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.

quirked a lip, “Fine,

stunned, and Lizetta

letting you down if I didn’t let you take a

Evelina would go for that.

turned with a pleading look to

and her clear eyes landed on

10.12 M

Lizetta was wearing a daffodil–yellow dress that day, with her hair casually clipped up,

and brushed against his sult pants, and she

on some random dude’s motorcycle that night, was

man.

lunch box–a dish that’s simple, but a real

demeanor seemed to drop a

slapped her, you’ve blew off

why would she

Pfft.

respond, Hogan stood up

got it wrong. If someone without a leg to stand on still tries to argue their case, why should someone in the right have to let it

clashed across the room, almost like a standoff with blades drawn.

“Dr. White, that ain’t right either. What matters between spouses isn’t about being right or wrong; it’s about caring for each other. Liz, come here.”

turned his gaze to Lizetta and beckoned her with his hand.

outstretched palm, Lizetta felt her

was caring for each other, but