Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 1312

Chapter 1312: It was just a dream
“Help…”

Pain crawled through Nina’s body, every breath stabbing her lungs. Blood painted her skin as her head throbbed violently.

“Help…” Another weak plea escaped her bleeding lips as she struggled to stay conscious.

She looked around. The car was upside down. Shards of shattered glass lay scattered around her—some embedded in her skin.

It hurt.

Pain unlike anything she had ever known.

“Help…” she whispered, her gaze shifting to the car window. But no one came.

Summoning every ounce of strength, she began to crawl.

She was weak, in agony. But she had to get out. The sharp scent of leaking gas filled the air, mingling with blood and smoke. As she dragged herself forward, shards of glass bit into her flesh—but she barely felt it.

Every movement was excruciating.

“Help.” Another plea left her lips as she reached the broken window, pulling herself toward it. Yet, even as she escaped the wreckage, relief never came.

Her strength bled from her body like water through a broken bucket.

By the time she had managed to crawl halfway out, her body was growing numb. Her fingertips felt cold. The metallic taste of blood coated her tongue—whether from blood loss or the cuts in her mouth, she wasn’t sure.

Then, she saw them.

A pair of shoes in front of her.

But instead of feeling saved, a strange dread settled in her chest.

With what little energy she had left, she reached for the person’s ankle. Her grip was weak, but she clung with all the strength she had left. Slowly, she lifted her gaze.

Her heart stopped.

The person staring down at her with cold, emotionless eyes was someone she knew well.

Finn.

She tried to say his name, but no sound came out.

She could only stare, seeing her own reflection in his eyes. Those eyes—once filled with warmth and affection—were now devoid of feeling. There was no urgency, no concern. Just… indifference.

“Help,” she whispered again.

Finn crouched in front of her. His expression remained the same. The air around him carried nothing but icy detachment.

His lips moved. He said something—words she never thought she’d hear from him.

Then, he rose to his feet.

And walked away.

‘No, Finn…’ she begged in her mind. ‘Please… don’t leave me—Finn!’

—

“Finn!”

Nina bolted upright, gasping for air. Her wide, panicked eyes darted around the room as she fought to steady her breathing. Sweat drenched her body.

She gulped, taking in her surroundings.

Penny’s guest room.

She was still in Skyline Plaza.

“Hah…” A heavy breath left her lips as she wiped her damp forehead, running her shaky fingers through her hair.

Her hands continued to tremble.

“It was just a dream… A terrible one.”

Relief slowly settled in as the realization sank in.

Nina closed her eyes, willing herself to calm down. She repeated the thought in her head—it was just a dream. But the memory of it clung to her like a shadow.

It felt so real.

The crash. The pain. The way she had clawed her way out of the wreckage… only to find Finn staring at her with that unbearable coldness.

It wasn’t the accident or the pain that scared her the most.

It was Finn’s expression.

As if she were nothing to him.

As if he didn’t care whether she lived or died.

That terrified her.

Finn—her Finn—was the love of her life.

They were closer than ever now. If they broke up, it would hurt ten times more than the first time she ended their engagement.

“Hah.” She exhaled deeply, trying to shake off the lingering fear. She looked up at the ceiling, sighing.

“It’s probably because of the gift.”

That had to be it.

She wasn’t someone who dreamed often. And when she did, it was rare. It had been months since she’d had a dream at all.

She blamed the disturbing gift she had received.

After a moment, she reached for the glass of water on the bedside table. But it was empty.

She pursed her lips, swallowing dryly. Her gaze drifted to the door.

“I’m safe here,” she whispered to herself. “So… it should be fine.”

—

Meanwhile, Finn stayed at his parents’ home.

With Nina at Penny’s place, he had no choice. But sleep eluded him.

He had grown too used to having her beside him at night. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t find peace in an empty bed.

Standing on the balcony, he swirled the wine in his glass, searching for solace in solitude. The night breeze brushed against his cheek as he took a sip, his mind drifting.

He reached for his phone.

“I wonder…” he murmured. “Is she still awake?”

Had she fallen asleep without trouble?

Or was she struggling without him, too?

He hesitated, debating whether to call or message her. He didn’t want to wake her if she was resting.

But just as he decided to send a message, his screen lit up with an incoming call.

Cassandra.

Finn frowned. “Why is she calling at this hour?” He wondered, but still he answered.

“Cassy?”

A weak voice came through the line. “Finn, what am I going to do?” A breathy, bitter laugh followed. “Haha. I’m so foolish.”

Finn’s brows furrowed. “Cassy, are you drunk?”

“Mhm,” she murmured. “I was drinking. But before I realized it, I’d had too much.”

She pause. Then, her voice softened. “Can you… pick me up?”

Finn’s frown deepened. “You went out alone? Where’s your fiancé? I’ll call him.”

“Don’t,” she whispered. “I don’t want to see him right now, Finn. Don’t call him.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Finn’s face.

Then, he sighed. “Where are you? Stay where you are. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

He ended the call and turned back inside, grabbing his keys.

Cassandra was an important person in his life.

She had been family when his own couldn’t be.

So, without a second thought, he left.

—

Meanwhile…

“Stay where you are. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

Clack.

The call ended.

Cassandra lowered her phone, staring at the screen with a bitter smile.

Then, she turned it off.

She looked up at the bartender and smiled. “Another drink, please.”