The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 148: [Volume 1] - - Esme is in danger.

He gestured toward the now red-soaked fabric in the container. "If it hadn’t been for this test, we wouldn’t have found anything at all. The true danger of this chemical lies in its subtlety."

Ryan folded his arms, absorbing the information. "But why didn’t Aron react until he grabbed Jay? And why his hand?"

Jay sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Because it’s a highly sensitive chemical. When it makes contact with skin, especially someone like Aron, who has heightened sensitivity, it causes immediate irritation. But that’s only the beginning. If the chemical lingers on the skin long enough, it can trigger hallucinations or psychological disturbances, particularly in individuals who have a history of trauma or PTSD. In fact, this compound was rumored to have been used centuries ago as a form of psychological torture."

Kai took a step back, processing the weight of what Jay had just said. "So, you’re saying that if Aron had been exposed for any longer, it could’ve affected him mentally too?"

Jay nodded gravely. "Exactly. Thankfully, we caught it in time, but this chemical was designed to be subtle and devastating. In the wrong hands... it could be deadly."

The room fell silent again as everyone processed the gravity of the situation. Aron brother placed a hand on Aron shoulder, their earlier surprise now replaced with an unspoken worry. Aron himself looked at his reddened hand, now understanding just how close he had come to something far more dangerous than an allergic reaction.

Suddenly, Aron’s expression shifted, his brow furrowing as a memory flashed through his mind. He looked up at Jay, his voice now tinged with concern. "What did you just say? PTSD?"

Jay, still focused on his analysis, glanced up, noticing the change in Aron’s demeanor. "Generally, yes," Jay said slowly, as if piecing his thoughts together. "If someone has experienced PTSD in the past and is in a state of trauma, exposure to this chemical can bring it back... violently. The worst part is, it doesn’t just trigger old memories—it makes them more vivid, more real. It manipulates the mind into believing that everything, the pain, the guilt, the trauma... it’s all their fault."

Aron’s hands trembled slightly as he stared at the floor, memories he had long buried beginning to stir. His voice was shaky when he finally spoke, "You mean... it could bring back the trauma of someone who was treated before?"

Jay, still watching from his workstation, nodded grimly, his face lined with concern. "That’s exactly what it does," he explained, his voice low and serious. "If someone has already gone through trauma and been treated, this chemical doesn’t just bring it back—it amplifies it. It’s like being forced to relive the worst moments of your life... only now, it makes you believe you’re the one to blame for everything."

Aron’s eyes flickered with fear as he tried to process Jay’s words. His hands curled into fists on his lap as though gripping onto some kind of control. The room felt colder, the silence heavier as the realization set in.

Kai, who had been watching the scene unfold from a few feet away, stepped closer, his usual carefree expression replaced with worry. He hesitated for a moment before asking the question that was weighing on everyone’s mind. "But we stopped it in time, right? He’s not going to go through that now, is he?"

Jay nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. "Yes, Aron is fine. That’s why we don’t have to worry—he hasn’t been in contact with it for a long time."

But then Aron’s voice cut through the moment, tense and urgent. "But what about her?" he asked, his eyes wide with concern.

Jay’s expression shifted as the weight of those words sunk in. He glanced at Aron, and memories began to churn in his mind. It struck him suddenly that Aron wasn’t the first one to grab him by the collar. He recalled Esme’s unusual behavior during the meeting—how she had been composed throughout, and then, without warning, her anger had erupted like a storm, startling everyone in the room.

Jay’s heart raced as he turned back to Aron, his face paling. "Where is Esme?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with urgency.

Aron looked at him, trembling with a mix of fear and anxiety. "She’s in the hospital," he whispered, his words heavy with dread.

Jay felt a chill run down his spine.

He murmured, "Damn it!" as the beaker slipped from his trembling fingers, crashing to the ground in a cacophony of shattering glass. Panic surged through him, the sound echoing like a death knell in the tense atmosphere of the laboratory. With his heart racing, he turned on his heel and bolted for the door, urgency propelling him forward like a sprinter at the starting line.

"Which hospital?" he shouted, his voice laced with desperation as he sprinted down the sterile hallway. Arun and the others, jolted from their shock, hurriedly followed, confusion and alarm etched on their faces.

"Which city hospital?" he demanded, glancing over his shoulder, his eyes wide with fear.

"St. Claire’s!" Aron shouted back, urgency in his voice as he dashed after him, his mind racing with worry for Esme.

Kai, close behind them, was panting heavily, a sheen of sweat on his brow.

"What happened?" Ryan questioned, struggling to keep pace, concern etched across his features.

"The problem is," Jay replied, his voice strained and taut with tension, "Esme was the one who came in contact with the chemical for the longest time."

As the weight of Jay’s words sank in, Aron brothers’ faces drained of color, their expressions shifting from confusion to stark horror. They skidded to a stop, the realization hitting them like a punch to the gut.

"What do you mean?" Ryan blurted out, grabbing Jay’s arm and swinging him around, desperation flickering in his eyes. "What the hell do you mean?"

"It’s not the time to explain!" Jay insisted, shaking free of Ryan’s grip, his own panic bubbling beneath the surface. "We have to rush to help her! This chemical isn’t known by many people, and the antidote is hardly ever made without knowing what it is. Finding it could be completely impossible. Inhaling it only complicates things further."