Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Chapter 44

Remington must have hightailed it out of there in the dead of night. In the video, the guy’s trench coat was flapping in the sea breeze as he weaved through the bustling crowd, looking all frosty and serious.

Lizetta let out a sigh. No clue when he’d be back, but it was crystal clear this divorce wasn’t happening today.

Right then, she got a message from Yolanda.

[Don’t come back yet.]

Half an hour later, Lizetta got another message from Yolanda, and she rushed home, bursting through the door with urgent questions.

“What’s gone down?”

“People from the Dashiell Group showed up. Look at this.”

Yolanda nodded toward the coffee table, where a business card and a few printed contracts were laid out. It was all about that gig for Evelina, where Lizetta had used Yolanda’s info online.

Lizetta wasn’t surprised they’d come knocking. “Did they give you a hard time?”

Yolanda shrugged, “Just the usual stick–and–carrot tactics. Pfft, as if I’m buying it. They think they can ruin my future and get me kicked out of school? The Dashiell family ain’t exactly mobsters.”

Lizetta’s expression turned somber. The Dashiell family might not be mobsters, but they sure had their ways.

If they decided to cut off someone’s air supply, squashing little fish like them wouldn’t even cause a ripple.

She was kicking herself for not busting Evelina’s hand yesterday, making it impossible for her to ever play the violin again. That’d show her for stealing tunes.

“Let her play, then,” Lizetta tossed the contract back on the table.

blinked, annoyed, “Why should she get to play?

them the tune’s not for sale, but Evelina can have a one–time performance license for

kind of hot mess Evelina would make of

a one–time gig? That’s a real bargain for Bitch Evelina! I’m

reached out to Lizetta, “Where’s the divorce paper, c’mon, hand

14:07

over. Gotta Taunt it on Facebook and find some new prospects

“Didn’t go

but couldn’t

dragging his feet on the

about the 200–grand for a one–time license,

a money grab! But at

anyway, she just cared about the outcome, and she was

composers act all high and mighty, but throw enough cash and they

one–time performance right? Later, we can spin it as Mr. Dashiell’s favoritism toward you. Won’t that

lit up, “You better get a good putt piece written, and let everyone know just how greedy that composer is.”

touting another.

returning home; her mind

her the violin, and Evelina reluctantly struck a pose. The violin screeched, and she tossed it aside, her face contorted with pain and

“What’s going on?”

fault; my arm and hand

Lizetta’s childhood dance competition videos the other night after meeting her, and her jealousy burned even

Lizetta’s legs were

had vanished without a trace, and only after a day did he send Lizella a message,

left the