The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 233: [ Volume 1] Chaper - Tea or Poison

Esme’s eyes snapped wide, unable to hide her shock. "Chili powder?!" Her voice wavered as she tried to keep calm. Her gaze practically screamed Are you serious? Her mind raced with sarcastic thoughts: What’s next? A dinosaur bone? Anything else you want to add to this abomination?

Ray, completely oblivious, nodded enthusiastically. "Yep, chili powder! It’s my signature touch, gives it that extra spice and kick."

Esme’s mind went blank. She could feel her life flashing before her eyes. This is it. Goodbye, world. Goodbye, Helga, Aron... it’s been real. But she kept smiling, nodding slowly. "Uh... very good... that’s... creative."

As she lifted the cup to her lips in what she was sure would be her final act of bravery, she heard a voice from the doorway. "Esme! You’re actually drinking Ray’s tea?"

She glanced up and saw Aron standing there, wide-eyed. Relief washed over her face, a gleam of hope lighting up her eyes as she silently pleaded for rescue.

Esme’s face was a picture of mischief as she held the steaming cup out to Aron, her voice so sweet and cheerful it was almost unsettling. "Here, have a sip! It’s like drinking pure heaven," she said, eyes gleaming with a barely concealed grin.

Aron studied her, brow furrowing with suspicion. Esme was hardly ever this cheerful in the morning, especially while handing him tea. "Did you... get this tea from the cafe down by the company?" he asked, his voice low and probing. It was his favorite spot for tea—he was a loyal customer, and the thought of a cup from there softened his suspicions just a little.

Esme’s head bobbed enthusiastically, her smile growing wider, almost too innocent. "Yes, yes! Straight from there—your favorite!" Her voice was as sunny as her grin, and Aron felt a flicker of doubt, noticing the sly glint in her eyes.

But the tea looked like his usual order, and, craving that familiar taste, he decided to trust her just this once. He leaned forward, inhaling the warm, fragrant steam rising from the cup, feeling comforted by the familiar aroma. With one final glance at Esme’s suspiciously angelic smile, he took a cautious sip.

The taste that hit him was beyond anything he’d ever experienced—and not in a good way. It was a violent assault of conflicting flavors, both bitter and oddly spicy, with an acidic aftertaste that seemed to linger unpleasantly at the back of his throat. His eyes bulged as his face contorted, unable to mask the shock.

"Blegh!" He spat the tea out, coughing and spluttering as if he’d swallowed a mouthful of poison. "What... what is this?!" he shouted, his voice strained and hoarse. His hand flew to his throat, his face turning a shade of red that rivaled a ripe tomato. "What kind of poison did you just make me drink?!"

Esme doubled over in silent laughter, her shoulders shaking as she tried to keep her composure. She had known it would taste horrible, but watching his face twist in horror, hearing his outrage—it was better than she’d imagined. Revenge for every time he’d laughed at her cooking was sweet indeed. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Aron was still gasping, his eyes wide with panic as he turned towards the kitchen. "Water!" he rasped desperately, still clutching his throat. "I need water—now!"

His cries were loud enough to echo through the house, alerting Helga, who had been in the next room tending to the baby. She rushed into the kitchen, her face filled with alarm, worry evident in her voice. "What happened?!" She glanced between Aron, who was practically writhing in distress, and Esme, who was failing miserably at hiding her amusement.

Aron reached for Helga, his dramatic distress palpable. "Water... please..." he gasped, his eyes shining with both irritation and betrayal. "I’m dying over here..."

Helga shot Esme a look that asked a thousand silent questions, her brow furrowing. Esme shrugged with feigned innocence, though the glint of mischief in her eyes betrayed her. With a resigned sigh, Helga handed Aron a glass of water, and he snatched it up, chugging it down as if it was a life-saving elixir.

Esme turned to Helga, her expression unexpectedly tender, almost vulnerable. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she murmured, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "I told you, I don’t have any poison."

Helga’s eyes narrowed, her tone insistent. "I don’t believe you, Esme. Just tell me the truth."

With a sigh and a small, almost resigned smile, Esme repeated, "I really don’t have any poison, Helga. It’s... just tea."

Helga tilted her head, still suspicious. "Tea?" she asked, her disbelief still obvious.

Esme nodded earnestly, "Yes, tea. See?" She lifted her cup to prove her innocence.

Across the table, Aron looked up, having been nursing his own drink. He grimaced dramatically, muttering under his breath, "If that’s tea, then I’d rather be served acid. At least it’d be kinder on my taste buds."

Helga’s skepticism only deepened as she turned back to Esme. "What did you put in this tea?"

Esme and Aron shared a glance, a spark of amusement dancing between them, each silently daring the other not to laugh. Finally, Aron extended his cup towards Helga with a feigned smile, saying, "Go on, Helga. Try it. You’ll see why I’m enjoying it so much."

Rolling her eyes, Helga scoffed, knowing Aron’s tendency to exaggerate. "Fine, but if you’re both being dramatic, I’m never trusting you with tea again."

The moment Helga took a sip, her face shifted instantly from casual defiance to shock, and before she knew it, she was swaying. Her legs gave out as she fell to the ground, dazed and wide-eyed.

Aron burst out laughing, clapping his hands in delight. "And she calls me the drama maker!" he crowed, nudging Esme. "Look at her, passing out over a sip of tea."

Esme held back her laughter, bending down to check on Helga, her voice soft but brimming with humor. "Guess our tea really does pack a punch."