The Heiress's Comeback

Ray scoffed. "No way. I was just... startled. Not scared."

Esme rolled her eyes, her smile widening. "Sure. Because startled people scream and grip onto the nearest person for dear life." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Jay interjected, trying to change the subject. "Look, it wasn’t that bad. The special effects were kind of lame, really."

Kai nodded quickly in agreement. "Yeah, they went overboard with the makeup. I mean, come on, that ghost looked like something out of a Halloween store."

Esme couldn’t help but laugh. "I don’t know... The five-year-olds coming out of the theater seemed to think it was a comedy. And here you four are, acting like you watched a boring documentary."

Ray’s ears reddened slightly, but he stood firm. "We’re not kids, Esme. We just have higher standards for horror."

Esme shook her head, biting back more laughter. "Right. Higher standards. Got it." She raised her hands in surrender, deciding to let them have their pride—for now. But the smirk on her face told them she wasn’t buying their act for a second.

As they continued walking toward the exit, Esme couldn’t resist one last jab. "Next time, maybe I’ll book a real horror movie. You know, just to meet your ’higher standards’."

Ray straightened his jacket once more, his face determined. "Fine. Bring it on. We’ll be ready."

Esme simply grinned, knowing full well they’d react the same way again. But for now, she’d let them pretend they were unshakeable.

After coming out of the cinema hall, Esme and the Aron brothers made their way to the amusement park. The moment they stepped through the entrance, it was as though the entire place paused. Eyes turned toward them, conversations faltered, and heads turned in their direction, as if they had just stepped out of a movie themselves.

Esme walked ahead, her face calm but aware of the attention. The brothers followed closely behind her, tall and striking, with an air that made them stand out in any crowd. It wasn’t just their looks—though they were undeniably handsome—but the way they carried themselves, with a confidence and presence that drew people in.

As they moved further into the park, Esme couldn’t help but notice the subtle reactions around them. Some people stared openly, others whispered to their friends. A few young women blushed furiously when their eyes met any of the brothers’, quickly looking away with shy giggles. Even the men passing by gave them second glances, as though trying to figure out if they were celebrities.

Esme glanced over her shoulder at the brothers. Jay was grinning, clearly enjoying the attention, while Ray kept a straight face, though the slight raise of his chin gave away his pride. Ryan, ever the calm one, seemed oblivious to it all, his focus on Esme, making sure she led the way comfortably. Kai, on the other hand, was looking around with curiosity, seemingly amused by the reactions they were getting.

"Feels like we’re in a parade," Jay joked, his tone light but full of mischief.

Esme rolled her eyes with a smile. "Maybe they think we’re shooting a film. You guys do look like you’ve just stepped off a set."

"Well, can you blame them?" Ray smirked, adjusting his jacket. "We do look good."

Ryan sighed, shaking his head. "Can we focus on why we’re here? I thought we came to have fun, not draw a crowd."

Kai chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling as he nudged Ray. "Yeah, Ray. Save the posing for later."

Esme laughed softly at their banter, but even she couldn’t deny the attention was flattering. Yet, she also knew it made them stand out more than she liked. Everywhere they went, people’s eyes followed.

They passed by a group of teenagers who gawked openly, one of the girls whispering to her friend. "Oh my god, are they models?"

Esme bit her lip, trying to suppress a laugh. "Let’s just get on some rides before someone asks for an autograph."

Jay clapped his hands together, eyes lighting up. "I’m all for that! Let’s hit the roller coaster first!"

Ray made a face. "Roller coasters? Really? Aren’t those a bit... overhyped?"

Esme turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Overhyped? This coming from the guy who spent half the horror movie clinging to me?"

Ray opened his mouth to argue but quickly closed it, muttering something under his breath. Jay burst out laughing, clearly entertained by the exchange.

"Come on, Ray," Esme teased, "let’s see if you can handle this better than the movie."

With that, she led the way, the brothers following closely, their pride intact—if only for now. The park might have been filled with laughter, screams, and joy, but for Esme and the Aron brothers, the real fun was just beginning.

As they approached the towering roller coaster, the sheer height of it became more intimidating with every step. Esme glanced up at the tracks twisting and turning in a series of steep drops and loops, hearing the distant screams of thrill-seekers. The Aron brothers exchanged glances, their earlier bravado suddenly faltering.

Jay, always the enthusiastic one, tried to keep up his excitement, but the slight tremor in his voice gave him away. "This looks... fun! Right? It’s just a roller coaster, after all."

Esme smirked, noticing how he gripped the back of his neck nervously. "You sure you’re ready for this? You don’t have to prove anything, you know."

Ray, who had been skeptical from the start, folded his arms across his chest, trying to look unbothered. "I’ve been on bigger rides. This is nothing." But his eyes betrayed him as they darted up to the highest peak of the coaster, following the rapid descent that awaited.

Kai, usually the quiet one, stepped up next to Esme. "I’m more curious to see how they handle it," he said with a soft chuckle, motioning to his brothers, whose bravado was quickly unraveling.

Ryan, ever the calm and composed one, looked at Esme, his voice steady. "Let’s just get this over with. It’s better than standing here making excuses."