The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 118: [Volume 1] - - Headline.

The workday had gone on as usual, though a bit lighter, allowing Esme the rare luxury of heading home early. As she approached the house, she heard a sweet, cheerful voice filling the air. It wasn’t Aron’s voice. No, this was different—Ray, Kai, and Jay.

Esme slipped through the door quietly, her curiosity piqued. As she stepped into the hall, the scene before her warmed her heart instantly. Ray was gently shaking a small toy in his hand, the soft jingling sound coming from it as the baby’s eyes followed every movement.

Kai stood beside him, holding a milk bottle, ready for when the baby needed it, while Jay, the ever-playful one, made exaggerated funny faces, eliciting giggles from the little one swaddled in Ray’s arms.

Ryan’s strong yet careful hold around the baby exuded a tenderness Esme rarely saw in him. His focus was entirely on the child, rocking gently back and forth, soothing the baby with every swaying motion.

A smile spread across Esme’s face as she watched the scene unfold. There was something undeniably heartwarming about seeing her husbands so effortlessly fall into their roles. She stood there, unnoticed, feeling an unexpected wave of contentment wash over her.

At that moment, a thought flickered in her mind—these men, her husbands, could give her child a complete family, even without her. The love, care, and warmth in the room were enough. And for the first time in a long while, she felt a strange sense of peace knowing that, no matter what, her child would always be surrounded by people who loved them deeply.

As Esme descended the stairs, the child caught sight of her from the corner of his eye. A small smile crept across his face before he turned fully toward her, his eyes brightening with excitement. "Kya?" the child babbled, his little voice filled with curiosity. Esme knew he was watching her, tracking her every move.

The sound of the child’s voice drew the attention of the others. Ray, Kai, and Jay, who had been chatting softly, turned their heads to see the little one, eagerly glancing around in search of Esme. As soon as they spotted her at the base of the stairs, Ray’s face lit up with a smile.

"You’re early," Ray said warmly, his voice laced with surprise.

Esme walked over to him, her steps unhurried, and murmured softly, "Yeah, the work wrapped up early today."

With that, she extended a finger toward the child. His tiny hand immediately reached out to grab it, his small fingers wrapping around hers with enthusiasm, as if he wanted to pull her into his world. His wide eyes sparkled with the kind of innocence only a child could have, and Esme felt her heart swell with affection.

The child wiggled excitedly, as if he were ready to dance with her. Esme’s smile widened, her face softening as her eyes filled with love—pure, dreaming love.

Kai, watching the scene unfold, smiled and said, "You should take a bath and rest for a bit. Dinner will be ready soon."

Esme, still entranced by the way the child held her finger, murmured absentmindedly, "Hmm..." before her mind shifted back to the matter she’d been thinking about all day. "Anyway, I have something to ask you guys."

Ray, Kai, and Jay exchanged glances, sensing the shift in her tone. "Yes?" they asked in unison, all of them curious but waiting patiently.

Esme looked at them, her expression thoughtful as she weighed her words. "Let’s talk during dinner," she said softly. "I think it’ll be better to discuss it then."

The three brothers nodded, understanding that whatever she had on her mind was important. They returned to their tasks, but the air was now filled with anticipation, each of them wondering what Esme wanted to share.

As Esme continued to play with the child, her heart was still full of warmth.

.....

Clink clank

The sound of knives and forks clinking against plates was the only noise that filled the otherwise silent dining room. The Aron brothers ate quietly, occasionally exchanging glances. Esme, sitting at the head of the table, appeared deep in thought, her fork tracing patterns on her plate.

Ray, always the most perceptive, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and leaned forward slightly. "So," he began, breaking the silence, "what is it you wanted to talk about?"

Esme paused, setting her utensils down and glancing around the table, her eyes lingering on each of the brothers—Ray, Kai, Jay, and finally Ryan, who looked up expectantly. A soft smile tugged at her lips. "Actually, I wanted to tell you all that tomorrow is my day off."

The brothers exchanged curious glances, wondering where this was going.

"And," Esme continued, her voice lightening with a playful tone, "I was thinking... how about we all go on a date tomorrow? Just the five of us."

Kai raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "A date?" he repeated, amusement dancing in his eyes. "All of us?"

Esme nodded, her enthusiasm growing. "Yes! We never get much time to ourselves with all that’s been going on. I thought it would be nice to just spend the day together—no distractions, no responsibilities. Just us."

Ray leaned back in his chair, a suspicious smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Okay, now tell us the real reason for this so-called date," he asked, his tone light but probing, as though he could see right through Esme’s playful facade.

Esme chuckled, knowing full well that fooling him was no easy task. "Nothing gets past you, does it?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She leaned forward slightly, as though sharing a secret. "Well, you see... the media’s been a bit too quiet lately. We need to give them something to chew on—something spicy, don’t you think?"

The brothers exchanged knowing glances, sensing there was more to this than Esme was letting on.

Esme shrugged casually, a teasing smile on her face. "Don’t you think it’s far more interesting that Aron’s family new president, Rose Reinguard, is on a date with her all four husbands?"