AsThanks to his pregnancy, his senses had sharpened, making him aware of the subtlest changes, details that most would overlook. In the office, Es’s presence had distracted him from noticing it fully, but now, alone and alert, his mind pieced it together.
The unsettling scent wasn’t all. A small toy sat on the seat beside him, one he knew hadn’t been there before. His eyes narrowed. The toy was no innocent trinket; it was likely a planted device, maybe a cara or a listening bug. This intrusion into his private space made his stomach twist. Whoever had done this wasn’t rely watching him from a distance—they were practically breathing down his neck.
He knew imdiately that it couldn’t be Noah alone. Sure, Noah was cunning, but breaking into Es’s office with such precision and leaving barely a trace? No. Soone else, soone with significant access and insight, was helping him. His mind drifted to his own family. The connections, the access—it all hinted at an accomplice within his circle.
Ray played the part brilliantly, letting out loud, exaggerated sobs. He knew the planted device would catch the noise, drawing the attention of whoever was listening. He wanted them to think he was emotionally overwheld, perhaps even unhinged.
But his mind was sharp, calculating. He recognized that Noah alone, even with his family’s resources, wouldn’t have the pull or the clearance to manipulate events within Aran Group so thoroughly. And for Noah to secure a project lead role and gain access to Es so frequently? No, soone in his inner circle was making this all possible, pulling strings from behind the scenes.
When Ray arrived ho, the silence was eerie. The absence of his brothers was noticeable, their usual presence deliberately absent. It was as if he was being isolated, maneuvered into a state of vulnerability. His house was empty save for the servants, reinforcing a feeling of abandonnt, a stage set to make him feel alone.
But Ray was far from alone in his mind. His resolve grew stronger, his suspicions more pointed. He would turn this staged ga on its head. If they wanted him to feel isolated and paranoid, he’d play along for now—but only until he found the cracks in their sche, and when he did, there would be no hiding for the traitor within.
.....
Back to present
With a deceptive smile, Es pulled Ray into a warm embrace, looking up at him with a glint in her eyes. She suddenly raised her voice, her tone sharp, almost mocking as she shouted, "You... Fine! If you don’t understand, then I’ll make you!" Her tone was laced with anger, yet her expression stayed soft, just enough to throw any onlookers into confusion.
Ray caught onto her ga instantly, his own smirk surfacing as he matched her energy, shouting back, "Then do it! Why are you holding back?"
Es grabbed his hand, pressing a kiss to his palm, her voice dropping to a whisper, the gentleness returning as she murmured, "So... should we stop?"
Ray’s smile widened. He leaned in, answering her in a low murmur, "Not a chance." With that, he slid his hand into his pocket, pulling out a hidden blood bag—his cue for the act they’d both rehearsed in silence.
And then—bam!
Ray let out a gut-wrenching scream, a sound so full of anguish and pain that it sliced through the entire house. "Ahhh!" The servants outside jumped, their eyes widening as the piercing cry reached them, freezing them mid-movent, unsure of what horror had just unfolded inside.
Every corner of the house seed to absorb the scream, echoing back the despair in waves, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake. The traitor, whoever and wherever they were, couldn’t have missed the chaos that Es and Ray had just unleashed, setting the perfect trap for the next step in their plan.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall, and within monts, Kai and Jay appeared, their expressions a mix of panic and determination. Without hesitation, they shoved the startled servants away from the door. Kai kicked at the door with all his strength, the heavy wood resisting for three agonizing attempts before finally cracking open on the fourth.
As the door swung open, the scene before them froze them in their tracks. Ray lay crumpled on the floor, blood pooling beneath him as he clutched his abdon, his cries of pain sharp and unrelenting. Es stood a few feet away, trembling, her eyes wide with shock, her hands shaking as if she couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
The servants who had gathered outside gasped, their hands flying to their mouths to stifle their shock. Whispers of disbelief and fear rippled through the group, but Kai wasted no ti. His fury ignited, he stord into the room, his fists clenched.
In one swift motion, he landed a brutal punch on Es’s face, the force sending her reeling backward. She hit the table with a loud thud, the impact rattling the room. Es stumbled, her hand flying to her cheek, her expression a mix of pain and disbelief.
Kai towered over her, his glare sharp enough to cut steel. His voice was low, dangerous. "Did you?" he hissed, his words like venom. "I’m warning you, Es. If anything happens to my brother or the child, you’re done for."
Es, too stunned to respond, sank to her knees, her trembling intensifying. Kai took a deep breath, his rage simring but his focus shifting. He released her with a shove, turning his back to her and walking toward Ray.
Kneeling beside his brother, Kai’s deanor softened. "Don’t worry," he said firmly, his voice steady as he placed a hand on Ray’s shoulder. "You’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of it." Turning to the lingering servants, his voice bood, "Call the doctor. Now!"
As the room plunged into chaos, the weight of what had just occurred settled heavily over everyone, leaving no doubt that this night would leave scars far deeper than the ones already visible.
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