The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 61: [Volume 1] - 61- Plan worked!

Chapter 61: [Volume 1] Chapter 61- Plan worked!

Esme sat back on the bed with him, her hands still on his face, as though grounding herself through him. Her fingers, which had once sought to harm, now held him close, her touch soft and unsure. She didn’t speak, but Ray could feel the shift in her—an instinct to protect, even though the Beast had nearly driven them both to the brink of destruction.

He breathed deeply, feeling his heartbeat begin to slow as he leaned into her. Whatever storm had passed, they had found a moment of peace, bound together in this strange, quiet aftermath.

On the other side of the room, Diana kept a discreet eye on her watch, her fingers lightly tapping the glass in her hand as she mingled with the guests. Her smile never reached her lips, but it danced in her eyes. One hour had passed, and by now, she was certain her plan was in motion. Esme and Ray must have succumbed to the effects of the flower by now.

She never intended to simply give aphrodisiacs to a beast like Esme. No, the flower had far more dangerous properties. For someone like herself, a normal person with no connection to beasts, it might only induce drowsiness or heightened emotions. But for those linked to powerful creatures—like Esme —the effects were catastrophic. The stronger the beast, the more violently the person lost control.

If this woman is truly esme , as Diana suspected, then by now, she was surely out of control. Diana’s calculation was cold and precise—if all had gone as planned, Esme would have already killed that mer, consumed by her beast’s power, unable to rein herself back in.

It was time to move forward with the next step. Diana’s hand lifted slightly, her glass twirling in a casual gesture, but to the trained eyes of her allies, it was a signal. Across the room, members of the Valhalla family exchanged subtle nods, even the Florence family in quiet agreement. They were all in on this, each one playing their part.

Mr. Valhalla, whose role was pivotal, suddenly acted, his voice booming across the room, "Where is Miss Rose? I need to apologize to her!" His words cut through the hum of conversation, drawing everyone’s attention.

The guests murmured amongst themselves, their heads turning in curiosity. It dawned on them that Rose Reingard and Ray Aron had been absent for quite some time. Whispers of their whereabouts spread like wildfire, and the atmosphere in the room shifted, tension rippling beneath the surface.

The trap had been set, and now all eyes were on the missing pair. Diana’s heart quickened, but she kept her expression serene, raising her glass to her lips as if none of this concerned her. Inside, she knew it was only a matter of time before chaos followed.

As soon as Mr. Valhalla mentioned Rose and Ray’s absence, the room filled with low murmurs and curious whispers, the chatter spreading like wildfire among the guests.

"Where did they go?" one mer asked her companion, glancing around the room as if she might spot them lurking in a corner.

"I thought they were just here a moment ago," a mer in a tailored suit said, his brow furrowed. "Strange. They’ve been missing for quite some time now."

Another guest leaned in, lowering her voice, "Do you think something happened? I mean, it’s not like them to just vanish."

"Maybe they stepped out for some fresh air?" a mer in a crimson gown suggested, though her eyes betrayed her own doubts. "But for this long? It’s been over an hour."

A group of older mers huddled near the buffet table exchanged suspicious glances. "I heard they left together," one of them said, her tone heavy with implication. "Not exactly the most discreet exit, if you ask me."

"You don’t think..." one mer started, then trailed off, his voice dropping to a whisper, "they’re involved in something, do you?"

"Well, I don’t know about that," another replied, "but it’s strange, isn’t it? With everything going on tonight, and now they’re both gone? Something’s not adding up."

"Shouldn’t someone check on them?" a younger guest asked nervously, her eyes darting towards the door. "What if something happened?"

"They probably just slipped away for some privacy," a mer nearby said with a smirk, but the uneasy tone in the room suggested that wasn’t the explanation on most people’s minds.

Diana’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she absorbed the waiter’s words. "Well, it’s okay. Let’s find them. But don’t worry, I’ll check." Her tone was smooth and measured, betraying none of the excitement bubbling beneath her composed exterior.

Noah, sensing the shift in Diana’s demeanor, turned to a waiter and inquired, "Have you seen Mr. Aron and Miss Rose?"

Most waiters shook their heads, indicating no knowledge of their whereabouts. However, one waiter raised his hand tentatively and said, "Oh, I saw Miss Rose going to hotel room 301 with one of our staff."

At this revelation, the room fell into an expectant hush. Diana’s eyes sparkled with a hint of triumph as she processed the information. The silence was charged with curiosity as every guest leaned in, eager to hear more.

Diana, her pen poised and her expression a mask of controlled satisfaction, leaned in closer. "What? Where did you say she went? And with whom?"

The waiter shifted uncomfortably but continued, "Oh, one of our new mer waiters. He just joined and accidentally spilled wine on her. He went to show her to her room. But now that you mention it, he hasn’t come back yet."

A knowing smile crept across Diana’s face. The situation was unfolding precisely as she had planned. Her satisfaction was palpable, and she reveled in the unfolding drama, her mind already spinning the next steps. She turned on her heel with a fluid grace, her demeanor light and self-assured.

"Excellent," Diana murmured, more to herself than anyone else, as she glided towards the exit. Her movements were deliberate, each step a testament to her confidence.