The Aron brothers stood there, blinking, still trying to wrap their heads around what they had just witnessed.
Es, always serious and composed, had laughed—a real, genuine laugh they didn’t think she was even capable of. Ray’s comnt about her r companion had co at just the wrong mont, and whatever lightness Es had shown disappeared like a candle blown out too soon.
"You two seem like good friends," Ray said, misinterpreting the scene entirely, his face lighting up with innocent curiosity.
Es’s laughter died so abruptly it was almost painful to watch. She turned toward Ray, her smile still in place, though it had beco brittle and a little too tight.
"Yes," she said, her voice sugary sweet, "best friends."
Ray’s jaw twitched, his gaze flickering between Es and the r. His brothers remained equally still, their previous amusent now tinged with sothing far less friendly.
This was new—Es, so at ease with soone who wasn’t them. The r’s familiarity with her stirred sothing uncomfortable inside them, sothing possessive that they had never had to confront before.
The r beside her, lounging casually as if he owned the mont, grinned with that devil-may-care attitude that seed to radiate from him.
"Oh yes, the very best of friends," he said, letting the words roll off his tongue as if he were savoring so private joke. "We go way back, don’t we, Rose?"
Es shot him a look so sharp it could have cut glass, though the Aron brothers, still stuck in their bubble of misjudgnt, didn’t notice.
"Don’t push it," she muttered under her breath, the smile on her lips strained to the point of breaking.
Ray exchanged glances with his brothers, their amusent fading into sothing more guarded. Es wasn’t quick to laugh around them, let alone with soone else.
The brothers, who had always seen themselves as Es’s closest confidants, couldn’t help but feel the faint sting of jealousy, though none of them would dare admit it aloud. The r seed so casual beside her, and that casualness felt... wrong.
Ray, emboldened by his own misunderstanding, grinned.
"Wow, wife, we’ve never seen you this relaxed. You really are good friends."
Es’s eyes flickered toward him, and for a second, it looked like she might snap. But instead, she inhaled deeply, rolling her eyes to the sky as if asking for divine patience.
"Sure," she said, her voice taking on a flat tone. "That’s one way to describe it."
The r, clearly enjoying the fact that the Aron brothers couldn’t see the storm brewing beneath Es’s calm exterior, leaned in closer, his voice dripping with mock sincerity. "I’m the highlight of her life, aren’t I, Rose?"
Es crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her posture rigid and defensive.
"More like the headache of my life," she shot back, the sarcasm evident in her tone. Her patience was thinning, but the brothers didn’t seem to notice—or maybe they just chose not to.
Instead, Ray let out a laugh, his expression light. "You’re so funny when you’re in a good mood," he said, clearly misreading her sharp words as playful banter.
The r’s grin widened, knowing exactly what he was doing. He leaned back, completely at ease while Es looked like she might explode at any second.
Her hands were clenched, her posture tense, but Ray and his brothers still saw none of it. They were too caught up in this idea that Es was happy.
Es let out a long, exasperated sigh, her eyes narrowing at the r, who seed to delight in her irritation.
"Well, you know what they say. Keep your friends close and your annoyances closer."
Ray, still grinning, nodded in agreent. "Yeah, that’s what friends are for, right?"
Es didn’t bother correcting him. What would be the point? Instead, she shot one final icy glance at the r before turning away entirely.
"Right. Friends." The word was flat, stripped of any warmth or aning.
After finishing the al, the Aron brothers were always keen observers, especially when it ca to Es. The evening had been filled with laughter and teasing, but what caught their attention the most was the way Es and the r bantered.
The truth was, the r loved to poke fun at her, especially by offering her the foods she despised most—carrots and capsicum.
"Co on, Rose," the r teased, pushing a piece of carrot toward her with a mischievous smile. "I know you secretly love it."
Es’s jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing as she fought to keep her cool. She hated carrots and capsicum more than anything, but she couldn’t do much in front of everyone.
Internally, she was seething, ready to strangle him on the spot, but instead, she gave him a tight-lipped smile and took the plate from him.
The Aron brothers exchanged glances, a flicker of jealousy rising in them. There was sothing about the familiarity between Es and the r that didn’t sit well with them. Ray, especially, felt unsettled.
As dinner ca to an end and everyone stood up to leave, Ray decided he needed to say sothing. He stepped toward Es, his voice hesitant. "Wife, I was thinking maybe we could—"
Before he could finish, the r cut in smoothly, his voice playful yet firm. "Rose, we have sothing to discuss, right?"
Es, clearly irritated but hiding it well, nodded. "Yes, very much to discuss." Without giving the Aron brothers a second glance, she grabbed the r by the arm and all but dragged him toward the office.
Ray and the others stood in stunned silence, watching as the two disappeared down the hallway. The brothers exchanged looks of confusion and a bit of frustration. It was as if they were being left out of sothing important, and the playful dynamic between Es and the r only heightened their unease.
Inside the study, Es shoved the r away from her and slamd the door behind them. Her calm facade finally shattered as she spun around to face him, her voice sharp with anger.
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