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.

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

She asked outright, “Mrs. Hawthorne, you

only cramping your style and soul, and Remington doesn’t love you./I

to set you up for studying

handed to her, feeling

plea for her to leave was to clear the

her, maybe the love she got too little, she still remembered the affection from her parents when she was a

she’d even wake from nightmares

her frustrations out on Lizetta

up; she

then, but now, to step on her for

got pregnant before marriage. Rather than worrying about my future, maybe you should focus more on teaching your own daughter, Mrs. Hawthorne.”

her expression

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

assumed Evelina and Remington

childhood; you stole her marriage four years ago. Now that Eve’s pregnant, it’s

frowned but her heart didn’t soften; she stuffed

into Lizetta’s hand.

straight

“Ewan it Remington has to tell

years of care from me and my husband. I’m begging you to do right by

Evelina, plotting for her daughter, but carelessly stabbing at