The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 284: [ Volume 1] Chaper - New me

And why had she choked?

Esme’s lips pressed into a thin line at the memory. Because these so-called responsible adults had been huddled in the corner like cartoon villains, loudly plotting how to lace their grandfather’s tea with a laxative.

"It’s just a harmless prank," Jay had insisted with a mischievous grin.

"Yeah, he’ll never notice," Ryan had added, nodding sagely.

"It’ll be hilarious," the youngest chimed in, barely holding back his laughter.

Naturally, they’d decided she was the perfect candidate to deliver the tampered tea.

And she had done it. Oh, she’d done it, alright. With a polite smile plastered on her face and a teacup in hand, she’d carried out their ridiculous scheme. But their grandfather wasn’t a fool. One sip in, and his piercing gaze had landed squarely on her, his sharp eyes practically cutting through her soul.

Esme shivered at the memory. If looks could kill, she would’ve been six feet under. She sighed and shook her head. Wasn’t there another saying? Let your lover forget you, but never let your enemy forget you.

Well, their grandfather definitely wouldn’t forget her anytime soon.

As Ryan continued fussing over her like a helicopter parent, Jay muttering under his breath about the ruined dress, and the others bickering in the background, Esme felt a familiar tug of exhaustion. These brothers would be the death of her—if their pranks didn’t kill her first.

Next time, she thought wryly, I’m putting laxatives in their tea.

Jay looked at Esme with a pout, his lips trembling slightly. "What now? Even you’re blaming me?"

Esme couldn’t help but let out a helpless smile. This little prince of hers was both adorably innocent and mischievous. She knew the source of his anger wasn’t about the money or the dress he claimed to care about. Ever since the office incident that left her poisoned, Jay had grown increasingly haughty and defensive in public. But she understood the truth—behind his sharp words and bold demeanor, he was scared and worried for her. His eyes always betrayed what his mouth tried to conceal.

"No, no, my lord. Of course, it’s my fault," she replied in a resigned yet playful tone. Closing the gap between them, she pulled Jay into a warm hug.

Jay froze, his wide eyes staring at her in disbelief as his cheeks turned a deep shade of red. "O-okay... okay, stop acting!" he stammered, attempting to sound annoyed, but his trembling voice gave him away.

Esme felt him awkwardly pat her back, but soon his small body relaxed, and tears silently began to roll down his cheeks. He clung to her tightly, burying his face against her shoulder.

The others in the room exchanged glances, sighing softly at the scene. Jay’s vulnerability was rare, but when it surfaced, it was undeniably touching.

After a while, Esme retreated to the bathroom, leaving the brothers to themselves. She emerged moments later wrapped in a bathrobe, her damp hair cascading down her shoulders. She opened the wardrobe casually while speaking to them, her tone calm and unbothered.

"Have you all eaten yet?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.

The brothers nodded in unison.

"And what about the hologram? Have you projected it in place?" she questioned further.

Again, they nodded, their expressions serious.

Esme sighed softly. Ever since the elders had visited, she knew they wouldn’t easily accept the news that Ray had become vegetative. Suspicious as they were, she expected them to make a move, and they had. This morning, they planted cameras in Ray’s room, keeping him under constant surveillance.

But Esme couldn’t let Ray endure such torment. Staying motionless for days was excruciating and damaging, especially now that Ray was pregnant. The risk and pain were far too great. Using her team B, she’d instructed them to create a state-of-the-art hologram machine.

The result was impeccable. The hologram was so lifelike that unless someone physically touched it, they’d never suspect it wasn’t real. Even under scrutiny, it could fool the sharpest eyes. Thanks to this, whether Ray was in the room or not, anyone spying on him would only see what they were meant to—a motionless figure lying in bed, exactly as the elders expected.

Esme’s casual tone belied the immense care and precision she had put into protecting Ray. Her husbands, knowing her reasons, didn’t question her further. Instead, they silently admired the lengths she would go to ensure Ray’s safety and comfort.

Esme pulled out a crisp, pure white cotton shirt from the wardrobe, inspecting it briefly before setting it aside. She then reached for the tie of her bathrobe, unfastening it with ease as she began to slip it off.

Before she could continue, Kai’s voice rang out in a low but sharp tone, laced with disbelief. "What are you doing?"

His sudden outburst startled the room into silence. The other brothers turned toward him, their faces a mix of surprise and curiosity. Kai’s ears turned a faint shade of red as he averted his gaze, trying to look anywhere but at Esme. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Esme froze mid-motion, blinking at him with mild confusion before her lips curled into an amused smile. "What does it look like I’m doing?" she asked, her tone teasing yet calm.

Kai stammered, struggling to form a coherent response. "Y-you... at least warn us first! We’re still here!" His voice dropped lower, a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

Esme’s soft chuckle filled the room, light yet brimming with mischief. She leaned casually against the wardrobe, her bathrobe loosely tied, its fabric teasingly draped over her figure. Her playful gaze locked on Kai, who seemed to grow more flustered by the second. "Relax, Kai," she said, her tone dripping with teasing amusement. "It’s just a bathrobe. Not like I’m parading around naked or anything."

The brothers, initially stunned into silence, exchanged glances. A ripple of amusement passed between them, smirks beginning to tug at their lips as they watched the growing spectacle. Esme tilted her head, a sly grin forming as she studied Kai’s bright red face and fumbling movements.