Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 1457

Chapter 1457: A kind soul
Meanwhile…

A tear rolled down Cassandra’s face as she stood on the balcony, wiping it away with the back of her hand. She tried to stifle her sniffles, putting on a strong front as she reached for her wine and downed it in one gulp. But no matter how much she drank, the wine wasn’t enough to drown the sorrow in her heart.

“This…” she hiccupped, clutching the wine glass tightly.

Her chest burned with anger, prompting her to hurl the glass against the wall. The sharp crash rang out, but it did nothing to ease the ache inside her. She hissed, balling her hands into tight fists until her nails dug into her palms. Yet, as she stared at the shattered glass on the floor, she only felt more hopeless.

“Why…” Cassandra buried her face in her hands, her knees buckling until she sank to the floor. Her restrained cries turned into muffled sobs, her tears dripping down her arms.

She tried to hold back, tried not to break down. But she failed. The tears betrayed her, welling up before spilling over uncontrollably.

Why did everything have to be like this?

Months ago, her life was nothing like this. She was happy, carefree, living her best life. She had dated men, but it never went beyond the getting-to-know stage. And even when those flings ended, she never cried over them. Why would she? She had endless options.

Even when she started seeing Jonathan, things had been good. They had been happy.

But ever since coming back to Anteca, everything had fallen apart. She had fought to hold things together, to protect what was hers—only to be slapped by reality.

Nothing was hers.

Jonathan? The man she once imagined a future with had already begun revealing his ulterior motives.

Dean? The man she had adored in her youth had finally given her attention, but only when it served his own benefit.

Finn? Their relationship had crumbled.

And Penny? Penny had humiliated her in front of everyone.

As if that wasn’t enough, Zoren had exercised his power, getting her kicked out of the hospital. Worse, her medical license had been suspended.

Cassandra wept quietly, oblivious to the meteor shower streaking across the sky behind her.

Then, a quiet voice broke through the night.

“Cassy.”

Standing at the entrance of the balcony was Kiara. Her eyes softened with concern as she stepped forward—only to pause, wincing as she glanced down. A thin trickle of blood stained her foot.

Kiara didn’t make a fuss. She simply kicked off whatever had cut her and continued toward Cassandra. Without a word, she sat down in front of her friend and pulled her into a tight embrace.

The moment Cassandra felt her warmth, her tears flowed like a river.

Kiara said nothing. She didn’t ask questions. She didn’t offer empty reassurances. She just held her, rubbing slow, soothing circles on Cassandra’s back.

“Nothing ever goes my way.”

After what felt like minutes, Cassandra finally broke the silence. She looked up, her body trembling with sobs, her vision blurred. Clutching Kiara’s arm, she hiccupped.

“What am I going to do?”

Kiara offered a weary smile and wiped Cassandra’s tears with the back of her hand.

“I don’t know,” she admitted softly, shrugging. “But… I’m sure you’ll figure it out. You always do.”

She cupped Cassandra’s face, tilting her chin up slightly. “Like always.”

Now that Cassandra could see Kiara clearly, her face crumpled. She buried herself in Kiara’s shoulder, her cries turning into loud, unrestrained sobs.

“Oh, Cassy,” Kiara sighed, stroking her back gently. “I’m so glad I came tonight.”

The last time Cassandra had visited, she had said something that had lingered in Kiara’s mind. Something strange. Enough that it had made Kiara come by to check on her. But when she came days earlier, Cassandra hadn’t been home.

It was lucky she had tried again. Otherwise, Cassandra would have been crying alone.

“It’s okay,” Kiara whispered, glancing up at the sky. “It’s… going to be okay. Eventually.”

She didn’t know what was going on in Cassandra’s life. But she did know that, somehow, things would work out.

“Look, Cassy.” She gently nudged Cassandra, tilting her chin toward the sky. “Look. It’s so pretty.”

Cassandra hesitated, then slowly turned.

A meteor shower streaked across the heavens—something she hadn’t even noticed until now. She only caught the last few seconds, but it was enough to make her breath hitch.

“You didn’t notice,” Kiara murmured, looking at her again. “That’s what happens when we cry. We miss something incredibly beautiful.The same thing happens when we focus on others instead of ourselves. Wasn’t that what you used to tell me?”

Cassandra’s lips quivered, fresh tears threatening to spill over. Kiara wiped them away with her thumb, nodding with a small smile.

“If nothing is going your way…” Kiara hummed thoughtfully. “Maybe it just means this isn’t your path.”

She tilted her head. “If one road doesn’t work, why not try another? Maybe that’s the way forward. I don’t know.” Kiara exhaled, shaking her head. “But I do know that my friend is smart, pretty, and kind. And people with pure intentions always get their break—eventually.”

Her words hit Cassandra harder than Penny’s slap. But unlike Penny’s humiliation, this was something else.

This was a slap of reality.

“You’re not like this, Cassy,” Kiara said softly. “It’s okay to cry, but…”

Her gaze flickered to the broken glass before meeting Cassandra’s eyes again. “…not like this.”

“I feel lost, Ki,” Cassandra whispered hoarsely. “I know I’m not like this. But I… I don’t know who I am anymore.”

“It’s alright.” Kiara squeezed her hand reassuringly. “I’ll help you remember.”

Cassandra sniffled as another tear rolled down her cheek. “How?”

Kiara smiled. “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “But like I said—we’ll figure it out. Eventually. Don’t you believe me?”

Cassandra hesitated.

Of course, she believed Kiara. After all, Kiara had once walked away from everything—her family, her wealth, her security. She had left with nothing but the clothes on her back. And yet, she had made it on her own.

She figured it out.

And now, she was here, offering Cassandra that same unwavering belief.

Cassandra’s lips parted—but before she could respond, her eyes caught something.

Blood.

“Your foot,” she gasped.

“It’s fine.” Kiara chuckled. “I’m fine.”

Cassandra glanced at the shards of glass on the floor. If she hadn’t thrown that glass… Kiara wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

Yet despite that, Kiara had still walked toward her. Had still embraced her.

The realization hit her like a fresh wave of grief.

“Sorry,” Cassandra choked out. “I’m… really sorry, Ki. I’m so sorry.”

Kiara let out a helpless chuckle as Cassandra clung to her, crying.

“It’s fine,” Kiara murmured. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine!” Cassandra sobbed. “Because of me… you got hurt.”

She had thought she was the only one suffering. That her actions hurt no one but herself.

But she was wrong.

She still had someone who cared. Someone good. Someone who had always believed in her.

And if Kiara ever found out the kind of path Cassandra had been walking…

It would devastate her.

For the first time since returning to Anteca, Cassandra’s apology was sincere. Raw. And painfully real.