The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 44: [Volume 1] - 44- Stay right there.

Chapter 44: [Volume 1] Chapter 44- Stay right there.

*Oh, absolutely not! My secretary? Let’s just say his vacation turned out to be a permanent one. And my new assistant? Well, let’s call her a mer—your lovely second aunt—super helpful in drowning paperwork. ."*

At the mention of murder, all three brothers went silent. Their frustration melted into something far more serious.

*"What the hell are you saying?"* Jay asked, his tone now grave. *"Don’t tell me... it’s happening again?"*

Esme sighed, her voice now resigned. *"Yeah, it’s happening again."*

The brothers all reacted simultaneously. Ray threw the spatula to the ground, Jay smashed a chemical bottle, and Kay let his file slip from his fingers, landing with a thud.

*"Stay right there,"* Ray ordered, his voice sharp with urgency.

Esme smiled to herself, leaning back in her chair. *"Where else would I go?"* she thought.

With that, the connection was abruptly cut off. Esme’s eyes lost their golden glow, fading back to their usual dark hue. But the moment the link broke, a sudden wave of exhaustion crashed over her. Her body slumped in the chair before slipping to the floor with a dull thud. Her head spun, the world tilting out of control.

*Huh, too tiring

,* she thought bitterly. The truth was, connecting minds drained a significant amount of energy—something no one ever warned about enough. It took a toll on the body, which was precisely why few dared to use it. And here she was, having used it twice in one day. Not to mention the violet flowers’ scent lingering in her office, a slow poison that weakened her with each breath.

Her limbs felt heavy, too weak to support her weight as she lay on the cold floor. She turned onto her back, eyes staring up at the ceiling, and covered her face with her hands. *Thirteen times...* she thought with a mix of frustration and disbelief. *Thirteen times since marrying aron brother, and I keep ending up in situations like this.*

Her thoughts raced, despite the exhaustion pulling at her mind. *Any moment now... the door will open.*

And just as she predicted, the heavy office door creaked open. A wry smile curled on her lips. *Now, he’ll enter.*

Sure enough, the man from earlier stepped into the room, his cautious eyes scanning the space. Esme counted the seconds in her mind, predicting each of his movements.

*He’ll look around first... religiously, like he’s actually going to find something.*

The man’s gaze swept the room, moving from corner to corner, searching for any sign of movement.

*And now, he’ll see me on the floor.*

His eyes finally fell on her, lying there in the middle of the office, and without hesitation, he moved closer.

*Next, he’ll bend down and ask me if I’m okay, in that sweet, sickening tone.*

The man knelt beside her, concern etched on his face as he spoke softly, "Madam, are you okay?"

Esme turned her head to look at him, a tired but amused smile pulling at her lips. "Yeah, I’m okay. Just tired, lying on the floor. It’s cold, you see."

His concern turned to irritation, and Esme could see the frustration bubbling just beneath his calm facade. *Even he wants to slap me right now,* she thought, nearly laughing at the absurdity of it all.

The mer’s smile twisted with cruel satisfaction as he watched Esme struggle on the floor, her body weakened by the effects of the barren flowers. "Well," he said, his voice dripping with malice, "it seems this will be the last time you’ll be moving around like that."

With deliberate slowness, he began to undress. First, his coat slid off his shoulders, followed by his shirt, and then he started to remove the rest of his clothing. As he unwound his muffler, he paused for a moment, watching her closely. The violent flowers had a dual effect: they drained her strength and acted as a strong aphrodisiac, making anyone who smelled them overly sensitive..

Esme’s mind raced as she weighed her options. The mer was looming over her, and she knew she had to stall for time. The Aron brothers would be here soon, but until then, she was on her own. She had two choices: play along and buy time, or kill the mer right now. But if he was here, it meant there was already a bigger plan in motion. Killing him might not be enough to stop it, but it was a gamble she might have to take.

Her eyes flickered from the mer’s face to the door, her heartbeat quickening. She forced a smile, a facade that masked the storm raging within her. "So, how do you feel?" she asked, her tone teasing but sharp. "So, you went from drugging a married woman to trying your luck with me? Talk about a wild game plan!, huh baby".

The mer paused, his hands tugging at her clothes. He heard her words but seemed only mildly interested, glancing at her with a brief flicker of confusion before continuing to undress her. His movements were slow, deliberate, as if savoring the moment. She needed him to hesitate, even for a few more seconds.

Esme’s forced laughter filled the room, echoing eerily. "Oh my God, I’m so shy! This is the first time someone’s doing this to me," she said, her voice lilting with false innocence. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her expression remained calm.

The mer stopped again, this time a bit more unsure, his eyes narrowing at her. For a brief moment, doubt flickered across his face, a crack in his cold exterior. But it wasn’t enough. He continued, ignoring her words, his focus shifting back to his task. His fingers grazed her skin, and Esme’s patience thinned.

"Oh, come on, sir. Can’t you stay silent for a second?" The mer yelled with irritation, his actions becoming more mechanical, as if trying to block out her distractions.

With a smirk, Esme looked him straight in the eyes. "Oh, I see what you’re doing! I mean, look at me—I’m the whole package, right? But honestly, why would someone like you want to play with a woman like me? It’s almost cheeky! And let’s not forget, I am taken, darling.."