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.

She simply kicked off whatever had cut her and continued toward Cassandra. Without a word, she sat down in front

warmth, her tears

didn't offer empty reassurances. She just held her, rubbing

minutes, Cassandra finally broke the silence. She looked up, her body trembling

I going

and wiped Cassandra's tears

softly, shrugging. "But... I'm sure

cupped Cassandra's face, tilting her chin

Kiara clearly, her face crumpled. She buried

back gently. "I'm so

in Kiara's mind. Something strange. Enough that it had made Kiara come by to check

again. Otherwise, Cassandra would have been

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

going on in Cassandra's life. But she did know that, somehow, things would

nudged Cassandra, tilting her chin toward

then slowly

until now. She only caught the last

Kiara murmured, looking at her again. "That's what happens when we cry. We miss something incredibly beautiful.

you

quivered, fresh tears threatening to spill over. Kiara wiped

thumb, nodding with a small

your way..." Kiara hummed

this isn't your path."

head.

why not try another? Maybe that's the way forward. I don't know." Kiara exhaled, shaking her head. "But I do

words hit Cassandra harder than Penny's slap. But unlike Penny's humiliation,

a slap

this, Cassy," Kiara said softly. "It's okay

before meeting Cassandra's

Cassandra whispered hoarsely. "I know I'm not like this. But I... I don't know

alright." Kiara squeezed her hand

sniffled as another tear rolled down

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

Cassandra hesitated.

Of course,

she

believed Kiara. After

once walked away from everything-her family,

security.

And