The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 51: [Volume 1] - 51- Dianan comes..

Chapter 51: [Volume 1] Chapter 51- Dianan comes..

The days passed in a rhythmic blur, and Esme returned to her routine. The Aron brothers went back to their work, and everything seemed almost too normal. But Esme knew better. There was a certain stillness, an ominous calm that hung over her like a shadow waiting to pounce. She could feel it creeping closer, and deep down, she knew something was coming.

Four days later, Esme was seated in her office, the familiar hum of her workspace lulling her into a state of concentration. She was scanning a document when the phone on her desk rang abruptly. The sharp tone cut through the air, drawing her attention. She glanced at the caller ID. Ismail.

Esme reached for the phone, her fingers moving gracefully as she lifted the receiver to her ear. "Yes?" Her voice was composed, as always.

"President," Ismail began, his tone careful, "the Valhalla Group CEO is here to meet with you."

The mention of the Valhalla family made Esme pause. Her heart gave a small, almost imperceptible flutter, but her expression remained unreadable. She had been expecting this, but not so soon. Her lips curved ever so slightly, an amused smile forming.

*Looks like they’ve come to me first.*

"Very well," she said, her voice steady. "Let them in."

"Yes, President." Ismail’s voice clicked off, and the room fell silent again.

Esme leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. Her mind was already calculating, sorting through possibilities, strategies. This meeting would be crucial—no, pivotal. She had dealt with the Valhallas before. They were nothing if not persistent, and their games were as dangerous as they were complex.

Moments later, a knock sounded on her door, breaking her thoughts. Esme’s gaze flicked to the door, already prepared for what was to come. The door swung open, and her secretary entered, followed by a figure Esme hadn’t seen in years—Diana Valhalla.

Diana stepped into the room with the practiced grace of someone who had been groomed for power. Her posture was perfect, her attire sharp, and her eyes—those piercing eyes—held a certain cautious determination. Yet, there was something else in them. A flicker of unease that she tried to hide behind a polite smile.

Esme’s gaze lingered on Diana for a moment before she leaned forward, resting her hands on the desk, her expression carefully neutral. She wasn’t going to make this easy.

"Miss Valhalla," Esme greeted, her tone formal but laced with an underlying edge. "It’s been a long time."

Diana dipped her head respectfully, but her voice betrayed a hint of tension. "President, I am here on behalf of the Valhalla family."

Esme’s smile widened slightly, though her eyes remained as cold as ice. "No need for the titles, Miss Valhalla. We’ve known each other long enough for that." She gestured toward the chair in front of her. "Please, sit."

Diana hesitated for a brief second, her mask of composure faltering before she quickly recovered and took the seat across from Esme. She sat with her back straight, hands resting in her lap, as if bracing herself for whatever was to come.

Esme observed her with quiet amusement, though she made no move to soften the tension. "I assume you didn’t come all this way just for pleasantries," she said, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. "So, what does the new ceo of Valhalla group wants from me ?".

Esme’s eyes gleamed with a sharpness that matched the firmness in her voice. "Ms. Valhalla, I think you’ve misunderstood something." Diana, startled by the sudden shift in Esme’s tone, quickly turned to meet her gaze. Esme’s lips curved into a smile—one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"Listen," Esme leaned in slightly, her voice slicing through the tense atmosphere, "I don’t care what your family does or what misunderstandings you all hold. You did wrong, and you were punished for it. That’s all there is to it." She leaned back, crossing her arms with a quiet, composed authority. "You’ve already handed over the land. I don’t need anything more from you. It’s over."

Diana flinched at the cold finality of Esme’s words. Her fingers trembled as she adjusted her posture, trying to compose herself. "No, no, Miss Rose," she said softly, her voice wavering with desperation. "I know what we did was wrong. We’ve faced the consequences, but there’s something else."

Esme raised an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity tempered with annoyance. Diana hesitated, then took a deep breath, pushing forward. "There was our engagement party... the one that was ruined."

Esme’s expression shifted into a smirk, amusement dancing in her eyes as she leaned back in her chair. "Oh, right. I remember that." Her tone was thick with sarcasm. "I’m terribly sorry for how that ended up. What a shame... such a guilty pleasure watching it all fall apart."

Diana forced a smile, but her eyes betrayed the pain behind her words. "No, no, it’s fine, really. That’s not why I came." She swallowed, her voice growing unsteady. "Now that we know each other a bit better, I was hoping you could attend the rescheduled engagement party."

Esme’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest, a steady beat that filled the silence between them. Her gaze narrowed, sensing there was more Diana hadn’t yet said.

"My father’s mental health," Diana started, her voice softening. She cast her eyes down, her hands wringing together. "He’s never recovered from losing my sister. He hasn’t smiled since then, no matter what we try." Her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. "I know it’s asking a lot, Miss Rose, but maybe... your presence at the party could bring him some comfort."

The room fell quiet. Esme’s expression hardened as she studied Diana, her thoughts unreadable. Her tapping stopped. There was a flicker of something in her eyes—something caught between irritation and contemplation.

Diana, sensing the weight of the silence, leaned forward, her voice barely above a whisper now. "Please, Miss Rose, consider it. It would be a favor to the Valhalla family. If you could just attend, it would mean so much to us... to him."