The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 78: [Volume 1] - 78- Friends !

Chapter 78: [Volume 1] Chapter 78- Friends !

The Aron brothers stood there, blinking, still trying to wrap their heads around what they had just witnessed.

Esme, always serious and composed, had laughed—a real, genuine laugh they didn’t think she was even capable of. Ray’s comment about her mer companion had come at just the wrong moment, and whatever lightness Esme had shown disappeared like a candle blown out too soon.

"You two seem like good friends," Ray said, misinterpreting the scene entirely, his face lighting up with innocent curiosity.

Esme’s laughter died so abruptly it was almost painful to watch. She turned toward Ray, her smile still in place, though it had become brittle and a little too tight.

"Yes," she said, her voice sugary sweet, "best friends."

Ray’s jaw twitched, his gaze flickering between Esme and the mer. His brothers remained equally still, their previous amusement now tinged with something far less friendly.

This was new—Esme, so at ease with someone who wasn’t them. The mer’s familiarity with her stirred something uncomfortable inside them, something possessive that they had never had to confront before.

The mer beside her, lounging casually as if he owned the moment, grinned with that devil-may-care attitude that seemed to radiate from him.

"Oh yes, the very best of friends," he said, letting the words roll off his tongue as if he were savoring some private joke. "We go way back, don’t we, Rose?"

Esme shot him a look so sharp it could have cut glass, though the Aron brothers, still stuck in their bubble of misjudgment, didn’t notice.

"Don’t push it," she muttered under her breath, the smile on her lips strained to the point of breaking.

Ray exchanged glances with his brothers, their amusement fading into something more guarded. Esme wasn’t quick to laugh around them, let alone with someone else.

The brothers, who had always seen themselves as Esme’s closest confidants, couldn’t help but feel the faint sting of jealousy, though none of them would dare admit it aloud. The mer seemed so casual beside her, and that casualness felt... wrong.

Ray, emboldened by his own misunderstanding, grinned.

"Wow, wife, we’ve never seen you this relaxed. You really are good friends."

Esme’s eyes flickered toward him, and for a second, it looked like she might snap. But instead, she inhaled deeply, rolling her eyes to the sky as if asking for divine patience.

"Sure," she said, her voice taking on a flat tone. "That’s one way to describe it."

The mer, clearly enjoying the fact that the Aron brothers couldn’t see the storm brewing beneath Esme’s calm exterior, leaned in closer, his voice dripping with mock sincerity. "I’m the highlight of her life, aren’t I, Rose?"

Esme crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her posture rigid and defensive.

"More like the headache of my life," she shot back, the sarcasm evident in her tone. Her patience was thinning, but the brothers didn’t seem to notice—or maybe they just chose not to.

Instead, Ray let out a laugh, his expression light. "You’re so funny when you’re in a good mood," he said, clearly misreading her sharp words as playful banter.

The mer’s grin widened, knowing exactly what he was doing. He leaned back, completely at ease while Esme looked like she might explode at any second.

Her hands were clenched, her posture tense, but Ray and his brothers still saw none of it. They were too caught up in this idea that Esme was happy.

Esme let out a long, exasperated sigh, her eyes narrowing at the mer, who seemed to delight in her irritation.

"Well, you know what they say. Keep your friends close and your annoyances closer."

Ray, still grinning, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that’s what friends are for, right?"

Esme didn’t bother correcting him. What would be the point? Instead, she shot one final icy glance at the mer before turning away entirely.

"Right. Friends." The word was flat, stripped of any warmth or meaning.

After finishing the meal, the Aron brothers were always keen observers, especially when it came to Esme. The evening had been filled with laughter and teasing, but what caught their attention the most was the way Esme and the mer bantered.

The truth was, the mer loved to poke fun at her, especially by offering her the foods she despised most—carrots and capsicum.

"Come on, Rose," the mer teased, pushing a piece of carrot toward her with a mischievous smile. "I know you secretly love it."

Esme’s jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing as she fought to keep her cool. She hated carrots and capsicum more than anything, but she couldn’t do much in front of everyone.

Internally, she was seething, ready to strangle him on the spot, but instead, she gave him a tight-lipped smile and took the plate from him.

The Aron brothers exchanged glances, a flicker of jealousy rising in them. There was something about the familiarity between Esme and the mer that didn’t sit well with them. Ray, especially, felt unsettled.

As dinner came to an end and everyone stood up to leave, Ray decided he needed to say something. He stepped toward Esme, his voice hesitant. "Wife, I was thinking maybe we could—"

Before he could finish, the mer cut in smoothly, his voice playful yet firm. "Rose, we have something to discuss, right?"

Esme, clearly irritated but hiding it well, nodded. "Yes, very much to discuss." Without giving the Aron brothers a second glance, she grabbed the mer by the arm and all but dragged him toward the office.

Ray and the others stood in stunned silence, watching as the two disappeared down the hallway. The brothers exchanged looks of confusion and a bit of frustration. It was as if they were being left out of something important, and the playful dynamic between Esme and the mer only heightened their unease.

Inside the study, Esme shoved the mer away from her and slammed the door behind them. Her calm facade finally shattered as she spun around to face him, her voice sharp with anger.