Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress novel Chapter 1308

Chapter 1308: Love isn’t selfish

Some changes had proven to have a good effect, but others simply led to different outcomes. Even with good intentions, the effects of change could be unpredictable.

In Finn and Cassandra’s first life, they had been bound in a loveless marriage. Though they maintained a strong friendship, romance had never been part of the equation. It was a miserable union, one that remained unchanged until Cassandra was caught up in the treacherous waters Finn had ventured into—leading to her untimely death.

So, when Finn was reborn, he made it his goal to break off their engagement.

He didn’t love Cassandra as anything more than a friend, but she was family to him. Finn wanted to give her the freedom to choose whom she would marry. He didn’t want them to be trapped in another arranged marriage, only to endure yet another miserable life due to a forced union.

But alas... no matter how good his intentions were in this life, there was one thing Finn hadn’t realized.

A miserable marriage wasn’t miserable simply because it was arranged. It was miserable because of the lack of emotion in it—the lack of willingness to love, to even try. Initially, both of them had agreed to break the engagement because Cassandra had always known Finn was not the type to fall in love.

Finn could never love anything—not even himself.

So, when she agreed to end their engagement, Cassandra hadn’t been hopeful. But then... Finn changed. He showed that he could love, that he could feel deeply and express his emotions.

Just not to her.

It felt like a slap to the face.

"I shouldn’t have agreed to end it," Cassandra whispered, her eyelids drooping.

Deep lines formed between Max’s brows as he grasped the weight of her words. "Cassandra, don’t tell me..."

"What do you think would’ve happened if I hadn’t agreed to break off the engagement, Max?" she asked bluntly, turning to face him. "Do you think he would’ve treated me right?"

"Ha... ha..." A nervous laugh escaped him. "Honestly, I don’t think I’m the person you should be asking that, Cassy."

"You were once his best friend," she countered with a nonchalant shrug. "So why not?"

"Damn... this is exactly why I look like I don’t want to be bothered," he muttered, wincing. "I don’t know, Cassy. Even if I wanted to be poetic and give you an answer, I don’t even know what to feel right now. I’m already a mess, as you can see."

"Why? Was your heart broken too?" she mused. "Is it also filled with regrets and what-ifs?"

Max remained silent.

Because, truthfully, there were a few what-ifs floating in his mind.

What if I hadn’t invited Hugo? What if I had been the one sitting across from Ginnie? Would she have smiled the same?

Cassandra studied the look on Max’s face before the corner of her lips curled up. "At least you understand what’s been weighing on my heart lately," she muttered, peeling her gaze away. "Not too long ago, I was secretly flattered that after waking from a long coma, the first person he called was me—not anyone else. It made me feel important, special. But then..." She exhaled sharply.

"What I got was an apology... and a favor."

Max furrowed his brows.

"So he could leave the hospital," Cassandra continued, voice laced with bitterness, "just to see another woman."

A dry, humorless chuckle escaped her lips. "And now? Now, I don’t even know if my fiancé is being sincere with me. It’s driving me crazy... it’s making me angry. At least with Finn, I would never have to wonder if he was being sincere."

’Did studying people make her go crazy?’ Max wondered before shaking his head. Focus.