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.

didn't make a fuss. She simply kicked off whatever had cut her and continued toward Cassandra. Without a word, she

moment Cassandra felt her warmth,

just held her, rubbing slow, soothing circles on Cassandra's back. "Nothing ever

Cassandra finally broke the silence. She looked up,

I going to

Cassandra's tears with the back

don't know," she admitted softly, shrugging. "But... I'm sure you'll

tilting her chin up slightly. "Like

clearly, her face crumpled. She buried herself in Kiara's shoulder, her cries turning

sighed, stroking her back gently. "I'm

that it had made Kiara come by to check on her. But when she came

had tried again. Otherwise,

glancing up at the

in Cassandra's life.

She gently nudged Cassandra, tilting her chin toward the sky. "Look.

then slowly

until now. She only caught the last few seconds, but it was enough to make her

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

what you used to

quivered, fresh tears threatening

her thumb, nodding with a small

nothing is going your way..." Kiara hummed

this isn't your path."

tilted her head. "If

her head. "But I do know that my friend is smart, pretty, and kind. And people

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

a slap

this, Cassy," Kiara said

broken glass before meeting Cassandra's eyes

not

her hand reassuringly. "I'll

as another tear rolled down her cheek.

know." She shrugged. "But like I said—we'll figure it

Cassandra hesitated.

Of course,

she

believed Kiara. After

walked away

her security. She

nothing but the clothes on her back. And yet, she had