The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 340: [ Volume 1] Chaper - Thinking ahead

"When Aaron came to this house... at that time, he had just finished his post-partum recovery. He had given birth only a month before, yet he rushed here to be with me. He came despite the pain, despite everything... just to make sure I was okay."

Esme paused, a bittersweet smile flickering on her lips, but her eyes were filled with a deep, aching regret. "And you know, Ray, I can never give them the stability they deserve. I can never offer them a home, a place where they can live freely, without fear of hiding or being exposed... because of my business. Even though they own many properties, they refuse to stay in one place without me. They always follow me, knowing full well how dangerous it is. They’ve sacrificed everything just to be by my side."

Ray was speechless, his heart heavy with the weight of Esme’s words. He now saw Aaron and Helga through a different lens—people who had given so much of themselves, not just for Esme, but for each other and the small circle of people they held dear. They were bound not by blood, but by a deep and unwavering loyalty, forged from the pain of loss and the desperate desire for something, anything, that felt stable.

Esme sighed, her head resting gently on Ray’s, a silent acknowledgment of the pain she carried. "So, when Aaron comes to me, no matter how hurt or broken he is, I can never turn my back on him. I owe him too much."

Ray didn’t know what to say. He had always known Esme as a powerful, commanding figure, but this side of her—the one that carried such a burden of care for the people closest to her—was something entirely new. His heart softened, and without thinking, he pulled her into a tighter embrace, understanding the weight she had been carrying all this time.

Esme, in return, rested her head against his shoulder, grateful for the quiet support. In that moment, the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the quiet understanding between them.

Ray held Esme tightly, his hands pressing against her back, his voice warm with an affectionate teasing. "You fool," he said, his tone both light and reassuring. "I get it, I really do. Doesn’t matter. We’ve accepted you—your past, your relationships, your quirks. And Aaron? He’s like my brother. He always has been, and always will be."

Esme gave him an amused but questioning look. Ray noticed the shift in her expression, her brow lifting, as if silently asking him to elaborate. He leaned back slightly, raising his hands in a playful gesture of innocence. "I mean, if I can take care of three brothers, what’s one more? It doesn’t make a difference. Why would it matter?" he continued, smirking like a man who’d just won a small victory.

She stared at him, waiting for him to say something more, her arms crossed, a small but knowing smile tugging at her lips. But Ray, ever the charismatic fool, pressed on, oblivious to the teasing tension that had started to form. "And honestly," he added, "Aaron’s way cuter than my brothers. At least he’s got personality. My brothers? They’re like—well, statues, really. Never angry, never excited, just... there. But Aaron? He’s like a walking, talking energy drink. Full of life!"

His eyes sparkled mischievously as he watched Esme’s expression. She rolled her eyes, a silent laugh escaping her lips, but Ray didn’t stop there. His grin widened. "See, you don’t need to worry. Aaron, Kai, Jay, Ryan, they’re all the same to me. From the day I held Aaron as a baby, I became his godfather. And even if we broke up tomorrow"—he held up a hand dramatically, like it was a joke in and of itself—"I wouldn’t leave Aaron. He’s my guy."

Esme smiled, but it was soft and distant, as though something had shifted in her. Ray’s grin faltered as he caught the change in her mood. She wasn’t angry, but there was a trace of something deeper—something unspoken—that caused him to stop mid-sentence.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, furrowing his brow, his playful tone now laced with concern. Esme didn’t immediately answer. Instead, she just stared at him, her eyes growing darker, more serious, like she was calculating her next words carefully.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked again, his voice quieter now, unsure of what had caused this unexpected turn.

Esme’s gaze softened but then flickered with something else—a subtle hint of mockery—as she stared at him, her lips curling into a slight, teasing frown. She exhaled a dramatic sigh, her voice taking on a slightly aggrieved tone. "So, what you’re saying is that you would leave me... for Aaron?"

Ray blinked, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Wait, what?!" His hands shot up in defense as he took a step back, momentarily lost for words. "How did we even get here? One minute, I’m talking about how cute Aaron is and now—divorce? What?!" His head was spinning, his hand instinctively rubbing his forehead as he tried to make sense of the conversation that had suddenly veered off course.

Esme was staring at him now, the edges of her mouth twitching with something between sarcasm and amusement, but her eyes were full of sincerity. "Oh? So now you’re saying you wouldn’t leave me for him? Interesting. What happened to that ’godfather’ line, huh? That was pretty convincing."

Ray stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded, his mind racing as he tried to untangle his thoughts. He ran a hand through his hair, rubbing his temple in an attempt to stay calm. "I... I didn’t say I was leaving you for Aaron! That’s not what I meant. You know I’m not—god, how did this even happen?" He stared at her, wide-eyed, as if waiting for her to reveal that she was just messing with him, but there was no such revelation.

A slight, dramatic sigh escaped Esme’s lips. She tilted her head to the side and stared at him, her expression softening in the same way it always did when she was trying to rein in her playful teasing.