Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Chapter 33

Evelina looked all woebegone as she stepped forward.

Liz, are you still ticked off about what happened last time? I’m sorry, okay? It was my pregnancy messing with my appetite, and me being all weak and hypoglycemic that made me fall and Remi thought you pushed me. He’s just super protective of the baby. Liz, I’m seriously saying sorry here. Can you forgive me?”

She was skinny as a rail, with a plain face and features that weren’t anything to write home about individually, but together, they kinda worked–in a lost–little–lamb sorta way, especially with that pure, innocent look plastered on her face.

Right then, she was the picture of sincerity, which made it hard for anyone to give her a hard time. But Lizetta? She saw right through it, seeing nothing but bad news.

She couldn’t stand Evelina pulling that act, as she still remembered their first meeting clear as day.

Evelina had been led into the Hawthorne family’s living room by Elara, where she had gone straight for Lizetta with a hug, then quickly let go, all jittery, apologizing.

“Liz, I’m so sorry, did I get your dress dirty? I swear it wasn’t on purpose.”

Before Lizetta even got a grip on what was going on, Elara, all heartache and worry, scooped Evelina up and glared at her.

“Mommy, who’s this?”

Little Lizetta didn’t get why her mom was cuddling some other kid, and just asked, but Evelina freaked out like a startled deer.

“Does Liz not like me? I’m sorry, I’ll just go.”

Elara had whisked Evelina away, and turned sharply to Lizetta: “Don’t call me mom anymore, I’m not your mother!”

Years had passed, and Evelina hadn’t changed a bit.

a lip, “Fine, take

and Lizetta was dripping with sarcasm.

one making a big show of apologizing. I’d be letting you down if

if Evelina would go for that.

she turned with a pleading look to Remington.

gaze, and her clear eyes landed on Remington.

10.12 M

wearing a daffodil–yellow dress that day, with her hair casually clipped up, and a couple of strands falling softly beside her face, making her skin

Hogan, her dress swayed and brushed against

for eight days, not to mention hopping on some random dude’s motorcycle that night, was now

man.

and sour crispy eggplant in the lunch box–a dish that’s simple, but a real hassle to make. She really went all out.

to drop a few more

day was my misunderstanding, and it had nothing to do with Evelina! Since you slapped her, you’ve blew off some steam; don’t be someone who can’t

heart squeezed. She didn’t know what she was expecting; why would

Pfft.

could respond, Hogan stood up

Dashiell, you’ve got it wrong. If someone without a leg to stand on still tries to argue their case, why should someone in the right

gazes clashed across the room, almost like

right either. What matters between spouses isn’t about being right

turned his gaze to Lizetta and beckoned her with

outstretched palm, Lizetta felt her

each other, but