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.

“Why should she get to play? Who’s scared

smile instead, “Tell them the tune’s not for sale, but Evelina

itching to see what kind of

one–time gig? That’s

shooting off an email, she reached out to Lizetta, “Where’s the divorce

14:07

over. Gotta Taunt it on Facebook and find some new

sofa. “Didn’t go through: Remington’s left the

back, but couldn’t help cursing.

Off on a trip, laving the groundwork for his side chick while dragging his feet on the divorce, You could

she heard about the 200–grand for

what a money grab! But at least

her money anyway, she just cared about the outcome,

Mi. Dashiell’s people. These so–called composers act all high and mighty, but

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

get a good putt piece written, and let everyone know just how

touting another. She nodded, “Got it.

touched the violin since returning home; her mind

Evelina reluctantly struck a pose. The violin screeched,

“What’s going on?”

bitch’s fault; my arm and

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

Lizetta’s legs were

without a trace, and only after a day

project accident, left the country,