The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 34: [Volume 1] - 34- Reality.

Chapter 34: [Volume 1] Chapter 34- Reality.

"Wait," Esme’s voice rang with quiet authority, halting the servant who had just approached Ray’s wheelchair. At her signal, the servant immediately stepped back, retreating with a formal bow and standing at attention, clearly accustomed to such interruptions.

Esme stood from her seat, her movements graceful yet purposeful, her eyes softening as they met Ray’s. Without a word, she walked up to him, her intent clear. In one fluid motion, she bent down and effortlessly scooped Ray up into her arms, as if he weighed nothing at all.

Ray, momentarily startled, glanced up at her with wide eyes before a familiar smile curved his lips. "You don’t always have to carry me, you know," he teased lightly, though the affection in his tone betrayed how much he enjoyed these moments.

Esme smiled down at him, her eyes glowing with warmth and amusement. "But I want to," she replied softly, cradling him securely against her. "Besides, I like holding you."

Ray’s grin widened, his embarrassment now mixed with obvious affection. His arms wrapped instinctively around her neck as he leaned into her embrace, his gaze never leaving hers. The servants around them exchanged glances, the scene so intimate, so natural, that it was impossible not to be moved.

Esme turned and began to walk toward the staircase, carrying Ray as if it was the most normal thing in the world. The soft rustle of her dress and the quiet shuffle of the servants cleaning up in the background were the only sounds that filled the room.

As Esme and the Aron brothers entered the room and closed the door behind them, the servants outside couldn’t help but blush and exchange glances.

"Again..." a mer servant whispered, his face turning crimson.

One of the other servants, hearing him, chuckled softly. "It’s always the same. They’re so... close," she said, barely hiding her own smile.

Unlike other households where family members had their own separate rooms, the Arons were notorious for being different. Esme and all the brothers shared the same space, much to the fascination of everyone around them. This intimacy made even the most composed servants a little flustered.

"Kyaa... so hot," another servant murmured with a bashful expression, casting one last look at the closed door. It wasn’t something they ever got used to.

As soon as Esme and the Aron brothers entered the room and closed the door behind them, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The warmth and affection that had painted their expressions moments before faded like a passing cloud, replaced by something far colder and more serious.

Esme walked up to the bed, her movements sharp and devoid of the tenderness she’d shown outside. Without hesitation, she raised her arms and unceremoniously tossed Ray onto the bed with surprising force.

"Ugh..." Ray groaned, rubbing his side where he landed with a wince. His once-shy and sweet demeanor was gone, replaced by a biting tone laced with sarcasm. "Can’t you act like a normal person for once?" he muttered, glaring at her as if she were an opponent rather than the woman who had just carried him in her arms.

Esme, unfazed by Ray’s irritation, crossed her arms, her gaze cold and unwavering as she stared down at him. Any trace of her playful affection was long gone, replaced by a sharp edge in her tone. "Normal?" she scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "How about *you* carry a ninety-kilo person in a princess carry form, up and down the stairs, and then *you* can ask me about being normal."

Ray’s face flushed with irritation as he shot up, glaring at Esme. "Who the hell is ninety kilos? I’m only forty-five!" he shouted, his voice filled with indignation.

Esme raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed by his outburst. Crossing her arms, she smirked down at him with that same calm, almost amused expression. "Forty-five?" she repeated, the sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Sure, if you were missing a limb or two, maybe."

Ray’s face flushed with frustration, his voice rising in exasperation. "Oh, really? But who was the one downstairs saying, ’I like holding you,’ huh?"

Esme’s eyes narrowed, a sneer curling at the edge of her lips. "Oh, I also used to say that Mr. Vallahe was the best-looking mer in the world, so!" Her tone was mocking, her words dripping with sarcasm.

Ray blinked, momentarily stunned by her sharp retort. His irritation grew, but before he could come up with a response, Jay let out a small laugh from the side, clearly enjoying the exchange.

Kai, always the observer, leaned back against the wall with a bemused expression, waiting to see how things would unfold.

Esme’s irritation flared as she paced back and forth, her hands gesturing wildly. The calm demeanor of Kai and Jay only seemed to stoke the fire inside her. "And these brothers of yours, wow!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands with a mocking emphasis, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ray, lying on the bed, shot her a sharp glare, his frustration boiling over. He propped himself up slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Don’t you dare drag my brothers into this," he warned, his tone low but edged with irritation.

Esme’s sneer deepened, and she stepped closer to the bed, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Oh, please," she said, her voice dripping with mockery, "why would I even need to say anything? After all," she paused dramatically, turning toward Kai and Jay with a flourish, "they’ve already done such *big things*."

Kai, who had been lounging against the doorframe with his arms crossed, suddenly straightened, his calm facade cracking. His brows furrowed as confusion and annoyance flashed across his face. "What did we do, huh?" he snapped, his voice rising as he uncrossed his arms and took a step forward, clearly offended by Esme’s accusation.

Esme turned on him with exaggerated surprise, her eyes widening in faux innocence. "Oh, you didn’t know what you did?" she asked, her tone thick with sarcasm, her lips curling into a smirk. Her movements were sharp and exaggerated, like she was putting on a performance, only meant to drive her point deeper.