The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 99: [Volume 1] - 99- need help

Chapter 99: [Volume 1] Chapter 99- need help

Ryan took a moment, his brow furrowed in thought, before turning to Helga again. "Does she suffer from something like this before?"

Helga paused, searching her memory. After a moment, a flicker of recognition sparked within her. "Yes," she replied slowly, "she suffered from it before. It wasn’t this bad, but it was still there."

Ryan leaned in closer, his expression intense. "Hel... what exactly did she experience back then? Any specific symptoms or events that might help us understand what’s happening now?"

Helga’s mind raced as she recalled the past. "A few months ago, she mentioned feeling weak and fatigued, but we all brushed it off as stress from work. She had headaches then too, but they weren’t as severe. I thought it was just her pushing herself too hard."

Ryan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he absorbed this information. "Was there anything else? Any emotional or physical triggers that you remember?"

Helga’s heart sank as she considered Esme’s struggles. "It... it was when she lost that person." As Helga spoke, her voice grew softer, weighed down by the memories.

She could still vividly recall the day Esme lost Cain. The aftermath had been devastating. Esme had plunged into a spiral of self-blame, convinced she could have saved him. Helga remembered how Esme had turned to alcohol, how she’d beaten herself up both physically and emotionally. That day haunted Helga; she had found her friend battered and bloodied, her eyes dull and lifeless. The cheerful smile that once lit up Esme’s face had vanished, replaced by an emptiness that seemed to swallow her whole.

Helga’s chest tightened at the memory of holding Esme, pleading with her to step away from the darkness. "Please, just leave this behind," she had begged, desperation lacing her words. But instead of pulling Esme back, her pleas seemed to push her further away.

From that moment on, Esme had buried herself in work, believing that it was the only thing that could distract her from the unbearable pain. It was as if labor had become her refuge, the sole purpose for her existence. But the light in her eyes had dimmed, and her radiant smile was now a distant memory, lost in the shadows of her grief.

Now, as she watched Esme lying there, Helga felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. They had to find a way to bring back the vibrant woman she once knew, to help her reclaim her life from the grip of despair.

The air thickened with tension as the brothers’ expressions changed, their faces paling with guilt as they looked at Esme, vulnerable and unresponsive on the bed. They realized that they had exploited the very pain that had haunted her for so long, using it as a means to manipulate her.

Ryan remained stoic, his expression carefully neutral as he processed Helga’s revelation. He bit his lip, taking a moment before speaking again. "Okay, and how did she come out of it?"

Helga took a breath, her voice wavering slightly. "She ran off to work. She made herself busy with tasks, saying that as long as she worked, she wouldn’t have to think about that—or anything else."

Ryan nodded slowly, his demeanor unchanging but the weight of the situation palpable. "And now? Is she trying to do the same again? Hide from everything by overworking herself?"

Helga’s eyes filled with sorrow. "I think so. But this time, it’s different. She can’t simply drown herself in work and ignore what’s happening inside her. It’s too much for her to bear alone."

Hearing the conversation between Ryan and Helga, Jay’s thoughts drifted back to a conversation he had had just a few days ago. He recalled the heat of the moment when he had blamed Esme, claiming she was one of the reasons behind Esme’s past lover’s death, suggesting that she might even be the one responsible. At that time, he had not realized how deeply his words would cut, nor the pain they would inflict upon Esme.

Now, as he listened to Helga recount Esme’s struggle, a wave of guilt washed over him. The weight of his accusations pressed heavily on his conscience. He hadn’t understood then the toll that loss could take, nor the fragile state of Esme’s heart.

Ryan nodded slowly, his mind working through the implications of what Helga had shared. "If this has been building up over time, it could explain the current situation. The stress, combined with whatever’s happening internally, might have exacerbated her condition."

Ray watched the exchange, worry etched into his features. "So, what do we do now? How can we help her?"

Ryan took a deep breath, his professional demeanor returning. "First, we need to stabilize her and get her breathing regulated. We can’t afford to lose her. Then we’ll have to address whatever underlying issues she’s facing—physically and emotionally. This isn’t just about treating symptoms; we need to find the root cause."

Helga felt a mix of relief and dread wash over her. They finally had a direction, but the road ahead seemed daunting.

she asked, "What can I do to help you guys?" Her voice carried the weight of someone prepared for anything.

Ryan stood silent for a moment, deep in thought. He shifted his attention to her, scanning her closely before his eyes finally settled on the basket she held. "You have a divine beast too, don’t you?" he asked, his tone matter-of-fact.

Helga blinked, her surprise subtle but unmistakable. It wasn’t common knowledge that she had a divine beast, and she had made sure to keep it that way. She was careful, always. Yet somehow, Ryan had seen through her. But she didn’t hesitate. With a slight nod, she confirmed, "Yes."

Ryan turned to Ray, his brother, and said evenly, "That means we have two divine beasts now—yours and Helga’s. If we want to stabilize Esme, we’ll need both of them. Together, we might be able to control the beast within her."

Ray frowned slightly, unsure. "Why both? Can’t we control it ourselves? It’s not that difficult."