Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 1534

Chapter 1534: Didn’t that count?
Thunder rumbled in the sky as the night deepened.

Droplets of water began to splatter against Kiara’s shoulders, but she didn’t move an inch. Her eyes stayed locked on the shut front door — too far, too close.

When Kiara left this place, she swore never to set foot here again.

So when she returned to Anteca, not once did she consider visiting or even driving past this area. Leaving her family and choosing independence came at a cost. It was never easy. It broke her heart more times than she could count. She had to learn how to live life outside the insulated shell her family had provided.

But ironically, it was the best decision she had ever made.

Money was still tight, even with her growing little company. But she was free. No more shackles, no more life controlled by the people who birthed her — no more being told how to smile, how to act, how to speak, how her hair should look, how to breathe. No more suffocating toxicity that made her sick to her stomach.

Yet for Cassandra, Kiara had swallowed all of that, just for the smallest chance.

The rain began to fall harder.

Heavy and big droplets of water drenched her from head to toe, but Kiara didn’t budge. She kept her eyes fixed on that same closed door, which showed no signs of opening.

“I’ll keep standing here,” she whispered. “Because no matter how much we hate each other, I’m still your daughter… and you were my parents.”

Her hands curled into fists, nails nearly digging into her palms. And just as promised, just as stubborn as always, she stood there. Ten minutes. Fifteen. Thirty. An hour. Two.

As the rain poured, workers began to appear, peeking from the side of the porch. Even the security guard from earlier stood nearby under an umbrella, his face lined with worry.

“Miss Kiara…” he whispered, voice thick with emotion.

The maids watching her grew teary-eyed as well.

“Miss Kiara, please… just leave,” one whispered. “The Madam and Master have already retired for the night.”

“It’s no use, Miss Kiara…” another added with a soft sob, wiping her eyes. “They won’t come down.”

Because at the end of the day, Kiara wasn’t the only stubborn one. Her parents were too, but colder. Harder. More unforgiving.

Standing in the pouring rain wouldn’t change anything.

And yet, Kiara had no plans to give up.

She had fought tooth and nail to escape this family once. She would fight just as hard to get through to them now.

—

The next day…

“Stay away from this case, or I swear I’ll sue your —”

A middle-aged woman froze by the entrance as she caught sight of a familiar figure still standing at the foot of the porch.

The man beside her, dressed in a sharp tuxedo, also slowed. Their brows furrowed in unison as they took in the sight of Kiara.

Her short hair was tangled and clumped, as though still damp from the night before. Her shirt was wrinkled, her cheeks pale. Though the concrete around her had dried, the spot beneath her feet still held the ghost of last night’s rain.

Their expressions darkened.

“Get off my case,” the woman snapped again, casting her husband a look before heading toward her car.

The man grunted and veered off in the opposite direction, walking toward another waiting vehicle. The helpers following behind them exchanged glances — from the cold-hearted couple to Kiara’s worn, shivering figure.

Then, as her parents passed by, Kiara finally spoke.

“You defend — and even befriend — the most brutal animals wearing human skin.”

Her voice trembled. Her lips were cracked, pale. Her breathing was shallow, feverish. Her eyes stayed downcast, staring at the concrete.

“I know you’ve heard the news,” she said, quieter now. “Can you please… take the case?”

Her parents stopped, slowly turning toward her.

Their eyes were sharp. Cold. But neither said a word.

They could speak — but they wouldn’t.

Now that she’d asked, they had even more reason to refuse.

As they began to walk away without answering, Kiara’s voice rose — loud and desperate.

“Can you please?!” She turned to them, her voice raw. “Just this once… can you please do one thing for me?”

Her mother snorted, raising a brow. “Why? Have you ever done anything for me that I owe you?”

And just like that, she turned away and stepped into the silver car.

Her father didn’t even glance back — just scoffed and walked off in silence.

“Have I ever done anything for them…?”

Kiara stared after the cars as they drove away without hesitation, her bottom lip trembling. Her hands clenched into fists that shook violently.

She was still doing therapy because of the trauma they had caused her, and she had never once bothered them about it.

Didn’t that count?

All the lies she told as a child to protect them — didn’t that count?

All the horrors she had witnessed and the silence she had kept — didn’t that count?

Of all the things she had done for them until she finally broke and left… was all of that meaningless?

She wasn’t asking them to defend a proven criminal, not a wife-beater or a greedy murderer. She was begging them to defend someone innocent.

A dry, breathless laugh escaped her cracked lips, the corners of her eyes red.

“Why did I even expect there was the tiniest chance…”

“Miss Kiara…” the head maid, who had been waiting for the couple to leave, finally mustered the courage to approach her. She scanned Kiara with worried eyes, a little teary-eyed. “Miss Kiara, how about you go in first and rest? Your mother and father will not…”

Not listening to her offer, Kiara dragged her feet away.

“Miss Kiara…” the head maid followed, holding Kiara’s arm to stop her. When Kiara lifted her eyes to meet hers, she whispered, “Please.”

Kiara pursed her lips and offered her a wry smile. “I’d rather sleep on the street than stay another second here. I’m sorry, but thank you, Auntie.”

With that, she weakly pried the woman’s hand from her arm and marched away without ever looking back. This time, for sure, was the last time she would be here.

Never again.

Even if she was going to die or if the world ended, she would never step foot in here, no matter what the reason. Because today, it was clear as day that whatever it was, they would never do anything for the daughter they almost ruined.