The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 124: [Volume 1] - -past .

Esme gave them a weak smile, trying to maintain her composure. "Right," she muttered. "Fearless."

But as they got closer to the ride, her heart raced. The sounds of the ride whooshing through the air, the screams of the riders, and the sight of that massive spinning bucket made her legs feel like jelly.

As they reached the front of the line, the brothers stood tall, grinning from ear to ear, while Esme felt like shrinking into the ground.

"Don’t worry, Esme," Ray teased, nudging her lightly. "We’ll hold your hand if you get scared."

Esme’s heart tightened as they moved closer to the ride, but it wasn’t the spinning bucket that scared her. It was the memories that resurfaced with every step, memories she had long buried. The moment they had entered the amusement park, regret had been gnawing at her, clawing at her insides. She should have never let Helga choose this place. She should have known better.

This park held too many memories—memories of a past she had painstakingly worked to forget. The person she had once come here with, the one who used to make her heart soar, was gone now. And seeing this ride, his favorite ride, brought back all the pain she thought she had buried. Esme glanced at the spinning bucket, and for a moment, she felt like she saw him there, smiling at her, calling her to join him like he used to.

Why are you back here? the memory seemed to ask, echoing in her mind. Why are you letting this place haunt you again?

Esme wasn’t afraid of the ride itself, but of the past it represented. It scared her because it brought her back to a time when she was vulnerable, when she had been broken. She feared that if she stepped onto that ride, she would shatter all over again, the cracks in her heart breaking open and flooding her with the grief she thought she had sealed away.

After marrying the Aron brothers, she had found new strength, a new sense of belonging. But lately, something had shifted. She could feel him again, lurking in the corners of her mind, as if marrying her husbands had stirred up the ghosts of her past. It was as if that person’s presence lingered more now than it had ever before. Despite the medication, despite the years of pushing forward, he was back, tormenting her in a way that was almost unbearable.

Esme clenched her fists, her breathing shallow. She wasn’t sure why the memories had returned, or why her heart ached so sharply now. But here, standing before this ride, she felt the weight of her past pulling her down, dragging her back to a time when she had lost everything.

She glanced at her husbands, who were watching her closely now. They were teasing her, thinking she was afraid of the ride, but they couldn’t know the truth. They couldn’t know that every fiber of her being was screaming at her to run—not from the ride, but from the ghost of a love that once was.

With a deep breath, she forced a smile, hiding the storm raging inside her. She had to be strong, not just for herself, but for them. She couldn’t let them see her break again.

"I’m fine," she said softly, her voice steady though her heart wavered. "Let’s go on the ride."

But as they stepped forward, her chest tightened. She wasn’t sure if she could do this—not without falling apart.

As they approached the ride, Esme’s feet felt heavier with each step, her heart pounding louder in her chest. The noise of the amusement park, the chatter of people, and the laughter surrounding them all faded as if she was walking through a tunnel, the spinning ride at the end pulling her in like a vortex.

Kai, ever the observant one, paused for a second as they neared the line. "Are you sure, Esme?" he asked softly, his eyes searching hers.

She met his gaze, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Of course," she replied, her voice light but hollow. "It’s just a ride."

But inside, her mind was spinning just like the ride ahead of them. She could feel his presence again, the ghost of her past sitting there, waiting for her. The thought of being strapped into that seat made her feel trapped, the air thick around her as if it might suffocate her.

Ray and Jay were already laughing and joking as they moved ahead, Ray nudging Jay and pointing at the ride’s dizzying loops, completely unaware of the war raging inside Esme.

Kai remained at her side, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You don’t have to do this," he murmured under his breath, low enough that the others wouldn’t hear.

Esme’s heart softened at his words, but she shook her head. "I do," she whispered, more to herself than to him. I have to face this.

As they reached the front of the line, Ray turned back to her, grinning wide. "You’re not chickening out now, right?" he teased, though his eyes twinkled with genuine concern.

Esme took a breath and shook her head, stepping forward. "Not a chance."

They all settled into the seats of the spinning bucket, the metal harness clicking into place. Esme’s hands felt clammy, her knuckles white as she gripped the sides of the seat. The ride operator’s voice faded into the background as the machinery creaked to life, the ride slowly beginning to spin.

As the world around them began to blur, Esme closed her eyes, willing the image of him—that person—to fade away. But the faster the ride spun, the more the memories flooded back, swirling with the same intensity. His laughter, his touch, the way he would reach for her hand just before the ride took off. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Her breath hitched, and for a split second, she felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.

Suddenly, Kai’s hand reached over, finding hers and squeezing gently. She opened her eyes and glanced at him, surprised by the gesture. His face was serious, but his touch was warm, grounding her in the present moment.

"We’ve got you," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rush of wind.