The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 137: [Volume 1] - - Stop making excuses.

Jay stepped closer, his eyes blazing with frustration. "Important? Isn’t it just because he’s your ex-fiancé that you went through so much to make this deal happen?"

Esme’s expression hardened, her irritation rising as she squared her shoulders. "What are you getting at, Jay?"

"You know what I’m saying," he shot back, his voice thick with accusation. "You’ve gone above and beyond for this deal, and it makes me wonder—are you really doing this for the company, or is it because of him?"

Her jaw clenched as she glared at him, anger flashing in her eyes. "This isn’t about him! This is about business, and you know it. I don’t care about my past with him."

"Really?" Jay retorted, taking another step closer, his intensity palpable. "Because it sure looks like you’re putting him ahead of us. I’m your husband, Esme! I have a right to know what’s going on, especially when it concerns our company."

Esme’s patience wore thin. "I didn’t consult you because you’ve been MIA! You’ve been wrapped up in your own issues. I had to make a decision, and I did."

"So, you chose to cut me out completely?" he pressed, his tone hardening. "You think you can just make these decisions without even considering how it affects me?"

"I did what I thought was best for the company," she insisted, her voice unwavering. "And you need to understand that this is my job. Not everything is personal, Jay."

"But it feels personal," he countered, frustration spilling over. "You’re acting like this is just another business deal, when it’s clear there’s more to it. Don’t pretend it’s not about him. You were engaged to him!"

Esme’s eyes narrowed, anger flashing in her expression. "You think I’m doing this for him?" she exclaimed, her voice rising, echoing off the glass walls of the office. "Jay Aron! If I want something, I don’t need you or your brothers’ help, okay? I’m working for this company because I want to!"

"Then why don’t I or my brothers know about it?" Jay shot back, his voice sharp and rising like the tension in the air. He stepped closer, invading her space with a fierce intensity. "I’m not just some bystander in your life; I’m your husband. I deserve to be in the loop!"

"Deserve?" Esme scoffed, crossing her arms defensively. Her stance was firm, but the tremor in her voice betrayed a deeper emotion. "You’ve been too wrapped up in your own problems to care about what happens here! And I had already told my decisions to Ray and he agreed, so I won’t apologize for that."

Jay’s frustration boiled over. "So you just decide to exclude me? Do you even realize how that makes me feel? It’s like you’ve shut me out completely!" His voice cracked with a mix of anger and hurt, each word punctuated by the weight of unspoken expectations and disappointments.

Jay’s frustration boiled over as he paced the room, his hands clenching into fists. "You told my brother about it—everyone—but you don’t want to tell me. Why? What the hell do you think you are doing?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. He couldn’t comprehend how she could share something so significant with others but leave him in the dark.

Esme’s brow furrowed, the agitation clear on her face. "Listen," she snapped, her voice steady but laced with irritation. "If you want to fight, then just say it directly. Stop making excuses! We are not—"

Jay interrupted her, incredulous. "Do you think I’m doing this to fight?" He stepped closer, the tension palpable between them. "That’s what you think? That I’m just looking for a reason to argue?"

Esme crossed her arms, holding her ground. "Then what is it, Jay? You’re throwing accusations around like it’s nothing. Are you not fighting with me at this moment?" Her tone shifted, frustration mingling with a sense of hurt as she stared him down, refusing to back down.

Jay’s eyes widened, the realization of their spiraling argument sinking in. "This isn’t about fighting," he said, his voice dropping an octave, losing some of its edge. "It’s about trust. It’s about you keeping me out of the loop while sharing everything with everyone else."

"Trust?" she echoed, incredulous. "You talk about trust, yet you barged into my meeting without even asking! What does that say about your trust in me?"

Jay’s frustration surged, boiling over like a pot left unattended on the stove. "Then what? You think I’m the only one at fault here? You don’t tell me anything, Esme! It’s your fault too, not just mine!" His voice rose, the tension palpable in the air.

"If I can’t even reach you, if I can’t meet you, then what am I supposed to do?" He stepped closer, desperation creeping into his tone as he searched her face for any hint of understanding.

Esme crossed her arms, her posture rigid and defensive. "You really think you can just fight with me without any reason, huh? What’s your reason?" Her eyes narrowed, frustration evident in every line of her face.

"Have you ever asked me about the company? Have you ever listened to what I’ve been doing? You’ve never shown interest before, so why now? Why is it suddenly so important to you?"

Jay felt the heat rise in his chest, her words striking a nerve deep within him.

"Because it matters now, Esme! You’re making decisions that affect all of us! You’re running this company without me and my brothers, and I’m left in the dark! You don’t get to act like this is just business when it’s our lives at stake!" He gestured wildly, his frustration spilling over as he felt the weight of their strained relationship hanging heavily in the air.

"Business?!" she shot back, her voice sharp and unwavering.

"This is my job, Jay! I’ve worked hard to get where I am. Yes, I want to be successful without relying on you or your brothers. I didn’t ask for help, but now you want to barge in and dictate how I should handle things?"