Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Chapter 37

It was Evelina’s mom, Elara.

Lizetta steadied her breath, slowly stood up, and called out.

“Mrs. Hawthorne.”

Elara gave her a nod, walked over, picked up a towel from the front row of seats, and handed it to Lizetta.

“Thanks.”

Lizetta took it, wiping the sweat and tears from her face, turning slightly to avoid showing Elara her disheveled state.

“Liz, I wanna have a chat with you.”

Elara spoke up, and Lizetta turned around, having a hunch why she was there. Lizetta nodded and replied, “I’ll just change some clothes and be right back.”

Elara nodded, “Go ahead.”

Lizetta took a quick shower, got changed, and came back to the venue. Elara was still in front of the stage. Lizetta walked over.

Elara didn’t turn around, staring at the stage and said, “You remember, right? You snagged your first dance competition gold medal on this stage when you were just five. You were so tiny but already rock–solid, blew everyone away. I was so proud.”

Back then, Lizetta was the little princess of the Hawthorne family, everyone said she was a chip off the old block but surpassed her parents; Elara had her successor, and Elara herself was excited to tears.

attentively groomed by Elara and Kevin. Had she been their own flesh and blood,

their broken mother–daughter bond. She asked outright, “Mrs. Hawthorne, you

The Dashiell family’s only cramping your style and soul, and Remington doesn’t

gránd, enough to set you up for studying abroad. Leave Zion City, will

handed to her, feeling neither moved nor anything but humiliation

plea for her to leave was to clear

from those who ditched her, maybe the love she got too little, she

nightmares calling out for her mom.

her frustrations out on Lizetta with needles. Lizetta never saw Jolin as her mom; it was Elara she called

Elara had long given her up; she was

held no grudges for being abandoned back then, but now, to step on her for her own daughter, to expect gratitude was

got pregnant before marriage. Rather than worrying about my future, maybe you should

her expression flitting with

and the Dashiell family discussed marriage, and Remington had agreed. If you hadn’t stepped in, Eve’s child would

knowing that four years ago everyone assumed Evelina and Remington were an item. But she didn’t know Remington had

her marriage four years ago.

her heart

into Lizetta’s hand.

stepped back, her spine straight as it’s

to snap. “Ewan it Remington has to

years of care from me and my husband. I’m begging you

face was full of love for Evelina, plotting for