"Why?" Ray’s voice cracked between sobs. "Why didn’t she trust ? Why didn’t she tell what was happening? Why did she hide it from ?"
Es ran her fingers soothingly through his hair, her touch gentle but steady. "I don’t know, Ray," she whispered softly. "I don’t know why she did that. But that doesn’t an she didn’t trust you. Sotis... people hide things because they’re afraid. Maybe she was afraid of hurting you, of burdening you with her fears."
Ray clung to her even tighter, as if her words were the only thing keeping him grounded. "I just... I feel so useless, Es. I don’t know what to do anymore."
Hearing Ray’s words, Es smirked, her tone light and teasing. "Well, if you’re so useless, then I wonder how many useless people out there have the power to make Es Valhale sign a contract." The playful jab was ant to ease the tension, and it worked.
Ray managed a faint smile in response, nodding. "Yeah, after all, Es Valhale is a wall. Breaking her would be hard."
Es laughed, a bright sound that filled the room, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Damn right I am! A wall made of, you know, diamond." She winked, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth.
Ray’s brow furrowed in amusent. "Diamond?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow, intrigued by her whimsical comparison.
"Of course! I’m beautiful, shining, and rich." Es grinned as if the statent were the most obvious thing in the world, her confidence radiating like the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window.
But then, as the banter began to die down, Es noticed the smile fading from Ray’s face, replaced by the traces of tears that had dried on his cheeks. The playful atmosphere shifted, and Es’s expression softened, her teasing deanor giving way to sothing more tender and genuine. She reached out, gently touching his face, her fingers tracing the path where the tears had fallen, a silent acknowledgnt of his pain.
"You know," she whispered, her voice now warm and soothing, "crying doesn’t suit you." Leaning in closer, she pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek, wiping away the last remnants of his sorrow with the tender gesture. It was a small act, but it held the weight of her care, her affection wrapping around him like a comforting blanket.
Ray’s lips curved into a small, shy smile, his cheeks reddening at the unexpected intimacy, but he didn’t resist her touch. Instead, he leaned into her hand, grateful for the warmth of her presence.
Seeing him relax, Es’s playful tone returned, brightening the mood once again. "Hmm, well... if you keep crying, I’m worried our future kid might cry with you."
Ray blinked, staring at her in confusion, the unexpected ntion of a child making his heart race. "Wait... what? Did you just say... our kid would cry because he took after ?"
Es nodded, her expression a mix of playful seriousness and warmth. "Of course. I an, if he takes after , he’d never cry. But if he takes after you, I’m pretty sure the whole mansion would be flooded in tears."
Ray stared at her in mock horror, his expression incredulous. "You? How dare you say that?"
Es burst into laughter, a light, airy sound that made the heaviness in the room dissipate. She knew just how to push his buttons, and this was one of her favorite gas. "What? I didn’t dare say anything."
Before Ray could even react, Es playfully darted toward the kitchen, her laughter echoing off the walls as Ray chased after her, his playful growls filling the room. "I’m gonna get you!" he called out, his voice no longer filled with pain but with the warmth of shared laughter, the kind of sound that reminded them both of the joy they could find in each other’s company.
Es stopped abruptly, spinning on her heels to grab his arm before he could catch her. "Wait, wait! How about we just ask the baby about it?"
Ray paused, his expression shifting from playful excitent to utter confusion. "Ask the baby? What baby?" His mind struggled to process her words, a flurry of thoughts colliding in his head as he tried to grasp the implications of her suggestion.
But before he could say anything more, Es silenced him with another unexpected kiss, one that left his thoughts scattered and breathless. She pulled him close, deepening the kiss as her arms wrapped around him tightly, holding him as if the world outside had faded away. Ti seed to stand still in that mont, their hearts beating in sync as they lost themselves in each other.
When she finally broke the kiss, they were both left breathless, and Ray found himself stunned, his senses heightened and his heart racing. Es gently pushed him onto the kitchen counter, the cool surface grounding him as he tried to regain his composure.
"See?" Es said, a mischievous smile dancing on her lips, her eyes gleaming with delight. "You can’t win against ." She punctuated her statent with one last quick peck on the lips before stepping back, her satisfied grin illuminating the room.
Ray stared at her, a mixture of amusent and admiration washing over him. "I think I might have underestimated you," he admitted, still processing the whirlwind of emotions that had just swept through him.
Es laughed, the sound lodic and infectious, reminding him once again of why he found her so irresistible. "Don’t worry," she said playfully, leaning against the counter beside him. "We’ll just have to see who gets the last laugh in this ga."
The lightness in the air was palpable, the playful teasing weaving a new tapestry of connection between them, one that spoke of comfort, laughter, and perhaps, a shared future they could both look forward to.
....
Soon, the morning light stread through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Ray lay on the bed, his eyelids fluttering open slowly, struggling against the remnants of sleep that clung to him. As his gaze adjusted to the light, he found himself staring directly into his younger brother Ryan’s concerned eyes.
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