Under the Heiress' Facade novel Chapter 257

Hera reacted swiftly and clutched the vine. However, the branch tore through her sleeve and sent a sharp pain shooting up her arm.

Just as her other hand scrambled for a foothold, the vine snapped unexpectedly, causing her to plummet. With a resounding crash, Hera landed on bent knees to brace herself against the impact.

Despite the fall, she managed to grab enough vines to avoid a worse fate, though both of her palms were now scraped raw and stinging.

Ignoring the pain, Hera surveyed her surroundings. Above her, a narrow strip of sky marked the crevice she had fallen from, now hundreds of feet above and out of sight.

Sunlight filtered through, casting an eerie glow downward, revealing what appeared to be a gaping maw in the mountain.

Hera wouldn't have noticed that there was such a large opening on the upper ground if she hadn't accidentally stepped into thin air.

The split in the mountain seemed almost naturally formed, opening into a vast, semi-oval space that looked partly excavated. It seemed bottomless and shadowy within.

A small stream flowed with crystal-clear mountain water among the scattered rocks on the ground. Alongside the stream, a few plump, giant rats cautiously watched her.

After ensuring it was safe, Hera went to the stream to wash her hands and face. She took a few refreshing sips of the ice-cold water that was almost painfully cold against her lips.

Hera's arm was still bleeding, so she ripped a strip from her torn sleeve to bandage the wound.

Her jacket was left above ground, leaving her in just a thin sweater that was now torn at the sleeves. As time passed, the chill of the cave began to set in.

With dusk approaching and the knowledge that it would only get colder after nightfall, Hera needed to leave the place as soon as possible.