Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Chapter 24

In bed, Lizetta opened her eyes, gazing into the void outside the window.

In fact, she had squinted just a moment ago and seen it was a message from Evelina’s agent, April

She didn’t try to make him stay, knowing it was futile.

She had tried before; the scars on her feet hadn’t even healed yet, so why bring shame upon herself again?

Downstairs, the roar of a car sounded. Lizetta flipped off the covers and climbed out of bed, walking to the window.

The rain that had been holding back all night now poured down in torrents, and a black sedan sliced through the mist and vanished up the mountain road.

That was the romantic rush of the man she loved towards another woman.

Liar.

He tricked her into believing he was there when he was not.

Lizetta turned and went to the dance studio, which Remington had personally prepared for her when she was a child, complete with the best soundproofing equipment.

She chose a powerful song, violently ripping her skirt and collar as she spun wildly.

She danced with wild abandon. After taking a shower, she climbed back into bed. Though her body was exhausted, she still tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The bed was imbued with the scent of a man, making her restless.

Lizetta picked up her phone, it was past 2 a.m.

Her stomach churned; the bitter taste of medicine stirred up again.

Why should she feel this miserable, while that dog of a man was out meeting his mistress, living it up?

Lizetta opened her search engine, typed in “infertility,” used Remington’s phone number to leave messages asking for advice, and finally curled up with a blanket on the sofa and fell asleep.

The next morning, the storm had stopped, the wind and rain had ceased.

branches and fallen leaves early on;

the morning. After Lizetta had breakfast and was. about to head to Tempo Dance Studio, Hanna called out to

maybe give him a hand. I’ve got

stuff to do

off before she could finish as Hanna impatiently

have, you big idler? Come on, Joseph is so fond of you. If you’re too heartless to care for him when he’s sick, fine, but you

driver came in to say the car was ready, and

the tablet, and she went upstairs to print Joseph’s notes

as she entered the hospital building, she would run into

April’s bag slipped off her shoulder, spilling contents everywhere, and a document fluttered down near Lizetta’s feet.

1/3

23 29

Chapter 24

looked down and immediately saw the words “pregnancy test” on the

picked it up, and stared hard

Evelina, approximately 6 weeks pregnant.

cold; it had been just over a month, around the time Remington

it back to me,” Evelina said quickly, snatching the pregnancy test result from

going blank, her lips trembling, her

the child Remington’s?”

back to April to put away, her expression one of tender sweetness, with the glow of

fond of this child. He even named the baby

a gift for

into his heart? How romantic indeed.

a lump of iron stuck in her throat, her face deathly pale.

pregnancy. I know Remi is a responsible man. I’m not greedy; his love and our baby are enough

brushing

with grit, pain making it hard to

wonder a single message was enough to send him out into the rainy night–it turned out Evelina was

pregnant.

family heirloom bracelet, accepting her as his wife in

too proud, still angry about something from four years ago? Were