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.

Elara and Kevin. Had she been their own flesh and blood, she’d have been the luckiest little princess in the world, smooth sailing all the way

wasn’t here to rekindle their broken mother–daughter bond. She asked outright, “Mrs. Hawthorne, you came to me

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

from her bag, “Here’s 500 gránd, enough to set you

feeling neither moved

to clear the path for Evelina.

shouldn’t take it to heart from those who ditched her, maybe the love she got

even wake from nightmares calling out for

let Hans abuse her and took her frustrations out on Lizetta with needles. Lizetta never saw Jolin as her mom; it was

up; she was a

but now, to step on her for her own daughter,

marriage. Rather than worrying about my future,

her

getting pregnant means a guy wanted her to. Four years ago, the Hawthorne family and the Dashiell family discussed marriage, and Remington had agreed. If you hadn’t stepped in, Eve’s child would be born into

that four years ago everyone assumed Evelina and Remington were

owed Eve from childhood; you stole her marriage four years ago. Now

but her heart didn’t soften; she stuffed the

into Lizetta’s hand.

back, her spine straight as it’s stepping aside,

ready to snap. “Ewan it Remington

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

Evelina, plotting for