The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 115: [Volume 1] - - Tired.

"Where were you last night?" Ray asked, his tone gentle but laced with suspicion.

Ryan smiled, not missing a beat. "In my room, brother."

Ray narrowed his eyes slightly. "Is that so? But didn’t we stay in the same room? I don’t recall seeing you yesterday."

There was a brief pause. Ryan knew his brother had already caught on, but he wasn’t concerned. He smiled again, his expression relaxed. "Brother, last night I had a late meeting with a client. When I returned, you were already asleep. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I stayed in my own room."

Ray watched him closely, knowing full well his youngest brother wasn’t going to admit to anything. But Ray let it slide with a small smile. As long as they don’t endanger themselves, it doesn’t matter what they do, he thought. He had always taken care of them, no matter the mess they made. Ryan’s actions, while ruthless, had always been calculated.

Meanwhile, Esme descended the stairs, her suit pristine, though her expression was drawn with exhaustion from last night’s argument. She didn’t bother greeting Ryan or Ray, her focus elsewhere. There was no need for formalities in the house anymore; all the staff, all the people in the house, were Esme’s people. She had control now, and that made everything else... irrelevant.

Esme made her way into the living room, her footsteps heavy with the weight of the previous night’s tension. She rubbed her temples as if trying to stave off an impending headache. The argument with Ray had drained her, and now, she just wanted a moment of peace before the day unfolded.

She approached the large window that overlooked the estate gardens. The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue on everything, but it did little to brighten her mood. The silence in the room was thick, and she welcomed it. No arguments, no accusations, just a moment of quiet.

Ryan and Ray remained at the dining table, their conversation now muted. Ray watched Esme with a careful gaze. He knew her well enough to sense when she was on edge. She was usually composed, always the one in control, but today she looked... fragile, as if the weight of everything was starting to press down on her.

Ryan noticed too, but he remained indifferent on the surface. He rarely involved himself in Esme’s affairs, especially when it concerned Ray. Still, he kept an eye on her, as he did with everyone in the family.

Ray broke the silence. "Esme, is everything alright?"

She didn’t turn to look at him, her eyes still fixed on the view outside. "Just tired," she replied softly, her voice devoid of the sharpness it usually carried.

Ray wanted to press further, but he knew now wasn’t the time. He exchanged a glance with Ryan, who simply shrugged and turned back to his paper.

Esme sighed and finally turned to face them. "I need to go to the office. There’s a lot to deal with after... everything." Her voice trailed off, clearly referencing the argument from the night before but not wanting to bring it up again.

Ray stood up. "Let me drive you."

"No," she cut him off quickly, raising a hand. "I’ll take care of it. You should rest, Ray. You’ve had enough to deal with yourself."

Ray hesitated but nodded, sitting back down. He knew when not to push Esme, and this was one of those times.

With a final glance at them both, Esme turned and left the room, her heels clicking on the marble floor as she disappeared down the hallway.

As soon as she was gone, Ryan spoke without looking up. "She’s going to break if this keeps up."

Ray sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know."

Ryan finally looked up, his eyes sharp. "And when she does, who’s going to pick up the pieces?"

Ray didn’t have an answer. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

As Esme stepped outside, the morning air was cool, and the sharp contrast to the warmth inside made her pause for a moment. Helga was already waiting by the car, standing near the door with a calm yet attentive demeanor. She gave a respectful nod in greeting, her sharp eyes following Esme’s movements.

Esme offered a small, tired smile as she approached, her heels clicking softly on the pavement. Helga quickly opened the door, and Esme gracefully slid into the back seat, sinking into the soft leather with a quiet sigh. Helga moved around to the front, settling into the driver’s seat with fluid ease. The car roared to life, and they pulled onto the street, the city slowly coming alive around them.

Leaning her head against the cool glass of the window, Esme closed her eyes for a moment, letting the gentle hum of the engine ease some of the tension she was carrying. "Why are you driving today, Helga?" she asked softly, her voice holding a mix of curiosity and exhaustion. She didn’t open her eyes, too drained from the previous night’s events.

Helga’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. She glanced briefly in the rearview mirror, her eyes catching Esme’s reflection. "Nothing in particular. I just heard about what happened last night at dinner," she said, her tone neutral but laced with concern.

Esme let out a low, weary chuckle, her lips curling into a faint, knowing smile. "I didn’t tell you, did I? Oh, it must have been Aron, always eager to report everything," she said with a hint of dry amusement.

Helga’s gaze shifted back to the road, her expression unreadable, though she nodded slightly. She didn’t need to say anything more—Esme had already figured it out.

Sighing, Esme opened her eyes, watching the city pass by outside. "Don’t worry about them. It doesn’t matter," she added, though her voice held a subtle tension. Despite her words, the weight of the situation lingered.

Helga, sensing the unspoken layers, didn’t press further. She knew when to hold back, understanding Esme’s moods better than most.