced by a bubbling mix of exasperation and amusement. She couldn’t decide whether to laugh or throttle him.

"Well," she said, crossing her arms, "at least I’m not the one carrying a baby who’s probably inherited all your sass. You’re lucky I haven’t filed for divorce yet."

Ray’s lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smirk threatening to break through his stoic demeanor. "I’d like to see you try," he quipped, his voice softer now. "You know you’re stuck with me."

Esme rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. "Stuck with you? More like you’re stuck with me. And don’t forget, I could still back out if you keep calling me names."

Ray took a step closer, his smirk now fully formed. He reached out, his hand resting gently on her cheek. "You’re not going anywhere, Esme," he said, his voice low and steady. "You’re my fool, and I wouldn’t have it any other way."

The sincerity in his words caught her off guard, and for a moment, she felt her heart soften. Despite the banter, despite the teasing, there was an unshakable certainty in his tone that reminded her of why she had waited so long for him in the first place.

"Fine," she murmured, her voice quieter now. "But if you keep calling me a fool, I’m going to start charging you for every insult."

Ray chuckled, the sound rich and warm. "Deal," he said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "But just so we’re clear, you’re worth every second of the wait. Fool or not."

Esme’s cheeks warmed as she looked away, a small smile tugging at her lips. For all his teasing, Ray always knew exactly what to say to disarm her.

As the tender moment unfolded, Esme leaned in slightly, her gaze softening as her lips curled into a gentle smile. Her voice dropped into a romantic tone, low and sweet like a melody meant only for Ray.

"Hubby..." she whispered, the word laced with affection.

Ray’s cheeks flushed a soft pink at the intimate address. He swallowed hard, his eyes briefly darting away before meeting hers again. The red hue on his face deepened as he leaned forward just a bit, almost unconsciously mirroring her closeness.

"Yes?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, the shy vulnerability in it making Esme’s heart flutter.

Esme’s smile widened as she tilted her head, her gaze locked onto his. "It’s been days since it’s just the two of us," she began, her words slow and deliberate, each one dripping with longing. "Without interruptions, without anyone calling our names..."

Her voice trailed off as she let her hand brush lightly against his. Ray’s breath hitched at the contact, his fingers trembling slightly as if debating whether to hold hers.

Esme leaned in closer, their faces now mere inches apart, her voice soft and teasing. "You know... there’s no one here. Just you and me. All alone..."

Ray’s throat bobbed as he swallowed again, his lips parting slightly as if to say something, but no words came out. He looked into her eyes, wide and vulnerable, the golden hue shimmering under the dim lights of the parking lot.

Esme let out a soft chuckle at his reaction, inching closer until their noses almost touched. "How about we..." she began, her voice a sultry whisper, the air between them charged with unspoken possibilities.

Ray finally broke his silence with a bashful smile, his voice barely audible as he murmured, "I... I’m listening."