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.

kid, Lizetta had been coddled and attentively groomed by Elara and Kevin. Had she been their own flesh and blood, she’d have

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

and soul, and Remington doesn’t

her bag, “Here’s 500 gránd, enough to set you up for studying abroad. Leave Zion

check handed to her, feeling neither moved nor anything but humiliation

to leave was to clear the path for

her, maybe the love she got too little,

wake from nightmares calling out for

was selfish and Indifferent, let Hans abuse her and took her frustrations out on Lizetta with

Elara had long given her up; she was a child

her own daughter. Lizetta held no grudges for being abandoned back then, but now, to step on her for her own daughter, to

future, maybe you should focus more on

cold, her expression flitting with discomfort.

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

ago everyone assumed Evelina and Remington were an

you stole her marriage four years ago. Now

frowned but her heart

into Lizetta’s hand.

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

snap. “Ewan it Remington

the six years of care from me and my husband.

love for Evelina, plotting for her daughter, but carelessly stabbing at