The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 329: [ Volume 1] Chaper - Kill someone

"Grandpa’s secret account. It’s been accessed recently, and there are three major transactions—each one around 15 million."

Esme’s smile faltered just slightly as she processed the information. The amusement still lingered in her eyes, but now there was something sharper beneath it. She unfolded her arms and took a step forward, her gaze fixed on the USB drive as she processed the weight of Kai’s words.

Esme’s movements slowed, deliberate and purposeful as she turned to face Ray. Though her expression remained calm, there was an undercurrent of tension in her eyes—a heaviness she hadn’t shown before. This was a question she already knew the answer to, but it was one that could only be validated by Ray.

She stepped closer to where he sat in the car seat, his posture unusually composed, his sharp gaze following her every move. Esme bent down gracefully, sinking to one knee before him. The act itself was almost reverent, though her face betrayed a flicker of uncertainty. Her voice came out soft, with just the slightest waver. "Honey, can you—?"

Ray tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes narrowing as he picked up on her hesitation. "Speak clearly," he said, his tone calm but firm. "What is it?"

For a moment, Esme paused, her throat constricting. Finally, she spoke, her voice carrying a weight of both curiosity and solemnity. "Okay... if I were to kill your family, would you hate me?"

The question hung heavy in the air, thick with unspoken emotions. Ray didn’t respond immediately. His gaze locked on Esme’s face, reading her like an open book, searching for something beyond her words. After a long, unbroken silence, he finally spoke. "Are you going to kill my brothers?"

Esme blinked, startled. She shook her head quickly, her expression caught between exasperation and disbelief. "What are you talking about? How could I kill them? They’re my husbands!"

Ray’s lips twitched into something resembling a smile—small, but there. "Then," he asked calmly, "would you do something illegal?"

The question was delivered without judgment, but it struck deep, forcing Esme to take a sharp breath. She considered her words carefully before nodding slowly. "Might be."

Ray didn’t flinch. His questions were deliberate, precise, each one cutting closer to the heart of what he was trying to understand. "Okay. Then would you hurt innocent people?"

Esme frowned, her brow furrowing as the weight of the question settled over her. "I..." She paused, searching for an honest answer. Her voice softened as confusion crept into her features. "I don’t know. There might be some innocent people who would suffer."

Ray watched her closely, his dark eyes unwavering. His next question came softer, but it carried more weight than all the others combined. "My last question," he said, his voice gentle. "Would you ever leave us?"

Esme didn’t hesitate. Her head shook firmly, her gaze steady as she looked straight into Ray’s eyes. "Never," she said, her voice resolute. "Without hesitation—never."

For a moment, Ray simply stared at her, the silence stretching on like an eternity. And then, a soft smile flashed across his face—brief, but full of meaning. "That’s it," he said finally. "I answered your question. We would never hate you."

Before Esme could fully process his words, the sound of approaching footsteps pulled her attention. Kai, Ryan, and Jay had all moved in closer, surrounding her in a loose circle. Their faces, usually unreadable, now held expressions of quiet determination.

Kai was the first to speak, his voice calm but filled with conviction. "We picked you up."

Jay nodded, adding, "We chose you as our wife."

Ryan’s voice joined theirs, steady and certain. "So, of course, we trust you."

Esme looked at each of them, her expression softening as their words sank in. But they weren’t finished yet. Together, in unison, they spoke as one. "What happens to other people? We don’t care. Because you are our wife. Our family."

Esme’s breath caught, her chest tightening in a way she hadn’t expected. For a long moment, she didn’t say anything. She just looked at them—these men who had somehow become her anchor, her stability. A smile crept onto her face, soft and genuine, chasing away the uncertainty that had lingered moments before.

"You guys," she murmured, shaking her head slightly, her voice tinged with both affection and amusement.

And for the first time in a long while, the heaviness that had settled around her shoulders seemed to lift, if only just a little.

Ray leaned back against the seat, his usual calm now tinged with teasing arrogance as a sly smirk curled on his lips. His voice dripped with mock haughtiness as he looked Esme straight in the eyes.

"And anyway," he began, his tone light but pointed, "if you dare to betray us, we can just kill you and let our baby take our surname."

The room froze for a brief second before Esme let out a soft, almost disbelieving laugh. Her smile, equal parts amused and exasperated, lit up her face. She shook her head, raising both hands helplessly in mock surrender.

"Yes, yes," she sighed, her voice full of feigned resignation. "I would never dare, my lord."

The Aaron brothers’ reactions were immediate—smiles tugged at their mouths, their stern exteriors softening with clear amusement. A silent understanding passed between all of them, the tension that had lingered earlier now replaced by a lighter atmosphere.

Esme’s gaze lingered on each of them briefly before a glint of resolve appeared in her eyes. Whatever playful banter had just passed, one thing was certain now: a decision was made in her mind. This "play," as she called it, had gone on long enough. It was time to put an end to it once and for all.

---

Meanwhile, in the brightly lit, sterile confines of the police station, Katrina sat at her desk, her frustration bubbling over like a boiling pot. Papers were scattered around her, half-forgotten, as she slammed her palms against the table with a thud.