The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 135: [Volume 1] - - No one can stop me.
They stared, unable to reconcile the image before them with the Esme they had known only through rumors. She had always been a figure shrouded in mystery and strength. But here, in this moment captured in time, she looked so different—full of life, so happy, so... human.
"I’ve never seen her like this," Kai whispered, almost to himself, still staring at the image. The others nodded silently, their shock mirrored in their expressions. They had never thought Esme could look so cheerful, so carefree, especially in her college days.
The room remained still, the weight of the revelation sinking in. What they thought they knew about Cain and Esme was suddenly turned on its head.
The report detailed the life of Cain, the eldest son of the Florence family, born to Madam Florence Glover. From his birth, Cain was rejected by his mother for a seemingly trivial reason: he did not resemble her at all. Madam Florence’s disdain stemmed from her desire for a daughter, and the arrival of a son, especially one who did not match her expectations, was met with coldness. As a result, Cain’s father was cast out of the Florence household, leaving him to raise Cain in isolation. Although Madam Florence occasionally provided financial support, to the outside world, neither Cain nor his father existed.
Cain’s childhood was shaped by the small bakery his father ran, which became their livelihood. His father was skilled in baking, and Cain learned the craft, growing up surrounded by the warmth and sweetness of the shop, despite the bitterness of his family situation. After completing his studies, Cain earned a scholarship to a prestigious college, a significant achievement that was a direct result of his hard work and determination.
It was at college that Cain met Esme. According to the report, Esme fell in love with Cain at first sight. Their relationship blossomed, with both Cain and Esme presenting themselves as ordinary students, keeping their respective family backgrounds hidden from one another. Cain never disclosed his estranged ties to the Florence family, while Esme, who was the heiress of the Valhale family, kept her own lineage a secret. The report indicated that Esme never desired the role of heiress and found joy in the simplicity of her life with Cain.
The couple lived happily, always seen laughing and smiling together. They built their relationship on shared moments rather than familial titles or expectations. However, this idyllic life was constructed without the knowledge of the burdens that both of them carried—Cain with his family’s rejection, and Esme with the weight of her inheritance.
The report highlighted the contrast between their public and private lives. Esme, known for her calm and composed demeanor in the upper echelons of society, appeared carefree and genuinely happy during her college days with Cain. This transformation surprised those who knew her only as the Valhale heiress.
The report took a darker turn as it recounted how Madam Florence, upon discovering Cain’s relationship with Esme, sought to manipulate the situation to her advantage. In an effort to please her other son, Noah, who had harbored feelings for Esme since childhood, Madam Florence resorted to blackmail. She coerced Cain into facilitating meetings between Noah and Esme, forcing him into a painful situation. Cain’s love for Esme put him in a vulnerable position, and despite his best efforts, he became an unwilling participant in their growing friendship. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
Esme, on the other hand, tried to control her emotions out of respect for her relationship with Cain, but Noah’s presence complicated everything. Cain, too, struggled to manage his feelings, torn between his love for Esme and the demands placed upon him by his mother. The report alluded to the internal conflict each of them faced, but like many tragic love stories, theirs was not destined for a happy ending.
It was said that Cain suddenly disappeared without a trace. His death was abrupt, with no explanations provided—no details about how or why it happened. The report simply stated that Cain had died, leaving behind an air of mystery and unanswered questions. There were no further details, no conclusion to his story.
Jay hurriedly flipped through the remaining pages, but the report offered nothing more. Frustrated, he slammed the file onto the table. The abruptness of the narrative left him with an unsettling sense of incompleteness.
"What the heck.."
Ray’s cold eyes followed Jay as he slammed the file down, his voice icy. "Jay, how many times have I told you to behave like an adult? Why do you always act like a child, huh?" The reprimand was sharp, the words slicing through the tension already thick in the air.
Jay could barely stand it. His elder brother. Of all people. Telling him off like that.
His irritation grew, boiling under the surface until it overflowed. Without another word, he shot up from his chair, storming out of the room. He couldn’t believe it. First, they were thrust into a marriage with a woman they barely knew—treating her as if she were some stranger or, worse, an opponent at times. And now, to make matters even more unbearable, they found out their wife had someone else in mind. That laugh in the photo... that genuine smile that she never spared for them, but so easily showed to someone else. It was like a knife to the chest.
And Ray—his dear brother—wanted to lecture him? As if Jay was supposed to stay calm in the face of all this? The rage simmered, but beneath it, there was a deeper hurt that he couldn’t shake off.
...
Jay stepped out of the car, his frustration barely contained as he made his way toward the towering Aron building. The moment he walked inside, he could feel the tension shift around him. Employees glanced his way, their jaws clenched, eyes darting nervously.
They knew who he was—the young master with the fiery temper. If things didn’t go his way, there was always a risk he might lash out, maybe even worse. So, they all kept their heads down, staying silent as he passed.
