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.

coddled and attentively groomed by 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

broken mother–daughter bond. She

and soul, and Remington doesn’t love you./I

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

looked at the check handed to her, feeling neither moved nor anything but

leave was to clear

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

from nightmares calling out for

her frustrations out on Lizetta with needles. Lizetta never saw Jolin as her

she was a child

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

my future, maybe you should

face turned cold, her

the Hawthorne family and the Dashiell family discussed marriage, and Remington had agreed.

ago everyone assumed Evelina and Remington were an item. But

years ago. Now that Eve’s pregnant, it’s time for you to step aside!”

Elara frowned but her heart didn’t soften; she stuffed

into Lizetta’s hand.

straight

ready to snap. “Ewan it Remington has to

back the six years of care from me and my husband. I’m begging you to

full of love for Evelina, plotting for her daughter, but carelessly stabbing at Lizetta’s