Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress

Chapter 1302: Jessa's reminders

[MAMA]

The family had decided to have their family dinner at the restaurant instead of at the Cortez or Bennet households. One of the reasons was that Jessa and Charles couldn't agree on a location-both wanted to host it in their home, each claiming to be Nina's parents. So, with Allison's suggestion, they all agreed to meet at Mama.

After all, Mama was a restaurant owned by both the Cortez and Bennet families. With that in mind, Nina decided to help out at the restaurant the day before the family meeting. Since they would be closing tomorrow, business continued as usual today. While helping out, Nina tried not to dwell too much on what had happened earlier.

"Is everything alright, dear?"

Allison's calm voice snapped Nina out of her thoughts. Turning to Allison, who stood beside the cashier counter, Nina gave her a small smile.

"Mhm," Nina hummed. "Everything's alright, Mom."

"Are you sure?" Allison raised a brow. "You've seemed a little distracted since you got here."

"Well..." Nina pursed her lips. "I'm just a little nervous, that's all."

"Nervous about the family meeting?"

"Mhm." Nina nodded, though that wasn't the full truth. She was distracted by what had happened earlier today, but it was true that she also felt tense as the family meeting approached.

"Oh, dear." Allison's warm eyes softened as she gently held Nina's hand. "Everything's going to be fine."

"Aunt Jessa looks like she's about to burn everyone alive in

like that?"

most outspoken person Nina had ever met-blunt to a fault, yet capable of kindness toward select people. Considering that Finn, Nina's fiancé, had his shortcomings such as not having the decency to meet her

to get her attention. "Everything's going to be fine," she reassured her. "I'm sure

be fine," Nina replied, though she caught the

just as well as she knew Jessa and Charles. They might know Finn and have spent time with him on their trip, but a family dinner was a different matter. Still, with Nina here, she

them later, she thought, knowing full well she had already given

smile as she stroked her hair. "You've really grown into a fine young woman, Nina," she whispered. "Time flies so fast. I blinked, and now all of you are

might not fully understand that sentiment, but Allison was sure many parents would. The memories of her children-their habits, their little quirks were still so fresh in her mind, as if they had only happened yesterday. And yet, here they were—one of her kids had gotten married in secret, and another was

thin sheen of

course." Allison nodded, forcing her smile to brighten. "I'm just... a little emotional, thinking about my child getting

she nodded reassuringly. They didn't need to

at the restaurant, with people constantly coming and going to

of light beer after another exhausting day. Jessa glanced at her but said nothing, simply taking another

that, it's going to be bad for your health," Nina teased. "Maybe you should cut back a

know?" Jessa scoffed, setting her beer down as she studied Nina. "Are you

course, I'm okay." Nina smiled. "Nervous? A

should be nervous tomorrow, it's your

don't t Scare Nina like that," Allison interjected, arriving with small plates of dessert and a snack for both of them. As she placed the plates down, she cast Nina a knowing look. "Don't listen to her. She

why would I like that boy?" Jessa

a family meeting,

think