The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 104: [Volume 1] - -Mere secretary.

In Ray’s office, the Aron brothers and Helga stood in tense silence, their calm exteriors barely masking the concern they all felt. The atmosphere was serious, and the weight of what they had just heard hung in the air.

"What the hell do you mean by ’right now’?" Ray’s voice was calm but edged with frustration, breaking the stillness.

Ryan, standing across from him, responded steadily, "It’s just as you heard. When I say ’right now,’ I mean right now."

Ray’s eyes narrowed as he pressed again, "So, you’re saying Esme’s not okay at all?"

Ryan met his brother’s gaze, his tone unwavering. "No, she’s not okay. And controlling her condition is uncertain at best. I don’t know how long we can keep this up."

The room grew quiet again, with everyone processing the grim reality. Helga’s expression remained composed, but her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.

Helga, still composed, asked, "Can you explain why Esme has gotten so out of control? She’s faced tough situations before but never like this?"

Ryan turned to her, his tone steady but serious. "It’s because she’s lost control of her beast."

The room went silent, everyone absorbing his words. "Lost control of her beast?" someone repeated, shock evident.

Ryan nodded, his voice firm. "Yes, she’s lost control." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Helga’s confusion deepened. "What do you mean? Esme is strong. How could she lose control over something as vital as her beast? It’s part of her, like her soul. How could that happen?"

Ryan sighed, answering in a soft but deliberate tone. "When I sent her blood for testing, the results showed a high concentration of toxins. That’s what’s causing her to lose control."

The room grew heavier with the weight of his revelation. Helga’s composure faltered briefly, but she quickly regained control, trying to grasp the seriousness of Esme’s condition.

Jay’s voice cut through the tension in the room, serious and direct. "What type of toxin?"

Ryan shook his head, the weight of uncertainty in his expression. "I don’t know. It’s too toxic, too complex. It’s slowly killing her from the inside. Even though you’re healing her, it’s not enough."

Kai, standing next to him, furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"

Ryan took a deep breath, explaining carefully. "The poison is weakening Esme’s body, but it’s making Beom stronger. It’s like it’s driving a wedge between them. The weaker Esme becomes, the more powerful Beom gets. It’s as if the toxin is trying to split them apart entirely."

Everyone in the room felt the weight of the revelation, their minds racing for a solution. Helga clenched her fists, her eyes flickering to Esme, fear and concern clear on her face.

"Is there a way to stop it?" Helga’s voice broke the silence, desperation creeping into her usually composed tone.

Ryan let out a sigh, rubbing his temples in frustration. "I wish I knew. This poison... it’s unlike anything I’ve encountered. It’s potent, but there’s no clear origin. It’s not from any chemical or natural substance I’ve come across. It’s as if the toxin was forced into Esme’s body—into Beom as well—but not through any typical means."

Helga and the others exchanged confused glances.

Ryan continued, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "It’s not something that bites or injects. Even venomous creatures, like snakes, need to bite for their poison to take effect. And if it were something ingested or inhaled, like from the air, it should have shown signs in the creature administering it too. But in this case, nothing. It’s almost as though the poison was... engineered, something beyond the natural world."

Kai narrowed his eyes. "So, you’re saying it’s not a normal poison?"

Ryan nodded. "Exactly. It’s acting almost like a curse. It’s strengthening Beom while killing Esme. But without knowing what it is, or where it came from, stopping it is next to impossible. At least right now."

The room fell into a tense silence again, each person processing the gravity of the situation, searching for answers they didn’t have.

Helga smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, and then she closed them as if she were composing herself. "Okay. Thank you for your help, Ryan. But I think it’s time you stop this project. I don’t want any more research on Esme’s condition."

The room tensed. The brothers, who had been quietly absorbing Ryan’s words, exchanged startled glances. Ray’s voice broke through the silence, laced with frustration. "What the hell do you mean by stopping the project? She’s our wife! It’s our duty to protect her! Why should we stop trying to save her?"

Helga’s gaze turned cold as she looked at Ray, her tone composed but cutting. "I understand your emotions, Mr. Ray Aron," she said, her voice steady, like someone stating an undeniable fact. "But perhaps you’ve forgotten... this is only a contract marriage. After Esme gives you a child, she won’t need your help or care anymore. From what your brother has just explained, it seems she still has enough time for that, doesn’t she?"

The room fell into a stunned silence, Ray’s brothers looking between him and Helga, grappling with her harsh words. Helga’s calm but unyielding tone sent a shockwave through the room. The very idea that Esme’s life was secondary to a contract left them speechless, and the implication that they didn’t need to care for her beyond that left a bitter taste in their mouths. Ray clenched his fists, his anger barely held in check.

"You don’t get to decide that," Ray said, his voice low, trembling with barely contained fury.

"Sorry, but I do," Helga replied, her tone unwavering and serious as she locked eyes with Ray. The tension in the room thickened, and Ray, unable to contain his anger any longer, yelled, "You are just a mere secretary! How dare you decide what your master wants?"

Helga smiled, but it wasn’t a smile of amusement. It was sharp, almost pitying, as if Ray’s words didn’t faze her in the slightest.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Aron," she said, her voice calm but with an edge of steel, "but believe me, I know exactly what Esme wants. And even if I were to stop this project or anything else, I can assure you—she wouldn’t stop me."