The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 98: [Volume 1] - 98- Ryan Aron ..

Chapter 98: [Volume 1] Chapter 98- Ryan Aron ..

She didn’t know what number she had dialed, but instinct pushed her to act. As the phone rang, Helga held her breath, her mind racing with every possibility. Was this a doctor? Someone who knew what was happening?

After what felt like an eternity, a voice answered. "Esme? Is that you?"

Helga swallowed hard, her voice shaky. "No, it’s not Esme. She’s... she’s unconscious. I need help. She won’t wake up."

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a sharp intake of breath. "Where are you?"

"We’re in her office," Helga responded quickly, glancing around the room again. "Please, I don’t know what’s wrong with her."

The voice on the other end became more urgent. "Stay with her. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Don’t move her, just make sure she’s breathing steadily."

Helga nodded, though the person couldn’t see her. "Alright. Please hurry."

Hanging up, she placed the phone aside, her attention fully on Esme. She gently brushed the damp hair away from her friend’s forehead, her mind racing. Whoever was coming, they needed to get here fast.

And in the back of her mind, an unsettling thought lingered. Had this been an attack? Something to do with the divine beasts or the poison? Helga’s gut twisted, but she had no time for fear. Right now, Esme’s life was in her hands.

Within twenty minutes, the office door flew open with a loud slam, making Helga jump in surprise. Four figures rushed into the room, their presence immediately filling the space with urgency. Three of them were instantly recognizable—the Aron brothers. Their tall, imposing figures were unmistakable. Each brother had a distinct air of authority, their faces set in grim determination as they assessed the situation.

But it was the fourth figure that caught Helga off guard. He looked startlingly like Jay, one of the Aron brothers, but there was something different about him. This man was dressed in a white doctor’s coat, his brow glistening with sweat from what must have been a hasty arrival. His sharp, focused expression exuded a sense of control and professionalism that contrasted with the usual intensity she associated with the Arons.

Helga’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. She had never seen this man before, and yet, the resemblance to Jay was uncanny. The momentary confusion must have been evident on her face because the man, catching her worried gaze, gave a curt nod before kneeling beside Esme.

"It’s okay," he said, his voice calm but commanding. "I’m Jay’s brother, Ryan Aron and your president fourth husband. I’m a doctor." He didn’t waste a second as he began checking Esme’s pulse and examining her condition with quick, practiced movements. His forehead dripped with sweat, but it didn’t slow him down.

Seeing Lucas working so efficiently stirred something in Helga. She wasn’t sure if it was relief or fear—maybe a mix of both—but for the first time since Esme had collapsed, she felt like there might be hope.

Ray, stepped forward, his deep-set eyes locked on Lucas as he worked. He looked worried, more worried than Helga had ever seen him before. His hand gripped the edge of Esme’s desk so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"What happened?" Ray asked, his voice low but tense.

Helga, still kneeling beside Esme, struggled to find her voice. "I—I don’t know. I was outside doing my work but then she suddenly collapsed , She was burning up, and I didn’t know what to do."

Ryan nodded as he listened, his expression never changing as he continued working on Esme. "It sounds like a severe reaction of some kind," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "But we won’t know for sure until I stabilize her."

The room was thick with tension as the Aron brothers watched Ryan, their normally stoic faces betraying their concern for Esme. Helga could feel the weight of it pressing down on her, but she forced herself to stay focused. There was no time to fall apart now. Not when Esme’s life was hanging in the balance.

"Helga," Ryan called out, breaking her from her thoughts. "I need you to get some water and a cloth. We need to cool her down as much as possible."

Without hesitation, Helga scrambled to her feet and rushed out of the office, her heart pounding. As she ran down the hallway, all she could think about was getting back to Esme—before it was too late.

Back at home, Esme lay motionless on the bed, her eyes closed as Ryan gently checked her pulse. He removed his stethoscope, a complicated expression crossing his face as he studied her. After a moment, he opened her eyelids slightly to assess her response, but a troubled look soon settled in.

Seeing this, Ray leaned forward, anxiety etched across his features. "What happened? Is everything alright?"

Ryan shook his head slowly, his brow furrowed with concern. "Calm down. Her breathing is too weak. It’s like the divine beast power within her can’t be controlled. Her heart is beating, but it’s too irregular." He paused, glancing from Esme to Helga, his expression serious. "Can you tell me anything strange that has been happening with her over the past few days?"

Helga nodded, recalling the past month. "For the last few weeks, she hasn’t been able to sleep. She’s been suffering from insomnia and has had really bad headaches."

"Anything else?" Ryan pressed, his gaze unwavering.

Helga hesitated, trying to piece together the fragmented memories. "She just seemed... tired all the time. But I don’t know much more than that."

Ryan’s expression darkened, and a hint of sadness crossed his features as he processed her words. It was clear to him that Esme had been battling this alone, and it stung him deeply that her condition had gone unnoticed. He turned to Ray, who was visibly stricken by the revelation. The weight of their collective ignorance hung heavily in the air, a painful reminder that even those closest to her hadn’t fully grasped the extent of her suffering.