Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Chapter 13

Thaddeus was the only one in the Gardenia family who was decent to Lizetta.

Hans was a boozing gambler who beat his wife, and Jolin was a selfish jerk who only looked out for number.

one.

At ten, Thaddeus was Lizetta’s lifeline, and when they couldn’t escape, he’d just hug her tight and take the beating with her.

One blizzardy night, Hans lost big at gambling and, drunk as a skunk, beat Lizetta to within an inch of her life.

Thaddeus, hearing the news, hopped the school fence and raced home to find Lizetta had chomped off one of Hans‘ ears but was also nearly beaten to death herself, with blood everywhere.

Thaddeus carried Lizetta on his back and scampered to the Hawthorne family mansion for help, yet the latter were busy throwing a fancy shindig on a yacht for Evelina’s first violin gig.

With no other choice, he trudged three hours in the night to the Dashiell family villa, kneeling outside that was how Lizetta ended up getting taken in.

Time flew, and fourteen years zoomed by. Back then, Thaddeus fought for a chance at life for Lizetta, and now she wasn’t about to give up on him.

“Don’t sweat it, your brother’s stable, and Astoria’s setting up a lab specially for waking coma patients. I’m thinking of sending your brother there, especially since you aced Master Dories‘ interview and you’re heading. to Astoria too.”

“Being a medical guinea pig?” Lizetta hesitated.

Hogan nodded, “The lead prof, Professor Cohen, is a brain whiz. I swear, your brother won’t be worse off there. And I wouldn’t dare pull a fast one on you, tough girl.”

Hogan feigned fear.

taking shelter from the rain under an eave. She mistook him for a creep copping a feel and slapped him

then did she realize a

both wearing the same hoodie by coincidence. She rushed over to apologize, but he backed off defensively, pointing

really not

even thinking about it made her face turn red. She covered

twinkling behind his

way, won’t the treatment cost a fortune?”

break the bank. Plus, I’m planning to

enough!” Lizetta was over the moon, a huge weight lifted off

for a year, and with each passing day, the odds of waking up dwindled. Now, at least there was a glimmer of

But you gotta cook it yourself. We’ll be schoolmates again in Astoria, so I’ll be expecting you

her with a smile as refreshing as a gentle breeze. Both Hogan and

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Chapter 13

same alma mater.

beaming with hope for

you pick your audition

it past the

won’t make it. Get ready for the audition, Master Dories‘ tour is hitting our country next month, and the audition might

Hogan made sense and nodded.

it for the dance. What do you

like a stellar