The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 276: [ Volume 1] Chaper - stop playing.

As the elders finally began to leave, their voices faded, but the heavy air of judgment lingered. Their footsteps echoed through the grand hall, each step a reminder of their disdain. Kai stood motionless, gripping the file so tightly that the edges of the velvet cover crumpled under his fingers. Beside him, Jay mirrored his silence, though his clenched jaw betrayed the storm brewing inside. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The elders threw fleeting glances their way, a mix of pity, disappointment, and thinly veiled disgust in their eyes. No words were spoken aloud, but Kai didn’t need to hear them to know what they were thinking. To them, he and Jay were no longer heirs—they were fools who had thrown everything away. Fools who had handed Esme the keys to their empire without a fight.

One of the older women, lingering near the door, adjusted her cane with a sharp click against the marble. She turned her head slightly, muttering to herself just loud enough to be heard, "They’ve ruined it all... handed over the empire like fools. If they had any sense, they’d disappear." Her voice was low, but the disdain in her tone cut deep.

No one dared confront the brothers openly. Beneath their thin veil of pity lay a cruel truth—Kai and Jay were still their only hope. If the company and its riches were to be reclaimed, it would have to be through these two. And so, the elders played their roles, muttering insincere condolences and offering pats on the back that felt more like dismissive slaps.

Kai stood firm, his gaze fixed on the file in his hands. His thoughts churned, rage and regret battling inside him. He didn’t flinch at their whispers; he didn’t need to. He could feel the weight of their judgment in every fake smile and hollow word. He hated them.

This wasn’t family. This was a group of parasites who had latched on to whoever held the power. When their mother controlled the empire, these same people had showered the brothers with praises, calling them brilliant, well-behaved, destined for greatness. But now that the tide had turned, their true colors shone through—smirks, condescension, and pointed fingers.

Kai’s fingers tightened around the file, his knuckles white. These people had no loyalty, no honor. They weren’t family—they were scavengers. Unlike a family that stood together through every storm, these people only knew how to pick at the ruins and feast on the scraps.

Upstairs, behind the railing, Ray and Ryan watched in silence, hidden from view. Their young faces were pale, their eyes filled with pain as they looked at their elder brothers standing alone. Ray’s chest ached as he took in the sight of Kai, his shoulders stiff, his head bowed slightly under the invisible weight of blame.

Memories flooded Ray’s mind—Kai, who had always been the one to protect them, who had fixed their broken toys with patient hands and made sure everything was right. Kai, who had carried the family’s burdens even when no one noticed. And now, those same people dared to insult him, to look at him like he was the problem.

Ray bit his lip, the sharp taste of blood grounding him. He wanted so badly to run down, to grab Kai’s hand and tell him, It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault. Stop looking like that. But he couldn’t. Not now.

If he acted on impulse, if he exposed his emotions, the plan they’d carefully crafted would unravel. The elders would pounce on any sign of weakness, and they couldn’t afford that.

Beside him, Ryan placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him further. "Not yet," Ryan whispered, his voice steady but soft.

Ray nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. They had to wait. They had to trust that Kai and Jay could endure this on their own, even if it hurt to watch.

....

That night, Kai went back to his room, his head pounding from the weight of the day. He headed straight for the bathroom, hoping a shower might rinse away the tension clinging to him. The water was warm, but his thoughts ran cold and chaotic.

When he stepped out, drying his hair with a towel, his eyes instinctively darted to the table where he’d left the file. It wasn’t there.

His chest tightened. He scanned the room, his gaze jumping to his desk, the floor, even the bed. No file. "Where did I put it?" he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.

He began tearing through the room, yanking open drawers, tossing papers off the desk. Panic clawed at him. This wasn’t just any file—it was the file. The one that could make or break everything.

"Finally looking for this?"

The voice was calm, almost playful, but it cut through his panic like a blade. Kai froze, his head snapping up, searching for the source. His eyes darted to the corners of the room, but it was empty. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement.

He turned toward the balcony, and his heart nearly stopped.

There she was—Esme. Sitting on the railing as casually as if it were a park bench, one leg crossed over the other, the file dangling loosely from her hand. She looked at him with a teasing smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Kai’s chest tightened, a mix of anger and fear swirling inside him. He stormed to the balcony door, flinging it open. "What the hell are you doing out there?"

Esme tilted her head, clearly unfazed. She raised the file slightly, as if to taunt him. "What? Afraid I’ll drop it?"

Kai’s eyes narrowed. "Esme, stop playing around. This isn’t funny."

She laughed softly, the sound grating against his nerves. "Okay, okay," she said, her tone still light. "Then I guess I’ll just let it go." She loosened her grip on the file, letting it dangle precariously by her fingertips.

His heart jumped into his throat. "Are you crazy? Don’t you dare!" He took a step closer, his voice rising.