The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 102: [Volume 1] - - Call me sister.
Helga closed her eyes, bracing for the impact. The sound of Beom’s growl filled her ears, the air heavy with the weight of impending doom. Her heart trembled, but it wasn’t fear of death that gripped her—it was regret.
She had failed Esme. Her dear friend lay unconscious, trapped in a struggle Helga couldn’t pull her from. She had fought so hard, yet it wasn’t enough. The thought tore through her, bitter and cold. Helga wasn’t afraid of dying, but the fact that she couldn’t help Esme wake from this torment and couldn’t bring her back from the darkness—it broke her heart.
"I’m sorry, Esme..." she whispered into the deafening roar of the tiger.
The seconds stretched endlessly, and Helga waited for the crushing blow. But instead, she felt a shift—a sudden and powerful change in the air.
The ferocity of Beom’s roar faded, replaced by a strange stillness. Helga dared to open her eyes.
To her shock, Beom had stopped mid-attack. The giant tiger stood frozen, its glowing golden eyes locked on Esme, who, against all odds, stirred ever so slightly.
"Esme?" Helga’s voice was faint, unsure if what she saw was real.
A soft glow began to emanate from Esme, faint at first, but growing brighter with every heartbeat. Her lips parted, and a barely audible whisper escaped.
"Helga..."
Helga’s breath caught. Esme’s eyes fluttered open, dazed but conscious. The change was almost instantaneous—Beom’s fierce posture softened, and the room, once filled with chaotic energy, began to calm.
Helga felt her knees go weak, relief flooding her body. Tears welled in her eyes as she stepped closer to her friend, her voice barely a whisper. "Esme... you’re back."
Esme chuckled weakly, her voice barely above a whisper, "Well, you were calling so desperately. How could I not wake up?" She gave a tired smile, but her pale face made the smile seem fragile, lacking its usual warmth and strength. Still, to Helga, that smile was like looking at the moon after a stormy night—soft, distant, but full of light.
Helga’s tears broke free as she rushed to Esme’s side, her voice shaking. "I’m sorry, Esme. I’m so sorry. I couldn’t even help you." She clasped her friend’s hand tightly, feeling a wave of guilt and relief all at once.
Esme, still too weak to fully sit up, gave her a gentle pat on the back, leaning heavily against the bed. "You did help. But... if you’d called me ’sister’ properly, maybe I’d have woken up a little faster." Esme winked, her voice still teasing despite her exhaustion.
Helga shook her head, feeling both exasperated and fond. Even after everything, Esme still had the energy to joke. Helga wanted to scold her for being so reckless, for throwing herself into danger without a second thought. But seeing her alive, hearing her voice—it was enough for now.
Esme’s eyes flickered then, and for a moment, they turned an ethereal gold before fading back to their natural dark hue. The oppressive energy in the room dissipated as the presence of Beom, the tiger, vanished into thin air. Helga’s own eyes returned to normal, and with it, her divine beast—the calm, serene deer—disappeared as if it had never been there.
The tension in the room eased. Aron and the others, who had stood tensely in the corner, now looked on with a mix of relief and amazement at Esme. The battle was over, for now.
Helga exhaled deeply, glancing down at Esme. "You almost got yourself killed again," she muttered, half-scolding, half-laughing through her tears. "What would we have done if you didn’t wake up?"
Esme gave her a small, tired smile. "But I did, didn’t I?"
As Helga and Esme exchanged soft words, a different kind of tension brewed on the other side of the room. Kai, standing next to Jay, shot him a glance before speaking in a low voice.
"Now I understand why the prince wants to kill Esme that badly." His tone was filled with a strange mix of amusement and understanding.
Jay didn’t respond immediately but gave a small, bitter smile, nodding slightly. His eyes remained on Esme, though the warmth that might have once been there had long since turned cold. Kai’s words resonated with him, even if they were unspoken.
How could he possibly accept the way his wife seemed so deeply connected with someone else, especially when he, her husband, had been left on the sidelines? Watching Esme’s tenderness toward Helga was like salt in a wound that never healed.
Kai leaned in closer to Jay, his voice dropping even more. "If I were in his place, I’d feel the same," he said, fanning the flames of resentment with calculated precision.
"After everything, shouldn’t she at least check on you? You’ve been through hell because of her, and yet... nothing. No concern. No apology. Just her secretary, her friend, whoever else but her."
Jay’s voice softened as he spoke, his tone unusually gentle. "We’re in his place," he muttered quietly, his gaze shifting toward Esme. Kai looked at Jay, their unspoken understanding hanging in the air, and then both turned to look at Esme and Helga.
Unlike the others, Helga and Esme stood firm, completely unfazed by the tension around them. They knew this moment was bound to come. Helga’s expression remained calm, and Esme, though physically fragile, showed no sign of shock or hesitation. They were prepared for whatever Aron had to say.
Suddenly, Aron’s composure broke. Tears filled his eyes as he rushed forward, grabbing Esme tightly in a crushing embrace. His voice cracked with emotion, the words spilling out with raw, unfiltered pain.
"You idiot, you bitch!" he cried, holding her as though she might disappear again. "Do you want to kill yourself so badly?"
Esme didn’t flinch. Instead, she gently placed her hands on his back, almost as if she were comforting him rather than the other way around. Helga’s gaze remained steady, her eyes soft but unreadable, as if she had anticipated this reaction all along. She stood by, watching silently, her calm presence almost grounding the intensity in the room.
