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

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.

Cassandra. Without a word, she sat down in front of her friend and pulled

Cassandra felt her warmth,

reassurances. She just held her, rubbing slow, soothing circles on Cassandra's back.

finally broke the silence. She looked up,

I going

smile and wiped Cassandra's tears with the back of her

I'm sure you'll figure

tilting her chin up

her face crumpled. She buried

stroking her back gently. "I'm so glad

last time Cassandra had visited, she had said something that had lingered in Kiara's mind. Something strange. Enough that it had

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

the sky. "It's... going to

life.

tilting her chin toward the sky.

then

now. She only caught the last few seconds, but it was enough

looking at her again. "That's what happens when we cry. We miss something incredibly beautiful. The same thing happens when we focus

what you used

lips quivered, fresh tears threatening to

nodding with

Kiara hummed thoughtfully.

this isn't your path."

her head. "If

forward. I don't know." Kiara exhaled, shaking her head. "But I do

Penny's slap. But unlike Penny's humiliation, this

was a

this, Cassy," Kiara said softly.

before meeting Cassandra's eyes again. "...not like

know I'm not like this. But I... I don't know

squeezed her hand

sniffled as another tear rolled down her

shrugged. "But like I said—we'll figure it out. Eventually. Don't

Cassandra hesitated.

Of course,

she

believed Kiara. After

Kiara had once walked away from

security. She

the clothes on her back. And yet, she had made